title: Kaposi's Sarcoma Associated-Herpes Virus (KSHV) Seroprevalence in Pregnant Women in South Africa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Factors previously associated with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) transmission in Africa include sexual, familial, and proximity to river water. We measured the seroprevalence of KSHV in relation to HIV, syphilis, and demographic factors among pregnant women attending public antenatal clinics in the Gauteng province of South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested for antibodies to KSHV lytic K8.1 and latent Orf73 antigens in 1740 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics who contributed blood to the "National HIV and Syphilis Sero-Prevalence Survey - South Africa, 2001". Information on HIV and syphilis serology, age, education, residential area, gravidity, and parity was anonymously linked to evaluate risk factors for KSHV seropositivity. Clinics were grouped by municipality regions and their proximity to the two main river catchments defined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  KSHV seropositivity (reactive to either lytic K8.1 and latent Orf73) was nearly twice that of HIV (44.6% vs. 23.1%). HIV and syphilis seropositivity was 12.7% and 14.9% in women without KSHV, and 36.1% and 19.9% respectively in those with KSHV. Women who are KSHV seropositive were 4 times more likely to be HIV positive than those who were KSHV seronegative (AOR 4.1 95%CI: 3.4 - 5.7). Although, women with HIV infection were more likely to be syphilis seropositive (AOR 1.8 95%CI: 1.3 - 2.4), no association between KSHV and syphilis seropositivity was observed. Those with higher levels of education had lower levels of KSHV seropositivity compared to those with lower education levels. KSHV seropositivity showed a heterogeneous pattern of prevalence in some localities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association between KSHV and HIV seropositivity and a lack of common association with syphilis, suggests that KSHV transmission may involve geographical and cultural factors other than sexual transmission.
authors.affiliation: Viral Oncology Section, AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, SAIC-Frederick, NCI-Frederick, Frederick MD, USA. Mhairi.Maskew@righttocare.org.
authors.forename: Babatyi I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Malope-Kgokong
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macphail
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mbisa
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ratshikhopha
authors.forename: Mhairi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maskew
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Freddy
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sitas
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Whitby
references.citation: J Infect Dis. 2004 Oct 15;190(8):1382-6
references.pmid: 15378429
references.citation: Lancet. 1995 Sep 23;346(8978):799-802
references.pmid: 7674745
references.citation: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2005 Apr 1;38(4):474-9
references.pmid: 15764964
references.citation: J Med Virol. 2005 Jan;75(1):93-100
references.pmid: 15543582
references.citation: Blood. 1995 Aug 15;86(4):1276-80
references.pmid: 7632932
references.citation: J Med Virol. 2005 Aug;76(4):571-5
references.pmid: 15977229
references.citation: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2003 Jun 1;33(2):206-10
references.pmid: 12794556
references.citation: Sex Transm Dis. 2003 Sep;30(9):713-8
references.pmid: 12972795
references.citation: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2007 Mar 1;44(3):351-5
references.pmid: 17195763
references.citation: Epidemiol Infect. 2004 Dec;132(6):1191-7
references.pmid: 15635980
references.citation: J Infect Dis. 2004 Sep 15;190(6):1068-75
references.pmid: 15319855
references.citation: Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Aug 1;168(3):311-20
references.pmid: 18515794
references.citation: J Immunol Methods. 2010 Apr 30;356(1-2):39-46
references.pmid: 20211626
references.citation: BMC Public Health. 2007 Jul 18;7:160
references.pmid: 17640354
references.citation: J Infect Dis. 2003 Feb 15;187(4):559-68
references.pmid: 12599072
references.citation: J Infect Dis. 2007 Sep 15;196(6):844-52
references.pmid: 17703414
references.citation: J Infect Dis. 2004 Jul 1;190(1):199-200; author reply 200-1
references.pmid: 15195261
references.citation: Int J Cancer. 2008 May 15;122(10):2260-5
references.pmid: 18241034
references.citation: AIDS. 2008 Feb 19;22(4):519-26
references.pmid: 18301065
references.citation: Sex Transm Dis. 2001 Feb;28(2):77-81
references.pmid: 11234789
references.citation: J Natl Cancer Inst. 1998 Mar 4;90(5):395-7
references.pmid: 9498490
references.citation: Int J Cancer. 2000 Nov 1;88(3):489-92
references.pmid: 11054682
references.citation: Int J Cancer. 2007 Jan 15;120(2):321-8
references.pmid: 17066452
references.citation: N Engl J Med. 1995 May 4;332(18):1186-91
references.pmid: 7700311
references.citation: J Infect Dis. 2009 May 15;199(10):1449-56
references.pmid: 19351262
references.citation: BMC Infect Dis. 2008 Aug 18;8:111
references.pmid: 18706107
references.citation: Int J Cancer. 2001 Jun 1;92(5):622-7
references.pmid: 11340563
references.citation: J Infect Dis. 1999 Sep;180(3):600-6
references.pmid: 10438345
references.citation: S Afr Med J. 2006 Jun;96(6):538-43
references.pmid: 16841139
references.citation: Br J Cancer. 2000 Feb;82(3):702-4
references.pmid: 10682685
references.citation: Science. 1994 Dec 16;266(5192):1865-9
references.pmid: 7997879