Sex and geographic patterns of human herpesvirus 8 infection in a nationally representative population‐based sample in Uganda.
BACKGROUND
Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), the infectious cause of Kaposi sarcoma, varies dramatically across Africa, suggesting that cofactors correlated with large-area geographic or environmental characteristics may influence risk of infection. Variation in HHV8 seropositivity across small-area regions within countries in Africa is unknown. We investigated this issue in Uganda, where Kaposi sarcoma distribution is uneven and well described.


METHODS
Archival samples from individuals aged 15-59 years randomly selected from a nationally representative 2004-2005 human immunodeficiency virus-AIDS serobehavioral survey were tested for HHV8 seropositivity with use of enzyme immunoassays based on synthetic peptides from the K8.1 and orf65 viral genes. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of association of HHV8 seropositivity with demographic risk factors were estimated.


RESULTS
Among 2681 individuals tested, HHV8 seropositivity was 55.4%. HHV8 seropositivity was lower in female than in male persons (adjusted odds ratio, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.69-0.97]) and increased 2.2% (95% CI, 1.0%-3.6%) in female persons and 1.2% (95% CI, 1.0%-2.3%) in male persons per year of age. HHV8 seropositivity was inversely associated with education ( P = .01, for trend) and was elevated in the West Nile region, compared with the Central region (adjusted odds ratio, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.02-2.18]) but not with other regions.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that HHV8 seropositivity in Uganda may be influenced by cofactors correlated with small-area geography, age, sex, and education.
Biryahwaho
Benon
B
Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda.
Dollard
Sheila C
SC
Pfeiffer
Ruth M
RM
Shebl
Fatma M
FM
Munuo
Stella
S
Amin
Minal M
MM
Hladik
Wolfgang
W
Parsons
Ruth
R
Mbulaiteye
Sam M
SM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral