title: Seroprevalence and risk factors of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection among the general Uygur population from south and north region of Xinjiang, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a complex multifocal neoplasm and is the major cause of death for about 50% of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an oncogenic virus with a causal role in the development of all types of KS. KS is prevalent among the Uygur people in Xinjiang, especially in south area. Here we carried out a cross-sectional study among 1534 general Uygur individuals from south and north region of Xinjiang to assess the seroprevalence of KSHV and to identify the potential correlation between KSHV seroprevalence and KS incidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seroprevalence of KSHV in South and North Xinjiang was 23.1% and 25.9%, respectively. Older age was independently associated with higher KSHV seroprevalence. In subjects from South Xinjiang, lower educational level and reported drinking were each independently associated with higher KSHV seroprevalence. Furthermore, the antibody titer was significantly lower in both south and north KSHV seropositive individuals compared with KS patients, as analyzed by gradient dilution (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KSHV is highly prevalent in the general Uygur population in both South and North Xinjiang. Interestingly, the infection rate of KSHV in these two geographical areas did not correlate well with KS incidence. Perhaps unknown factors exist that promote the progression of KSHV infection to KS development in the local minority groups.
authors.affiliation: The First Teaching Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University,1 Liyu Shan Road,Urumqi, Xinjiang, People's Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.lastname: Dilimulati
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhihui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral