title: Divergent KSHV/HHV-8 subtype D strains in New Caledonia and Solomon Islands, Melanesia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  KSHV/HHV-8 is the etiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma and most multicentric Castleman's disease cases. KSHV exhibits a high genetic variability comprising five genotypes (A-E). Few data are yet available concerning the situation of KSHV, its genetic variability and the associated diseases in Melanesia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We performed a study on 626 natives Melanesians from New Caledonia and Vanikoro Island to evaluate KSHV seroprevalence and characterize molecularly the viral strains.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma from 343 males and 283 females (age range: 15-86 years, mean age: 60) were tested for KSHV latent antibodies by an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using BC-3 cells. DNAs extracted from peripheral blood buffy-coat of KSHV seropositive individuals were amplified to obtain a 737-bp fragment of the ORF-K1 gene. Phylogenetic analyses were then performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 626 samples, 148 were IFA positive (dilution≥1:80). The overall seroprevalence was 23.6% (25.2% in New Caledonia, 17.5% in Vanikoro). Fifteen (8 men and 7 women, mean age 69 years) out of 148 DNA samples were found PCR positive. All ORF-K1 sequences belonged to KSHV genotype D. A geographic clustering according to the island of origin of KSHV infected persons was clearly observed with sequences from New Caledonia clustering with most Vanuatu strains.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New Caledonia and Vanikoro are endemic for KSHV with a high diversity of genotype D variants. These strains were probably introduced into New Caledonia during multiple waves of migrations of Melanesian and Polynesian individuals that have colonized this archipelago.
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Unité d'Epidémiologie et Physiopathologie des Virus Oncogènes, Département de Virologie, F-75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cassar
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Charavay
authors.forename: Sylviane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bassot
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plancoulaine
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Grangeon
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Laumond-Barny
authors.forename: Paul M V
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chanteau
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gessain
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008542:Melanesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral