title: Seroprevalence of Merkel cell polyomavirus in the general rural population of Anyang, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite the probably causal link between Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infection and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare but aggressive skin malignancy, little is known about the seroepidemiology of MCPyV among healthy adults in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum antibodies against MCPyV were evaluated by multiplex serology in a population-based study of 5548 adults (including 1587 heterosexual couples) aged 25-65 years who were enrolled from rural Anyang, China in 2007-2009. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the risk factors for the seropositivity of MCPyV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The seroprevalence for MCPyV was 61.0%. MCPyV seropositivity was significantly higher in males than in females (64.5% vs. 57.7%, P<0.001), and for both genders, showed a trend of increase with age (Male: Ptrend<0.001; Female: P(trend)<0.001). Furthermore, among antibody positives, antibody levels of MCPyV increased with advancing age (P(trend )=0.017). MCPyV seropositivity of one spouse was significantly associated with that of the other partner (Adjusted OR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.07-1.62). However, there was no association between sexual behaviors and the seropositivity of MCPyV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High seroprevalence of MCPyV was observed in healthy Chinese individuals. Serological evidence suggests that nonsexual horizontal spread of MCPyV can occur among family members, and further research in this regard is needed.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chanyuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fangfang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhonghu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qiuju
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yaqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chaoting
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chuanhai
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yongmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Anyang Cancer Hospital, Anyang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ruiping
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Anyang Cancer Hospital, Anyang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Laboratory of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059965:Merkel cell polyomavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008875:Middle Aged; D027601:Polyomavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral