© 1999 by Oxford University Press
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 91, No. 5, 465-469,
March 3, 1999
© 1999 Oxford University Press
REPORTS |
High Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Human Herpesvirus-8 in Egyptian Children: Evidence of Nonsexual Transmission
Affiliations of authors: M. Andreoni, E. Nicastri, L. Ventura, L. Ercoli, L. Sarmati, G. Rocchi, Infectious Diseases Institute, University of "Tor Vergata," Rome, Italy; G. El-Sawaf, University of Alexandria, Egypt; G. Rezza, Centro Operativo AIDS, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome; B. Ensoli, Laboratory of Virology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome.
Correspondence to: Massimo Andreoni, M.D., Department of Public Health and Cellular Biology, University "Tor Vergata," Via di Tor Vergata 135, 00133 Rome, Italy (e-mail: andreoni{at}uniroma2.it).
BACKGROUND: In western countries, human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) appears to be transmitted mainly by sexual contact. To evaluate the role of other transmission routes, especially in developing countries, we estimated the seroprevalence of HHV-8 in Egyptian children, who, if seropositive, would have acquired the virus through a nonsexual route. METHODS:Sera from 196 children (<1-12 years of age), 20 adolescents (13-20 years of age), and 30 young adults (21-25 years of age) attending a vaccination program in Alexandria, Egypt, were studied. Immunofluorescence assays were used to detect antibodies against HHV-8 lytic-phase antigens (anti-lytic) and latent-phase antigens (anti-latent). Antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus viral cap antigen, cytomegalovirus, and HHV-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Seroprevalence of these herpesviruses was calculated after stratifying the subjects by age. RESULTS: Anti-lytic and anti-latent HHV-8 antibodies were detected in 44.7% and 8.5% of the study participants, respectively. The prevalence of anti-lytic antibodies tended to increase with age, exceeding 50% in children older than 6 years; once children reached the age of 10 years, the prevalence tended to stabilize. The seroprevalence of other herpesviruses tended to be higher than that of HHV-8, ranging from approximately 83% to more than 97% in the 9- to 12-year age group. One- to 3-year-old children had higher titers of anti-lytic HHV-8 antibodies than children in the other age groups. Anti-latent antibodies were more frequently detected in individuals with high anti-lytic antibody titers. CONCLUSIONS: HHV-8 antibodies are highly prevalent in Egyptian children, suggesting that, in developing countries, HHV-8 infection may be acquired early in life through routes other than sexual transmission. The lower seroprevalence of HHV-8 relative to that of the other herpesviruses suggests that HHV-8 is less transmissible than other common herpesviruses.
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  C.G. Teo Conceptual Emergence of Human Herpesvirus 8 (Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus) as an Oral Herpesvirus Advances in Dental Research, April 1, 2006; 19(1): 85 - 90. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. Ribechini, C. Fortini, M. Marastoni, S. Traniello, S. Spisani, P. Monini, and R. Gavioli Identification of CD8+ T Cell Epitopes within Lytic Antigens of Human Herpes Virus 8 J. Immunol., January 15, 2006; 176(2): 923 - 930. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. S. Johnson, N. Maronian, and J. Vieira Activation of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Lytic Gene Expression during Epithelial Differentiation J. Virol., November 1, 2005; 79(21): 13769 - 13777. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Plancoulaine, L. Abel, D. Tregouet, R. Duprez, M. van Beveren, P. Tortevoye, A. Froment, and A. Gessain Respective Roles of Serological Status and Blood Specific Antihuman Herpesvirus 8 Antibody Levels in Human Herpesvirus 8 Intrafamilial Transmission in a Highly Endemic Area Cancer Res., December 1, 2004; 64(23): 8782 - 8787. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. A. Dourmishev, A. L. Dourmishev, D. Palmeri, R. A. Schwartz, and D. M. Lukac Molecular Genetics of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (Human Herpesvirus 8) Epidemiology and Pathogenesis Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev., June 1, 2003; 67(2): 175 - 212. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. SARMATI, M. ANDREONI, B. SULIGOI, R. BUGARINI, I. UCCELLA, E. POZIO, and G. REZZA INFECTION WITH HUMAN HERPESVIRUS-8 AND ITS CORRELATION WITH HEPATITIS B VIRUS AND HEPATITIS C VIRUS MARKERS AMONG RURAL POPULATIONS IN CAMBODIA Am J Trop Med Hyg, April 1, 2003; 68(4): 501 - 502. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Plancoulaine, L. Abel, M. van Beveren, and A. Gessain High Titers of Anti-Human Herpesvirus 8 Antibodies in Elderly Males in an Endemic Population J Natl Cancer Inst, September 4, 2002; 94(17): 1333 - 1335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. V. Ablashi, L. G. Chatlynne, J. E. Whitman Jr., and E. Cesarman Spectrum of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus, or Human Herpesvirus 8, Diseases Clin. Microbiol. Rev., July 1, 2002; 15(3): 439 - 464. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Andreoni, L. Sarmati, E. Nicastri, G. El Sawaf, M. El Zalabani, I. Uccella, R. Bugarini, S. G. Parisi, and G. Rezza Primary Human Herpesvirus 8 Infection in Immunocompetent Children JAMA, March 13, 2002; 287(10): 1295 - 1300. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. J. Cannon, S. C. Dollard, D. K. Smith, R. S. Klein, P. Schuman, J. D. Rich, D. Vlahov, P. E. Pellett, and The HIV Epidemiology Research Study Group Blood-Borne and Sexual Transmission of Human Herpesvirus 8 in Women with or at Risk for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection N. Engl. J. Med., March 1, 2001; 344(9): 637 - 643. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. L. Calabro, P. Gasperini, J. R. Fiore, M. Barbierato, G. Angarano, and L. Chieco-Bianchi Intrafamilial Transmission of Human Herpesvirus 8 J Natl Cancer Inst, January 17, 2001; 93(2): 154 - 156. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. Topino, L. Vincenzi, I. Mezzaroma, E. Nicastri, M. Andreoni, and M. C. Sirianni Correlation between Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and Immunofluorescence Assay with Lytic Antigens for Detection of Antibodies to Human Herpesvirus 8 Clin. Vaccine Immunol., January 1, 2001; 8(1): 203 - 205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 F. Samaniego, S. Pati, J. E. Karp, O. Prakash, and D. Bose Human Herpesvirus 8 K1-Associated Nuclear Factor-kappa B-Dependent Promoter Activity: Role in Kaposi's Sarcoma Inflammation? J Natl Cancer Inst Monographs, December 1, 2000; 2000(28): 15 - 23. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Rezza, M. Dorrucci, M. Andreoni, C. Arpino, A. De Luca, P. Monini, E. Nicastri, M. B. Alliegro, P. Pezzotti, and B. Ensoli Does HHV-8 have a protective role on the development of HIV encephalopathy? Neurology, December 1, 1999; 53(9): 2032 - 2032. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. A. Engels, H. Eastman, D. V. Ablashi, R. J. Wilks, J. Braham, and A. Manns Risk of Transfusion-Associated Transmission of Human Herpesvirus 8 J Natl Cancer Inst, October 20, 1999; 91(20): 1773 - 1775. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Rezza, M. Andreoni, M. Dorrucci, P. Pezzotti, P. Monini, R. Zerboni, B. Salassa, V. Colangeli, L. Sarmati, E. Nicastri, et al. Human Herpesvirus 8 Seropositivity and Risk of Kaposi's Sarcoma and Other Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome-Related Diseases J Natl Cancer Inst, September 1, 1999; 91(17): 1468 - 1474. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. Monini, S. Colombini, M. Sturzl, D. Goletti, A. Cafaro, C. Sgadari, S. Butto, M. Franco, P. Leone, S. Fais, et al. Reactivation and Persistence of Human Herpesvirus-8 Infection in B Cells and Monocytes by Th-1 Cytokines Increased in Kaposi's Sarcoma Blood, June 15, 1999; 93(12): 4044 - 4058. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|