AEGiS-13IAC: Human herpesvirus 8 infection among voluntary blood donors in Uganda.

13th International AIDS Conference

Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

Human herpesvirus 8 infection among voluntary blood donors in Uganda.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. WeOrA475)

Hladik W, Dollard S, Kataaha P, Karon J, Pellett P, Namaala H, Goddard J, Downing R, Lackritz E
W. Hladik, HIV International Activities Branch, DHAP, NCHSTP, CDC, MS-E50, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States, Tel.: +1 404 639 61 11, Fax: +1 404 639 42 68, E-mail: wfh3@cdc.gov

BACKGROUND: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is the probable etiologic agent for Kaposi's sarcoma, the leading malignancy in Uganda and a major AIDS-related disease. The transmission modes of HHV-8 in Africa are unknown.

METHODS: To evaluate possible modes of transmission of HHV-8 and identify potential prevention strategies, we investigated 3,736 serum specimens collected during November 1998-May 1999 from blood donors in Kampala, Uganda. We selected 203 specimens positive for HIV, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), or syphilis, and 198 from the remaining nonreactive specimens. Specimens were tested by two HHV-8 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (K8.1 and orf 65) and one immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Specimens were classified positive if they were reactive to at least two of the three tests or positive at a 1:40 dilution on the IFA alone. HHV-8 prevalence estimates were calculated using a Z-test based on the prevalences and their variances in the two groups compared.

RESULTS: Estimated HHV-8 prevalence was 25.6% (95% confidence interval = 19.9%-31.2%). HHV-8 prevalence was not associated with gender, and there was no trend for age (age range = 15-60 years). HHV-8 prevalence was higher among HBsAg-positive donors than for HBsAg-negative donors (38.2% vs. 25.1%, weighted logistic regression [WLR], p = 0.01) and was higher among HIV-positive than HIV-negative donors (39.4% vs. 25.3%, WLR, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION: HHV-8 prevalence in Uganda was more than 10 times higher than that for United States blood donors. Prevalence peaked by the age of sexual activity and was associated with hepatitis B infection, both suggesting that the primary route of transmission is not sexual. However, HHV-8 was associated with HIV infection, indicating that sexual transmission may also be occurring.

Keywords: AEGIS, Herpesvirus 8, Human, Blood Donors, Sarcoma, Kaposi, Prevalence, HIV Infections, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Sex Behavior, Syphilis, Uganda, United States, Africa, Human, transmission
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