TY - JOUR
T1 - High Seroprevalence of Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in HIV-1-Infected Pregnant Women of Southeastern Italy
T2 - Association with Injection Drug Use and Hepatitis C Virus Infection
AU - Fiore, Josè Ramòn
AU - Volpe, Anna
AU - Tosatti, Maria Alessandra
AU - De Valentin, Lucia
AU - Favia, Anna
AU - Chironna, Maria
AU - Lisco, Andrea
AU - Vimercati, Antonella
AU - Angarano, Gioacchino
AU - Chieco-Bianchi, Luigi
AU - Calabrò, Maria Luisa
PY - 2004/4
Y1 - 2004/4
N2 - The seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in a group of HIV-1-infected pregnant women and in mother-child pairs from Southeastern Italy (Apulia) was determined. Blood was collected from 49 HIV-1-infected women during pregnancy or at delivery as well as from their children. Samples were analysed for the presence of antibodies to the latency-associated nuclear antigen and a structural antigen encoded by open reading frame 65. The presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) was also determined. Nineteen women (38.7%) were found to be positive for HHV-8 antibodies to at least one of the two antigens, and 21 (42.9%) for HCV antibodies. HHV-8 antibodies were more common in injecting drug users (56.3%) than in women infected through heterosexual intercourse (30.3%). HCV antibodies were significantly more prevalent in HHV-8-seropositive (66.7%) than HHV-8-seronegative (29%) women. Thirteen children born to HIV-1/HHV-8 co-infected women were HHV-8-seroreactive, with a variable pattern of reactivity to the analysed antigens. Follow-up of children showed a prolonged persistence of antibodies, in two cases for more than 12 months. This study has provided serological evidence for a high rate of HHV-8 infection in HIV-1-infected women in the Apulia region, and has identified a possible association between HHV-8 infection, past use of injection drugs and HCV infection. Parenteral transmission may, therefore, be a mode of virus spread.
AB - The seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in a group of HIV-1-infected pregnant women and in mother-child pairs from Southeastern Italy (Apulia) was determined. Blood was collected from 49 HIV-1-infected women during pregnancy or at delivery as well as from their children. Samples were analysed for the presence of antibodies to the latency-associated nuclear antigen and a structural antigen encoded by open reading frame 65. The presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) was also determined. Nineteen women (38.7%) were found to be positive for HHV-8 antibodies to at least one of the two antigens, and 21 (42.9%) for HCV antibodies. HHV-8 antibodies were more common in injecting drug users (56.3%) than in women infected through heterosexual intercourse (30.3%). HCV antibodies were significantly more prevalent in HHV-8-seropositive (66.7%) than HHV-8-seronegative (29%) women. Thirteen children born to HIV-1/HHV-8 co-infected women were HHV-8-seroreactive, with a variable pattern of reactivity to the analysed antigens. Follow-up of children showed a prolonged persistence of antibodies, in two cases for more than 12 months. This study has provided serological evidence for a high rate of HHV-8 infection in HIV-1-infected women in the Apulia region, and has identified a possible association between HHV-8 infection, past use of injection drugs and HCV infection. Parenteral transmission may, therefore, be a mode of virus spread.
KW - HCV
KW - HHV-8
KW - Mother-child pairs
KW - Risk factors
KW - Transmission
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U2 - 10.1002/jmv.20042
DO - 10.1002/jmv.20042
M3 - Article
C2 - 14981769
AN - SCOPUS:10744227865
VL - 72
SP - 656
EP - 660
JO - Journal of Medical Virology
JF - Journal of Medical Virology
SN - 0146-6615
IS - 4
ER -