Abstract
Background In a recent population-based study of South African children, we found KSHV seroprevalence in children to be low (7%) and not associated with age, but EBV infection was nearly ubiquitous (96%). While saliva is known to be the main conduit for transmission of both KSHV and EBV, little is known about the comparative patterns of KSHV and EBV salivary shedding in Africa. To address whether differences in salivary shedding may account for the difference in seroprevalence, we assessed KSHV and EBV shedding in children and their caregivers in South Africa. Methods Participants were children ages 1.5 to 8.9 years and their primary female caregivers in a population-based sample in a rural and an urban community in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. KSHV antibody testing utilized a previously established algorithm featuring two enzyme immunoassays and one indirect immunofluorescence assay. Viral DNA in unstimulated saliva was detected by PCR targeting ORF25 for KSHV and the EBNA gene for EBV. Results
Highlights
In a recent population-based study of South African children, we found Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) seroprevalence in children to be low (7%) and not associated with age, but Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection was nearly ubiquitous (96%)
In a recent population-based study of South African children, we found KSHV seroprevalence in children to be low (7%) and not associated with age, but EBV infection was nearly ubiquitous (96%)
KSHV DNA was not detected in the saliva of any KSHV antibody-negative or -equivocal individual
Summary
In a recent population-based study of South African children, we found KSHV seroprevalence in children to be low (7%) and not associated with age, but EBV infection was nearly ubiquitous (96%). While saliva is known to be the main conduit for transmission of both KSHV and EBV, little is known about the comparative patterns of KSHV and EBV salivary shedding in Africa. To address whether differences in salivary shedding may account for the difference in seroprevalence, we assessed KSHV and EBV shedding in children and their caregivers in South Africa
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