Research on co-infections of HIV and human herpesvirus-8 among the Uygur high-risk groups in a city, Xinjiang

Abstract

To research the co-infections of HIV and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) in Uygur high-risk groups of HIV infection in a city Xinjiang. All 468 Uygurs at high HIV risk registered in the sentinel monitoring system in 2006 were enrolled in this study. The antibodies to HHV8 latency-associated nuclear antigens 1 (LANA1), lytic antigens open reading frame 65 (ORF65) and K8.1 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Chi-square test and non-condition Logistic regression model were used for data analysis. Of 468 sera samples, 67 (14.3%) were HIV and HHV8 co-infection positive.Male's HIV and HHV8 co-infection rate (22.6%, 54/239) was higher than the female's (5.7%, 13/229) (chi(2) = 27.285, P < 0.001). For those above 24 year old, HIV and HHV8 co-infection rate (15.8%, 65/412) was higher than the < 24 year old group's (3.6%, 2/56) (chi(2) = 5.987, P = 0.014). The group of Elementary school and illiterate people's HIV and HHV8 co-infection rate (20.7%, 40/193) was higher than the junior middle school and the above culture (9.8%, 27/275) (chi(2) = 10.999, P = 0.001). For the unmarried people, the co-infecting rate of HIV and HHV8 for the married, the cohabitants, the divorced or the widowers were 16.9% (14/83), 12.2% (42/345), 27.5% (11/40) respectively. There was significantly statistical difference among three marital status (chi(2) = 7.399, P = 0.025). Injecting drug users' HIV and HHV8 co-infection rate (26.5%, 50/189) was higher than non-injecting drug users' (6.1%, 17/279) (chi(2) = 38.083, P < 0.001), and stratified by gender, OR(M-H) was 4.207 (95%CI: 1.529 - 11.578). Via non-condition logistic stepwise regression analysis, only injecting drug use entered model, compared with non-injecting drug users, injecting drug users were more dangerous for HIV and HHV8 co-infecting (OR = 5.544; 95%CI: 3.081 - 9.975). The HIV and HHV8 co-infection rate was higher in the Uygurs at high HIV risk in Xinjiang. Injecting drug use is a risk factor of the HIV and HHV8 co-infection, which might be one of routes of HIV and HHV8 co-infection among this group.