Abstract
We evaluated the prevalence of HHV-8 antibodies in 516 plasma samples collected from HIV positive and negative patients from blood banks and urban areas of Cameroon. Among HIV-1 positive samples, HHV-8 seropositivity rate was 61% based on combined reactivity using both ELISA and IFA techniques. HIV negative samples showed 62% seropositivity rate for HHV-8 antibodies. Our results indicate a high HHV-8 prevalence rate in both HIV infected and uninfected individuals in Cameroon.
Highlights
Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is an etiological agent of Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) [1]
206 samples were concordantly positive with both ELISA and IFA, yielding a seroprevalence of 61% in HIV-1 positive patients
Of the HIV negative samples, 124 (69%) plasma specimens tested positive for HHV-8 antibodies by ELISA, while 129 (72%) samples yielded a positive result by IFA
Summary
Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is an etiological agent of Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) [1]. It is known as KSHV (Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpes virus). Previous reports indicate that HHV-8 could be transmitted through saliva, sexual contact, blood or blood products and organ transplant [3,4]. The prevalence of HHV-8 was Viruses 2013, 5 higher in discrete geographic areas within Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean Basin [5]. These geographical locations reported the highest endemic KS prevalence prior to the HIV epidemic [6,7]
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