Baillargeon Jacques, Leach Charles T, Deng Jian-Hong, Gao Shou-Jiang, Jenson Hal B
Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284, USA.
J Med Virol. 2002 Aug;67(4):542-8. doi: 10.1002/jmv.10136.
Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, is etiologically associated with Kaposi's sarcoma and other rare malignancies. HHV-8 infection is common in certain areas of Africa and Italy, but occurs in only 0-15% of populations in North America and Europe. The epidemiology and prevalence of HHV-8 infection among children in the United States has not been determined, but is assumed to be low based on limited studies. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and possible risk factors of HHV-8 infection in children living in south Texas. Questionnaire data were collected and HHV-8 serologic tests were performed from a consecutive, non-probability sample of 123 healthy children (ages 4-13 years) attending general pediatric clinics in south Texas. Serum was tested for HHV-8 antibodies by latent immunofluorescence assay and ORF65 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed by immunoblot. HHV-8 prevalence and 95 percent confidence intervals were calculated using standard epidemiologic methods. Logistic regression was used to assess independent risk factors associated with HHV-8 seropositivity. The overall prevalence of HHV-8 infection was 26%. No statistically significant associations were exhibited between HHV-8 prevalence and the variables under study. The prevalence of HHV-8 infection among children in south Texas, particularly among those under the age of 12 years, indicates that non-sexual transmission of this virus is likely to occur among this population. Future investigations of larger study samples will be necessary to develop an understanding of specific routes and risk factors of HHV-8 transmission among children in south Texas.
人类疱疹病毒8型（HHV - 8），也称为卡波西肉瘤相关疱疹病毒，在病因上与卡波西肉瘤和其他罕见恶性肿瘤相关。HHV - 8感染在非洲和意大利的某些地区很常见，但在北美和欧洲只有0 - 15%的人群感染。美国儿童中HHV - 8感染的流行病学和患病率尚未确定，但根据有限的研究推测其感染率较低。本研究的目的是确定生活在得克萨斯州南部儿童中HHV - 8感染的血清阳性率及可能的危险因素。收集了问卷数据，并对得克萨斯州南部综合儿科诊所连续抽取的123名健康儿童（4 - 13岁）进行了HHV - 8血清学检测。通过潜伏免疫荧光法检测血清中的HHV - 8抗体，并用免疫印迹法确认的ORF65酶联免疫吸附测定法进行检测。使用标准流行病学方法计算HHV - 8患病率和95%置信区间。采用逻辑回归分析评估与HHV - 8血清阳性相关的独立危险因素。HHV - 8感染的总体患病率为26%。HHV - 8患病率与所研究的变量之间未显示出统计学上的显著关联。得克萨斯州南部儿童中HHV - 8感染的患病率，特别是12岁以下儿童中的患病率，表明该病毒在这一人群中可能通过非性传播。未来需要对更大的研究样本进行调查，以了解得克萨斯州南部儿童中HHV - 8传播的具体途径和危险因素。
