Human Herpesvirus 8 Infection in Rural Egypt
Author Information
Author(s): Mbulaiteye Sam M., Pfeiffer Ruth M., Dolan Bryan, Tsang Victor C.W., Noh John, Mikhail Nabiel N.H., Abdel-Hamid Mohamed, Hashem Mohamed, Whitby Denise, Strickland G. Thomas, Goedert James J.
Primary Institution: National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Hypothesis
Is schistosomal seropositivity associated with HHV-8 seropositivity?
Conclusion
The study suggests that salivary and possible nosocomial transmission of HHV-8 occurs in rural Egypt.
Supporting Evidence
- HHV-8 seroprevalence was lower among children compared to adults.
- HHV-8 seropositivity was associated with dental treatment and hepatitis C virus seropositivity.
- The study found a 2-fold higher HHV-8 seroprevalence in persons with schistosomal antibodies.
- Higher HHV-8 seropositivity was observed in older participants.
- The study suggests that historical intravenous injections for schistosomiasis may have contributed to HHV-8 transmission.
Takeaway
This study looked at how a virus called HHV-8 spreads in rural Egypt and found that it might spread through saliva and medical treatments.
Methodology
Participants were surveyed for HHV-8 and schistosomal infections, with serologic testing and logistic regression analyses performed.
Potential Biases
Potential serologic misclassification could attenuate associations toward the null.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits the ability to determine causality, and the serologic assays have imperfect specificity and sensitivity.
Participant Demographics
Participants included rural household members from Assiut Governorate, Egypt, with a mix of children and adults.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.1–5.2 for dental treatment association in men; 95% CI 1.4–7.9 for HCV seropositivity association in women.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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