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Detection of human herpesvirus 8 DNA in serum from blood donors with HHV‐8 antibodies indicates possible bloodborne virus transmission
Author(s) -
Enbom Malin,
Urassa Willy,
Massambu Charles,
Thorstensson Rigmor,
Mhalu Fred,
Linde Annika
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.10183
Subject(s) - lytic cycle , virology , antibody , serology , antigen , herpesviridae , virus , biology , polymerase chain reaction , viral disease , immunology , gene , biochemistry
Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV‐8) is associated with Kaposi's sarcoma. There is a high seroprevalence of HHV‐8 in several African countries, but the transmission route is not known definitively. In this study 174 serum samples from blood donors in Tanzania were examined by immunofluorescence assays detecting antibodies to latent and lytic HHV‐8 antigens. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction was used for detection and quantification of HHV‐8 DNA in serum. In all, 83/174 (48%) of the subjects had antibodies to latent or lytic antigens. Forty (23%) had antibodies to both antigens and of those eight (20%) had detectable HHV‐8 DNA in serum. HHV‐8 DNA load correlated with antibody titres to lytic, but not latent, HHV‐8 antigens. This supports the usefulness of anti‐lytic antibodies in HHV‐8 serology and suggests that transmission of HHV‐8 by blood contact could be of importance in this region. J. Med. Virol. 68: 264–267, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.