95% CI: 95% confidence interval HHV8 Antibody titer distribution We also wanted to determine whether the geometric mean titer (GMT) of HHV8 antibodies differed between HIV+ and HIV? groups

95% CI: 95% confidence interval HHV8 Antibody titer distribution We also wanted to determine whether the geometric mean titer (GMT) of HHV8 antibodies differed between HIV+ and HIV? groups. with HHV8 infection. HIV status (OR, 23.03; 95%CI: 9.95C53.27) and blood/plasma selling history Frentizole (OR, 14.57; 95%CI: 7.49C28.23) were strongly associated with HCV infection. These findings demonstrate that both HHV8 and HCV infections are prevalent in this community. HIV infection is an important risk factor for both HHV8 and HCV infection. HBV infection is associated with HHV8 infection but not with HCV infection. It is possible that HHV8 and HBV, but not HCV, may have similar mode of transmission in this population. Keywords: HIV, HHV8, HCV, Illegal blood donor, Seroprevalence INTRODUCTION Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8), also known as Kaposis sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), a member of the gamma herpesvirus family, has consistently been found to be associated with all forms of Kaposis sarcoma (KS). It is also associated with other lymphoproliferative diseases such as primary effusion B-cell lymphomas (PELs) and multicentric Castleman’s disease (MCD) [1]. HHV8 infection is not ubiquitous and the prevalence varies in different populations but is commonly found in HIV positive individuals. HHV8 seroprevalence is generally low to moderate in western countries, ranging from 3% to 23% [2C4]. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, seroprevalence can be as high as 50% in the general population, and is even higher in the HIV positive population [5C7]. Data from Asian countries suggests that HHV8 seroprevalence is generally low [8]. Several epidemiological studies have been conducted to study the route of transmission and risk factors involved in acquiring HHV-8 infection [9C11]. While salivary transmission has emerged to be one of the major routes of transmission, a recent study conducted in Uganda has clearly demonstrated that transmission via blood transfusion can occur, albeit inefficiently [12]. In addition to HHV8, unmonitored blood transfusion may also increase the Rabbit Polyclonal to AurB/C risk for acquiring hepatotropic viral infections, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HBV. These viruses have been known to share similar routes of transmission and risk factors with HIV. It has also been reported that HCV coinfection is very common among HIV positive populations [13, 14]. During early 1990s, illegal plasma and blood collection by commercial establishments was common in rural areas of central China, mainly as a mean for rural farmers to augment their household income [15]. Practices such as pooling of blood and re-infusion of red blood cells from donors with compatible blood types, exposed the blood donors to various blood borne pathogens including HIV. This practice had led to an outbreak of HIV in rural central China. Since the first outbreak of Frentizole HCV infection among plasma donors in China in 1991, studies have shown a high seroprevalence of HCV in the illegal blood donor population [13, 16]. In contrast, very little is known about HHV8 epidemiology in China, especially in this unique high risk population. A few studies on HHV8 prevalence in mainland China and in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in Northwestern China, which is an endemic area for KS, have been reported [17, 18]. No seroprevalence studies of HHV8 have been conducted in areas of central China where a large number of illegal commercial blood/plasma Frentizole donors reside, even though high prevalence of HCV and HIV has been observed in this area. The prevalence of HHV8 in this population and its correlation to HIV, HBV and HCV infection is not known. Therefore, we conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological study to ascertain the seroprevalence of HHV8 and HCV among HIV infected patients and compared them to HIV negative individuals in a rural area in Shanxi province of Central China. To our knowledge, this is the first study to document Frentizole HHV8 seroprevalence in this population. These findings will contribute to an enhanced awareness of HHV8 infection among these former blood donors. MATERIALS AND METHODS Study cohort and sample collection The present study was conducted in Yun-cheng city, a rural prefecture area of Shanxi province in Central China, a community that harbors a large number of former illegal blood donors. The first case of HIV in a plasma donor for commercial gain from Yun-cheng city was reported in 1996. Since then 626 HIV/AIDS.