Prevalence of human herpesvirus 8 antibodies in the population of Belém, Pará, Brazil

Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo. 2002 Nov-Dec;44(6):309-13. doi: 10.1590/s0036-46652002000600003.

Abstract

Serum samples from 497 children and adults inhabiting two neighbourhoods (Guamá and Terra Firme) in Belém, Pará, North Brazil were screened for the presence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) antibody using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An overall 16.3% prevalence was found for these urban communities. Taken both genders together, prevalence rates of HHV-8 antibody increase gradually, across age-groups, ranging from 12.0% to 33.3%. When seroprevalence is analysed by gender, similar rates are found for female (18.4%) and male (14.0%) individuals. In the former gender group, seroprevalence rates increased from 10.3%, in children < or = 10 years of age, to 30.0% in adults 41-50 years of age. Conversely, among male subjects, the prevalence of HHV-8 antibodies decreased from 13.3% in children/young adults aged < or = 10 to 20 years of age to 6.1% in adults aged 21-30 years. From the 31-40 year-old group male onwards, seropositivity rates increased gradually, ranging from 8.3% to 66.7%. A significant difference in seropositivity rates was noted when comparing 21-30 age groups for female and male subjects: 23.3% and 6.1%, respectively (P = 0.03). Geometric mean optical densities were found to increase slightly from the lower to the higher age-groups. Our data suggest that transmission of HHV-8 occurs frequently in the general urban population of Belém, and that prevalence of antibody seems to increase with age.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral / isolation & purification*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / immunology*
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Urban Population

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral