Association between malaria exposure and Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpes virus seropositivity in Uganda. Issue 5 (9th February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nalwoga, Angela; Cose, Stephen; Wakeham, Katie; Miley, Wendell; Ndibazza, Juliet; Drakeley, Christopher; Elliott, Alison; Whitby, Denise; Newton, Robert
• Is Part Of: Tropical medicine & international health. Volume 20:Issue 5(2015:May)
• Page Start: 665
• Page End: 672
• Publication Date: 2015-02-09
• Subjects: Tropical medicine -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 616.988
• DOI: 10.1111/tmi.12464
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-2276

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="tmi12464-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="tmi12464-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>Unlike other herpes viruses, Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpes virus (KSHV) is not ubiquitous worldwide and is most prevalent in sub‐Saharan Africa. The reasons for this are unclear. As part of a wider investigation of factors that facilitate transmission in Uganda, a high prevalence country, we examined the association between antimalaria antibodies and seropositivity against KSHV.</p> </sec> <sec id="tmi12464-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Antibodies against <italic>P. falciparum</italic> merozoite surface protein (<italic>Pf</italic>MSP)‐1, <italic>P. falciparum</italic> apical membrane antigen (<italic>Pf</italic>AMA)‐1 and KSHV antigens (ORF73 and K8.1) were measured in samples from 1164 mothers and 1227 children.</p> </sec> <sec id="tmi12464-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpes virus seroprevalence was 69% among mothers and 15% children. Among mothers, KSHV seroprevalence increased with malaria antibody titres: from 60% to 82% and from 54% to 77%, comparing those with the lowest and highest titres for <italic>Pf</italic>MSP‐1 and <italic>Pf</italic>AMA‐1, respectively (<italic>P</italic> < 0.0001). Among children, only antibodies to <italic>Pf</italic>AMA‐1 were significantly associated with KSHV seropositivity, (<italic>P</italic> < 0.0001). In both mothers and children, anti‐ORF73 antibodies were more strongly associated with malaria antibodies than anti‐K8.1 antibodies.</p> </sec> <sec id="tmi12464-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The association between malaria exposure and KSHV seropositivity suggests that malaria is a cofactor for KSHV infection or reactivation.</p> </sec> </abstract>