Seroprevalence and Determinants of Human Herpes Virus 8 Infection in Adult Nigerians with and without HIV-1 Infection

ABSTRACT

Background: There is a dearth of studies on HHV8-HIV co-infections from Nigeria; even as both infections have been shown to be endemic in Africa. This study examined the seroprevalence and determinants of HHV8 infections in adult Nigerians with and without HIV-infection. Methods: In 2007; a cross sectional study undertaken in a tertiary hospital in Zaria; northern Nigeria enrolled 71 HIV-1 positive adults without Kaposi's sarcoma and 85 apparently healthy HIV-negative adult volunteers of the general population. Anti-lytic antibodies to HHV8 infection was determined by ELISA. A univariate analysis including age; sex; marital status; past sexually transmitted disease (STD); past blood transfusion; HIV/AIDS staging and CD4 count was used to determine variables associated with HHV8 seropositivity. Significant variables were adjusted in a logistic regression model expressed in odds ratio (OR) with 95confidence interval (CI). P0.05 was considered significant Results: The seroprevalence of HHV8 infection was 62in HIV-1 positive patients and 25.9in HIV negative adults (p0.001). A past history of STD [ORCI= 1.0 - 8.2] and advanced HIV/AIDS (WHO stage 3 and 4) [OR=3.5; 95CI= 1.21-10.1] were the only variables independently associated with HHV8 seropositivity in HIV-infected patients. In HIV-negative adults; none of the variables was significantly associated with HHV8 seropositivity. Conclusion: The study findings suggest an adverse interaction between HHV8 and HIV-1. The higher prevalence of HHV8 infection in HIV-infected patients and its association with STD support a predominant sexual route of HHV8 transmission among adult Nigerians