Epidemiology of Kaposi's Sarcoma herpesvirus (HHV8) in Västerbotten county, Sweden

Abstract

A population-based serosurvey of Human Herpesvirus type 8 (HHV8) in Västerbotten County, an area of Northern Sweden with high incidence of Kaposi's Sarcoma, was conducted. Serum samples from an age- and sex-stratified random sample of 520 subjects (260 men and 260 women) participating in a population-based biobanking project were tested for antibodies against HHV8, using a sensitive indirect immunofluorescence assay to latent and lytic HHV8 antigens. Buffy coat DNA was also analyzed for viral DNA using real time PCR assay. HHV8 DNA was not detectable in any one of the buffy coat samples. Eighty-four subjects (16.2%) were HHV8 seropositive, 14.4% for the lytic HHV8 antigen, and 1.7% for the latent HHV8 antigen. HHV8 seroprevalences were not associated significantly with sex or age. HHV8 seropositivity was more common among smokers (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.02-3.75), but was less common among consumers of wine and spirits (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.25-0.77 and OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.26-0.95, respectively). In summary, HHV8 has an intermediate high and stable seroprevalence rate in Northern Sweden, but environmental determinants that can explain the viral distribution were not found.

Prevalence of antibodies against Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpes virus (KSHV) complement inhibitory protein (KCP) in KSHV-related diseases and their correlation with clinical parameters

“…Next we correlated the anti-lytic and anti-latent antibody titers with anti-KCP presence. It is important to note, that this group of patients had much higher titers of lytic and latent KSHV antibodies, comparing to those from our pilot study [3] and the healthy group [7]. In the first study, 54.5 % of patients had a titer of anti-lytic KSHV antibodies lower than 1:640 and 50 % of patients had similar titers for anti-latent antibodies.…”

“…The third group of patients was chosen from 520 individuals from Västerbotten county in northern Sweden, previously classified for the KSHV seroprevalence [7]. Out of a total of 520 serum samples available we chose 75, which were positive for anti-lytic or anti-latent KSHV antigens.…”

“…Additionally, the second Italian group included patients suffering only from classical KS, who have been classified as slow or fast progressing [6]. The third group included a population-based sample of healthy individuals from northern Sweden, who were positive for anti-lytic or anti-latent KSHV antigens [7]. Since the incidence of classical KS in northern Sweden is estimated to be four-fold lower than in Italy [8], we wanted to check whether these individuals have elevated levels of anti-KCP antibodies compared to previously studied groups of Italian patients.…”

Kaposi's sarcoma, human herpesvirus 8 infection and the potential role of promoter-arthropod bites in northern Sweden

“…Possible determinants for such variability in KS that decreases southwards have not been identified. In the March 2006 issue of the Journal of Medical Virology, Tedeschi et al [2006] report the prevalence for HHV8 infection in a population-based serosurvey in the Vasterbotten county (latitude 64-668N), region of Umea, northern Sweden. The aim of the study was to test whether the higher KS risk in northern Sweden reflects high prevalence of HHV8 infection.…”

Biobanking in the Year 2007

“…The small number of articles associated with the term 'biobanking' suggests that research in this field is still in its infancy. Nonetheless, although numerically limited, the set of articles selected with this basic search describe a vast area of diverse competencies and interests, spanning from biobank management models applicable to biomedical research [1], to epidemiology of Kaposi's sarcoma [2], to RNA stability in frozen surgical tissue samples [3], to ethical issues [4,5], technology transfer [6], accountability [7]. In this article, we review the perspectives of biobanking in 2007, with particular attention to public biobanking programs involved in biomedical research and cellular therapy.…”