Transmission of Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Between Mothers and Children in a South African Population

Abstract

The risk of acquisition of KSHV was higher among children of KSHV-seropositive mothers. Although KSHV seroprevalence was significantly higher in children and mothers who were infected with HIV, the HIV status of the mother was only marginally associated with an increased risk of KSHV seropositivity in the child.

Kaposi sarcoma: The African HIV epidemic's partner in crime

“…HHV8 transmission is not fully understood, but is believed to be mainly horizontal through saliva and semen rather than vertical. Malope et al [10] showed that while children of HHV8-seropositive mothers are at risk for HHV8 infection, seroprevalence of children was half that of their mothers, supporting the notion that seroprevalence increases with age. It may simply be the timing of the HHV8 infection that determines clinical presentation.…”

“…While HHV8-positive mothers and children are more likely to be HIV-positive, maternal HIV-seropositivity does not, in itself, confer a risk of HHV8 infection on the children [10]. There is no evidence that the HIVepidemic has changed the epidemiology of HHV8 [3] but it has certainly changed the incidence of KS.…”

A Review of Human Herpesvirus 8, the Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus, in the Pediatric Population

“…The high seroprevalence in African children also suggests that transmission likely occurs via salivary exchange, similar to that seen in EBV [50]. Transmission likely occurs within families, and infection is highest among children whose mother, first-degree relative, or next-older sibling is also seropositive [8,13,[51][52][53]. In Uganda, childhood exposure to premasticated food (only 8.8% of participants) was not found to be a risk factor, although sharing plates (91% of participants) was associated with risk [11].…”

A major locus on chromosome 3p22 conferring predisposition to human herpesvirus 8 infection

“…Six studies have provided evidence of correlated HHV-8 serological status between mother and children, one in a Jewish population from Israel 6 and five in the populations of African origin. [7][8][9][10][11] Three of these studies investigating dependences between other biological relatives also found that HHV-8 serological status was strongly correlated between siblings. [8][9][10] This pattern of familial aggregation, which is not accounted for by known risk factors, suggests that host genetic factors may be involved in HHV-8 infection.…”