Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

470 Abstracts ThPeC7538-ThPeC7541

XIV International AIDS Conference

seroprevalence of antibodies against HHV-8 have significant differences among
geographic areas, gender and sexual practices; in Greece and Italy it has been
reported a seroprevalence more than 35% while in Africa is higher than 50%.
In Latin America seroprevalence reports of HHV-8 infection are scarce and only
in small groups. HIV-infected individuals, homosexuals and transplant recipients
present higher incidence of HHV-8.
Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against HHV-8
(IgG vs HHV-8) in Mexican general population, and HIV-infected patients with or
without histopatologic diagnosis of KS.
Materials and Methods: We determined the IgG vs HHV-8 presence by an ELISA
test with a commercial kit (Advanced Biotechnologies Inc) in three groups.Group
1: 307 healthy blood donors, Group 2: 48 HIV+ patients with KS and Group 3: the
106 HIV+ patients without KS.
Results: Group 1: Of the healthy blood donors, 2 individuals (0.65%) presented
positive serology to IgG vs HHV-8. Group 2: HIV+ patients with KS had 83% seroprevalence: (40 of 48) and Group 3: Of the 106 HIV+ without KS patients 26% (28
of 106) presented positive serology to IgG vs HHV-8. Correlation between sexual
practices an serologic status of IgG vs HHV-8 will be presented.
Conclusions: The seroprevalence of IgG vs HHV-8 in Mexican healthy blood
donors is smaller than that reported in other countries, possibly due to the fact
that HHV-8 infection is still limited to specific risk groups, as the HIV+ patients or
homo-bisexual individuals, in which the seroprevalence of IgG vs HHV-8 is similar to other geographical areas as several European countries or the USA. This
significant difference is probably due to sexual practices and/or the presence of
immunosupression.
Presenting author: Alberto Huante-Perez, instituto nacional de ciencias medicas y nutricion salvador zubiran, vasco de Quiroga 15, col seccion XVI. Tlalpan
cp. 14000, Mexico city, Mexico, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone],
E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeC7538I Seroprevalence of HHV-8 infection and associated
risk factors in PLWHA in Santos, Brazil
L.C. Pierrotti', A. Etzel2, L.M. Sumita3, A.C. Segurado4, P.E. Braga5,
J. Eluf-Neto6, W.S. Freire3, V.A.U. Souza3. 1 Virology Laboratory (LIM-52),
Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo,
Sao Paulo, Brazil; 2Santos AIDS Reference Center, Santos, Brazil; 3Virology
Laboratory, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of
Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; 4Department of Infectious Diseases, School of
Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Av Dr Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar 470, Sao
Paulo, Brazil; 5Department of Epidemiology School of Public Health, University
of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil; 6Department of Preventive Medicine, School of
Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Background: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) was recently identified and implicated in the etiology of Kaposi's sarcoma. In non endemic areas, higher HHV8 seroprevalence rates have been found in risk groups for STDs, particularly
men who have sex with men (MSM), suggesting this virus is sexually transmitted.
Methods: We investigated HHV-8 seroprevalence and risk factors for this viral
infection in 497 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Patients were recruted
at an HIV/AIDS Reference Center in Santos, Brazil. Subjects were considered
HHV-8 seropositive if they exhibited seroreactivity in any of the three serologic
tests included in the adopted diagnostic algorithm: indirect immunofluorescence
test for HHV-8 nuclear latent (anti-LANA) or cytoplasmatic (anti-LYTIC) antigens
or enzymeimmunoassay for the recombinant viral capsid antigen (orf65).
Results: 69 individuals (13.9%, Cl 95% 10.8-16.9) were found HHV-8 -seropositive. HHV-8 infection was significantly more frequent in men (18.7%) than
in women (7.8%) (p<0.001). In males, HHV-8 seroprevalence was higher among
homosexuals (37.7%) and bisexuals (28.6%). Multivariate analysis showed HHV8 infection to be independently associated with sexual behavior: OR=4.94 (C195%
1.59-15.38) among homosexuals; OR=2.70 (CI95% 1.00-7.26) among bisexuals
(reference group: heterosexuals). In females, HHV-8 seropositivity did not differ
significantly in regard to sociodemographic characteristics and HIV exposure categories.
Conclusions: HHV-8 infection is endemic in PLWHAs from Santos, Brazil and results support the hypothesis that this human herpes virus is sexually transmitted
within the studied population.
Presenting author: Aluisio Segurado, Av. Dr. Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar 470,
Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: segurado
@usp.br
ThPeC7539 Correlates of human herpesvirus 8 seropositivity
among heterosexual men in Kenya
J.M. Baeten1, B.H. Chohan2, L. Lavreys1, J.P Rakwar2, R. Ashley1,
B.A. Richardson1, K. Mandaliya3, J.J. Bwayo2, J.K. Kreiss1. 1 University of

Washington, IARTP, Box 359909, 325 Ninth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, United
States; 2University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya; 3Coast Provincial General
Hospital, Mombasa, Kenya
Background: Several studies have suggested that sexual transmission of HHV8 occurs among homosexual men in developed countries. However, few studies
have examined heterosexual HHV-8 transmission, especially among African populations in which HHV-8 is endemic.

Methods: Our objective was to determine the seroprevalence and correlates of
HHV-8 infection among heterosexual African men. Participants were 1061 men
enrolled in a prospective cohort study of risk factors for HIV-1 acquisition among
trucking company employees in Mombasa, Kenya. Stored frozen sera from the
study baseline visit were tested for antibodies to HHV-8 by whole-virus lysate
ELISA.
Results: HHV-8 seroprevalence was 43%. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, HHV-8 infection was independently associated with older age [for men 30 -39, odds ratio (OR) 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-2.0, p=0.02, and for
men >40, OR 1.7, 95% Cl 1.1-2.7, p=0.02, compared with men <30], Christian
religion (OR 1.6, 95% Cl 1.2-2.1, p=0.003), uncircumcised status (OR 1.5, 95%
Cl 1.0-2.2, p=0.04), and ever having syphilis (OR 2.2, 95% Cl 1.4-3.5, p=0.001).
Ever having used condoms was associated with decreased likelihood of infection
(OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6-1.0, p=0.03). Seropositivity was not significantly related to
sexual behavior during the prior year or to HIV-1 status.
Conclusions: HHV-8 seropositivity is common in this population and increases
with age, suggesting on-going transmission during adulthood. Infection was more
common among men who were uncircumcised or who had ever had syphilis and
was less common among those who had ever used condoms, suggesting sexual
factors may play a role in HHV-8 transmission. Prospective studies of HHV-8 acquisition in heterosexual African populations are needed to demonstrate whether
safer sexual practices can reduce transmission.
Presenting author: Jared Baeten, IARTP, Box 359909, 325 Ninth Ave, Seattle,
WA 98104, United States, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail:
jbaeten @ u.washington.edu
ThPeC7540 Prevalence and correlates of HHV-8 infection
among multi-partner heterosexuals and among
men who have sex with men attending a program
for HIV-1 counseling and testing
M. Giuliani1, P. Cordiali2, C. Castilletti3, E. Crescimbeni2, G. Palamara4,
A. Maini5, A. Di Carlo5, F. Ameglio2, G. Rezza6. 'Reparto AIDS e MSTIstituto
Superiore di Sanit, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Reparto AIDS e MST Viale
Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy; 2Laboratorio di Patologia Clinica e
Microbiologia Istituto S.Gallicano (IRCCS), Rome, Italy; 3Laboratorio di
Patologia Clinica e Microbiologia Istituto S.Gallicano (IRCCS), Rome, Italy;
4Unita Operativa HIV/MST Istituto S.Gallicano (IRCCS), Rome, Italy; 5Unitj
Operativa HIV/MST Istituto S.Gallicano (IRCCS), Rome, Italy; 6Reparto AIDS e
MST Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy
Background: Although it is known that HHV-8 can be transmitted sexually, few
studies have been conducted among heterosexuals. We assessed the prevalence
and correlates of HHV-8 infection among sexually active heterosexuals and men
who have sex with men (MSWM).
Methods: We collected blood samples from promiscuous heterosexuals with
more than 3 partners in the previous year ("multi-partner") and from MSWM, all of
whom attended a program for HIV-1 testing in a clinic for sexually transmitted infections between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 1998. Blood samples were
tested with an indirect immunofluorescence assay for detecting antibodies to lytic
and latent HHV-8 antigen.
Results We tested 538 individuals: 493 (91.6%) were males, 280 (52.0%)
MSWM, 24 (4.5%) intravenous drug users (IDU), and 234 (43.5%) multi-partner
heterosexuals (non drug-using). The overall HHV-8 prevalence was 28.8%
(155/538); it was 37.5% (105/280) for MSWM, 20.8% (5/24) for IDUs, and 19.2%
(45/234) for heterosexuals. Among MSWM, the prevalence was higher among
HIV-1positive persons, compared to HIV-1-negative persons (OR:2.42, 95%Cl=
1.20-4.89). There were no significant differences by HIV-1 serostatus among IDUs
or heterosexuals. Among heterosexuals only, HHV-8 infection was associated with
a history of gonorrhea (OR: 2.73 95% CI=1.10-6.74) and syphilis (OR: 2.46, 95%
CI= 1.00-5.97), and the median number of partners was higher for HHV8+ persons compared to HHV-8 negative persons (5 and 4 partners, respectively).
Conclusions: We confirmed that HHV-8 prevalence was lower among multipartner heterosexuals, compared to MSWM, and that, differently from MSWM,
HHV-8 infection is not associated with HIV-1 infection among heterosexuals. Nevertheless, among heterosexuals, the association of HHV-8 with a history of gonorrhea and syphilis and with a greater number of partners stresses the importance
of sexual promiscuity in the increase the risk of infection.
Presenting author: Massimo Giuliani, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Reparto AIDS
e MST, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy, Tel.: [phone], Fax:
[phone], E-mail: giulianim @ libero.it
ThPeC7541 The relationship between sociodemographic
background, sexual behaviour, and HIV on
self-reported anogenital warts among young men
who have sex with men

E. Press1, K. Chan', S. Martindale', M.L. Miller1, P. Granger2, R. Hogg'. IBC
Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, 608-1081 burrard street, st paul's hospital
vancouver, bc, v6z ly6, Canada; 2 Three Bridges Community Health Centre,
Vancouver, Canada
Background: To determine the self-reported prevalence of anogenital warts, a
sexually transmitted disease (STD), in a cohort of men who have sex with men
(MSM), & to identify the relationship between sociodemographic background, sex