Publications Search - Abstract View
| Title: |
Socio-economic and other correlates of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus seroprevalence among older adults in Sicily. |
| Authors: |
Pelser C, Vitale F, Whitby D, Graubard BI, Messina A, Gafà L, Brown EE, Anderson LA, Romano N, Lauria C, Goedert JJ |
| Journal: |
J Med Virol |
| Date: |
2009 Nov |
| Branches: |
IIB |
| PubMed ID: |
19777527 |
| PMC ID: |
PMC2784645 |
| Abstract: |
The virus that causes Kaposi sarcoma, KS-associated herpesvirus (KSHV, also known as human herpesvirus 8) has an unusual distribution and poorly characterized modes of transmission. To clarify these issues, socio-demographic correlates of KSHV seroprevalence were examined in a population-based study. In 1,154 randomly sampled adults (aged 32- 92, mean 71 years) throughout Sicily, KSHV antibodies were detected with four assays and a conservative algorithm. Seroprevalence was re-weighted to the population. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (OR, CI) from multivariate logistic regression were used to estimate associations of seroprevalence with interview data. KSHV seroprevalence was 8.5%, including 5.3% among men (N = 848) and 11.5% among women (N = 306, P = 0.22). Seroprevalence was higher with residence in a smaller community during childhood (P(trend) = 0.03) and working with plants/soil during adulthood (OR 2.9, CI 1.1-7.9); these were especially strong among women. Among men, seroprevalence was significantly associated with lower education (OR 2.6, CI 1.1-5.9) and migration to a larger community (OR 0.3, CI 0.1-0.9). Other demographic and household variables were unrelated to seroprevalence. From these data, KSHV in Sicily appears to be related to low socio-economic status, but micro-endemicity in small communities cannot be excluded. |