Human herpesvirus 8 infection in HIV-1-infected and uninfected pregnant women in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Human Herpes Virus (HHV-8) is related to Kaposi Saracoma an opportunistic infection occurring with HIV infection. Little is known about the seroepidemiology of Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection among Ethiopian women even though women are a major HIV risk group in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at determining the seroprevalence of HHV-8 infection in HIV-1-infected and uninfected pregnant women in five selected regions of Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2006 to June 2007 where pregnant women were recruited after age-matching in groups. A total of 400 pregnant women were enrolled with 200 being HIV-infected and 200 being HIV-uninfected Sera were screened for IgG lytic antibody to HHV-8 using an Indirect Fluorescence Assay (IFA) in Virology Unit of Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNR1). RESULTS: Of 400 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic (ANC) testing sites of five regions in Ethiopia 212 (53.0%) were positive for HHV-8 IgG lytic antibody. There was a high prevalence of HHV-8 infection among HIV-1-infected pregnant women (138 69.0%) as compared with HIV-1-uninfected pregnant women (74 37.0%). CONCLUSION: The study shows a high prevalence of HHV-8 infection among HIV-1-infected pregnant women as compared with HIV-1-uninfected pregnant women. Therefore creating awareness and educating women on safe sexual practice and avoiding deep kissing may be a fundamental ways to limit the roots of transmission. Moreover initiating strong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infected women would be best treatment prior to the development of Kaposis sarcoma (KS).