18th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Epidemiology of Kaposi Sarcoma Associated Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Zambia: Accuracy of Current Serological Diagnosis
Ejikemenwa "Ejike" I. Anih
Dr. Michael Lockhart and Dr. Charles Wood (Nebraska Center for Virology - Lincoln, NE), Faculty Mentors
Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus or Human Herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8/KSHV) is a gamma herpesvirus endemic in regions of South America and Africa. Following the onset of the AIDS pandemic, several sub-Saharan countries including the study site (Lusaka, Zambia), and some high risk groups in the United States and Europe noted a rise in KS cases. As part of a study of the mechanism of HHV-8 infection among Zambian mother-infant pairs, samples were collected from mothers and infants and were classified based on serological diagnosis into four groups. Previous data from our lab has suggested that saliva may be one mechanism of HHV-8 transmission from mother to child. However, a number of children in the study from serologically HHV-8 negative mothers have seroconverted at 12 months of age. While it is possible that such seroconversion events in these children results from household contacts other than the mother, a more precise and sensitive means of detection of HHV-8, in presumed negative mothers, is warranted, particularly when the mother is the primary caregiver.
Keywords: HIV, HHV-8, Kaposi’s sarcoma, gamma herpesvirus , Serolgy, diagnosis, seroconversion, University Nebraska
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 41-4
Location: VH 1412
Time: 3:00