Virology, Nebraska Center for
Date of this Version
2014
Citation
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014 February ; 23(2): 300–308.
Abstract
Background—Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection in early childhood is common throughout sub-Saharan Africa with prevalence increasing throughout childhood. Specific routes of transmission have not been clearly delineated, though HHV-8 is present in high concentrations in saliva.
Methods—To understand the horizontal transmission of HHV-8 within households to children we enrolled for cross-sectional analysis, 251 households including 254 children, age two and under, in Lusaka, Zambia. For all children, plasma was screened for HHV-8 and HIV-1 and health and behavioral questionnaires were completed. Multi-level logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess independent factors for HHV-8 infection in children.
Results—Risk factors for HHV-8 infection included increasing number of HHV-8 positive household members [OR 2.5 (95% CI: 1.9, 3.3) P < 0.01] and having a primary caregiver who tested the temperature of food with their tongue prior to feeding the child [OR 2.4 (95% CI: 1.93, 3.30) P =0.01]. Breastfeeding was protective against infection with HHV-8 for children [OR 0.3 (95% CI: 0.16, 0.72) P <0.01].
Conclusions—These results indicate that exposure to HHV-8 in the household increases risk for early childhood infection with specific feeding behaviors likely playing a role in transmission.
Impact—Interventions to protect children from infection should emphasize the possibility of infection through sharing of foods.
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Comments
Copyright © 2014 by the American Association for Cancer Research.