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Abstract

SUMMARY OF THESISSUMITA HUMAN HERPESVIRUS-8 INFECTION IN AMERINDIAN AND NON-AMERINDIAN POPULATIONS IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON REGIONHuman herpes virus type 8 (HHV-8) is hyperendemic in Amerindian populations, but its modes of transmission are unknown. Objectives: 1. To study the Human Herpesvirus-8 Infection and Oral Shedding in Amerindian and Non-Amerindian Populations in the Brazilian Amazon Region. 2. Methods: Antibodies against either HHV-8 latencyassociated nuclear antigen (LANA) or HHV-8 lytic antigen were detected, by immunofluorescence assays, in 339 Amerindians and 181 non-Amerindians from the Brazilian Amazon. Serological markers of oro-fecal (hepatitis A), parenteral (hepatitis B and C), and sexual (herpes simplex virus type 2 and syphilis) transmission were measured by specific ELISA. Salivary HHV-8 DNA was detected by use of a nested polymerase chain reaction assay and was sequenced. Results: Antibodies against either LANA antigen or lytic were detected in 79.1% of Amerindians and in 6.1% of non-Amerindians. HHV-8 seroprevalence increased with age among Amerindians and already had high prevalence in childhood but was not sex specific in either population. The two populations did not differ in seroprevalence of oro-fecal or parenteral markers, but seroprevalence of markers of sexual transmission was lower among Amerindians. HHV-8 DNA in saliva was detected in 23 % of HHV-8 seropositive Amerindians. Detection of HHV-8 decreased with age and was more common in men. HHV-8 DNA samples were sequenced, and all clustered as subtype E. Conclusion: Data support the hypothesis of early acquisition and horizontal transmission, via saliva, of HHV-8 subtype E in Amerindian populations.