Seroepidemiological correlations of antibodies to human herpesviruses and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in African patients

Abstract

A seroepidemiological evaluation of the humoral immune response against human herpes viruses was carried out in patients with and without HIV infection in Tanzania to study the role of these viruses as a cofactor in AIDS. Serum specimens were obtained from 321 outpatients and 100 healthy schoolchildren of a rural population in the Kagera Region, Tanzania, and from 149 inpatients of an urban population in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The data were analysed by logistic models taking into account demographic variables. The data obtained revealed no differences in the prevalence of antibodies to human herpes viruses between the different groups. Therefore, our study under the present conditions and the observed stages of AIDS does not suggest an influence of HIV infection on human herpesvirus infection or serologic response.

PIP: In Tanzania, researchers analyzed serum data on 321 15-62 year old outpatients at a rural hospital and 100 healthy 8-14 year old schoolchildren in Kagera Region (1986), on 120 inpatients of the Muhimbili Medical Center (MMC) in Dar-es-Salaam (1988), and on 29 inpatients from Ocean Road Hospital (ORH) also in Dar-es-Salaam (1989) to determine the prevalence and titers of antibodies to various herpes viruses and their relation to HIV-1. 43% of the adults from Kagera tested positive for HIV-1 compared with 63% from MMC and 72% from ORH. None of the children were HIV-1 seropositive. Almost everyone tested positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (93-99%). All those at ORH also had antibodies for herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) while the other groups all had HHV-6 seroprevalence levels 50%. Even though there were differences in antibody prevalences and titers for some EBV antigens between HIV-1 seropositive and HIV-1 seronegative adults, they were not significant. Seroprevalences for HHV-6 and EBV also infected with HIV-1 regardless if they were symptomatic or asymptomatic were not considerably higher than those in HIV-1 seronegative patients. This remained true for all 3 adult groups irrespective of the various percentages of HHV-6 seropositive patients. These results did not demonstrate HIV-1 infection as affecting human herpes virus infections or serologic responses. Therefore these viruses appeared not to be a cofactor in AIDS.