BACKGROUND: The epidemiology and strain features of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in transplant recipients and HIV-infected patients in China is not well described. OBJECTIVES: To determine KSHV seroprevalence and characterize strains of KSHV in transplant recipients and HIV-infected patients in China. METHODS: Patients were screened for KSHV infection using a KSHV open reading frame (ORF) 65 recombinant protein-dependent ELISA. The 172bp fragment of KSHV ORF26 was amplified by nested PCR and bilaterally sequenced from KSHV-seropositive peripheral blood mononuclear cells. ORF26 gene diversity and cladograms were analyzed and compared to predominant international strains. RESULTS: KSHV seroprevalence in renal transplant recipients [41% (44/107)] and HIV-infected patients [39% (29/74)] were significantly higher than in healthy people [13% (16/122)] (P<0.01), but KSHV seroprevalence in liver transplant recipients [15% (5/33)] was similar to that of healthy people (P>0.05). ORF26 DNA was detected in 47% (23/49) of KSHV-seropositive organ transplant recipients; 28% (8/29) of KSHV-seropositive HIV-infected patients; and 19% (3/16) of KSHV-seropositive healthy people. Organ transplant recipients had a significantly higher rate of KSHV DNAemia than healthy people (P<0.05). The 13 KSHV strains that were analyzed were genetically close to the Hungary AY707887 strain and belonged to the A3 subtype. CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of KSHV was elevated in renal transplant recipients and HIV-infected patients in China, and KSHV DNAemia was more common in these patients and liver transplant recipients. KSHV strains from Zhejiang Province belonged to the A3 subtype.
BACKGROUND: The epidemiology and strain features of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) in transplant recipients and HIV-infectedpatients in China is not well described. OBJECTIVES: To determine KSHV seroprevalence and characterize strains of KSHV in transplant recipients and HIV-infectedpatients in China. METHODS:Patients were screened for KSHV infection using a KSHV open reading frame (ORF) 65 recombinant protein-dependent ELISA. The 172bp fragment of KSHVORF26 was amplified by nested PCR and bilaterally sequenced from KSHV-seropositive peripheral blood mononuclear cells. ORF26 gene diversity and cladograms were analyzed and compared to predominant international strains. RESULTS:KSHV seroprevalence in renal transplant recipients [41% (44/107)] and HIV-infectedpatients [39% (29/74)] were significantly higher than in healthy people [13% (16/122)] (P<0.01), but KSHV seroprevalence in liver transplant recipients [15% (5/33)] was similar to that of healthy people (P>0.05). ORF26 DNA was detected in 47% (23/49) of KSHV-seropositive organ transplant recipients; 28% (8/29) of KSHV-seropositive HIV-infectedpatients; and 19% (3/16) of KSHV-seropositive healthy people. Organ transplant recipients had a significantly higher rate of KSHV DNAemia than healthy people (P<0.05). The 13 KSHV strains that were analyzed were genetically close to the Hungary AY707887 strain and belonged to the A3 subtype. CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of KSHV was elevated in renal transplant recipients and HIV-infectedpatients in China, and KSHV DNAemia was more common in these patients and liver transplant recipients. KSHV strains from Zhejiang Province belonged to the A3 subtype.
Authors: Jie Lu; Subhash C Verma; Qiliang Cai; Abhik Saha; Richard Kuo Dzeng; Erle S Robertson Journal: PLoS Pathog Date: 2012-01-12 Impact factor: 6.823