HTLV-2B strains, similar to those found in several Amerindian tribes, are endemic in central African Bakola Pygmies.

Background: The presence and origin of endemic foci of human T-lymphotropic virus type 2 (HTLV2) infection in Africa remain a matter of debate.

Methods: To better appreciate such determinants, we performed a survey of 1918 inhabitants from Cameroon forest areas, including 1051 Bakola Pygmies and 867 Bantus.

Results: The overall HTLV-1/2 seroprevalence was 4% (49 cases of HTLV-1 and 27 cases of HTLV-2 infection).

Respective roles of serological status and blood specific antihuman herpesvirus 8 antibody levels in human herpesvirus 8 intrafamilial transmission in a highly endemic area.

Transmission of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), the etiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, occurs mainly during childhood in endemic countries and, to a large extent, through intrafamilial contacts. To additionally investigate this familial transmission, and especially the role of plasma anti-HHV-8 antibody titers, we conducted a large survey in a village from Cameroon, Central Africa, including 92 families (608 individuals). Plasma samples were tested for specific IgG directed against HHV-8 lytic antigens by immunofluorescence assay, and titers were determined by 2-fold dilutions.

Evidence for a recessive major gene predisposing to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection in a population in which HHV-8 is endemic.

Infection by human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), as measured by the presence of specific antibodies, was shown in countries in which HHV-8 infection is endemic to exhibit familial aggregation and a peculiar variation with age (rapid increase until puberty followed by a plateau in young adults). To investigate whether host genetic factors could explain these findings, a segregation analysis was performed of 81 families of African origin (1623 subjects; HHV-8 seroprevalence, 11.9%) living in a village in French Guiana in which HHV-8 infection is endemic.

High titers of anti-human herpesvirus 8 antibodies in elderly males in an endemic population.

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) is the etiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a tumor occurring mainly among elderly men in its endemic and classical forms. The male-to-female ratio of KS in different endemic populations ranges from 3 : 1 to 15 : 1. We investigated the influence of age and gender on anti-HHV8 antibody titers among HHV8-seropositive subjects of an endemic population (1819 villagers with 874 men and 945 women) of African origin living in French Guiana.