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- Title
Evidence for a Recessive Major Gene Predisposing to Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) Infection in a Population in Which HHV-8 Is Endemic.
- Authors
Plancoulaine, Sabine; Gessain, Antoine; van Beveren, Monique; Tortevoye, Patricia; Abel, Laurent
- Abstract
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. Results provide evidence for a recessive gene controlling susceptibility or resistance to HHV-8 infection. This gene is predicted to have a major effect during childhood, with almost all homozygous predisposed subjects (∼6% of the population) being infected by age 15. For nonpredisposed subjects, HHV-8 infection in childhood strongly depends on virus exposure (through an HHV-8-infected mother), whereas the risk of infection appears to be low in young adults, with no evidence for heterosexual transmission.
- Subjects
HERPESVIRUS disease genetics; IMMUNOGLOBULINS
- Publication
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2003, Vol 187, Issue 12, p1944
- ISSN
0022-1899
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1086/375345