Comparison of Epstein-Barr virus and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus viral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and oral fluids of HIV-negative individuals aged 3-89 years from Uganda

Author:

Nalwoga, Angela

Marshall,Vickie

Miley,Wendell

Labo,Nazzarena

Whitby,Denise

Newton, Robert

Rochford, Rosemary
Author Address

Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA. angela.nalwoga@cuanschutz.edu., MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda. angela.nalwoga@cuanschutz.edu., Viral Oncology Section, AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA., MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda. robert.newton@york.ac.uk., University of York, York, UK. robert.newton@york.ac.uk.,

Abstract:

We previously found that age, sex and malaria were associated with KSHV in individuals from Uganda. In this study, we have evaluated these same factors in relation to EBV in the same specimens. Overall, 74% (oral fluids) and 46% (PBMCs) had detectable EBV. This was significantly higher than observed for KSHV (24% oral fluids and 11% PBMCs). Individuals with EBV in PBMCs were more likely to have KSHV in PBMCs (P = 0.011). The peak age for detection of EBV in oral fluids was 3-5 years while that of KSHV was 6-12 years. In PBMCs, there was a bimodal peak age for detection of EBV (at 3-5 years and 66 + years) while for KSHV there was a single peak at 3-5 years. Individuals with malaria had higher levels of EBV in PBMCs compared to malaria-negative individuals (P = 0.002). In summary, our results show that younger age and malaria are associated with higher levels of EBV and KSHV in PBMCs suggesting malaria impacts immunity to both gamma-herpesviruses.

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