Browsing by Author "Owor, Anchilla M."

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    Detection of Kaposi Sarcoma–Associated Herpesvirus DNA in Saliva and Buffy-Coat Samples from Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Uganda
    (The Journal of infectious diseases, 2004) Mbulaiteye, Sam M.; Pfeiffer, Ruth M.; Engels, Eric A.; Marshall, Vickie; Bakaki, Paul M.; Owor, Anchilla M.; Ndugwa, Christopher M.; Mbidde, Edward Katongole; Goedert, James J.; Biggar, Robert J.; Whitby, Denise
    Among 233 children, Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV) DNA was detected in 43% of children seropositive for both K8.1 and orf73, in 29% of children seropositive for K8.1 only, in 14% of children seropositive for orf73 only, and in 7% of children seronegative for both K8.1 and orf73; among 228 mothers, KSHV DNA was detected in 27%, 25%, 4%, and 1%, respectively. KSHV DNA was detected more frequently and at higher levels in saliva than in buffy-coat samples and in children than in mothers. In both children and mothers, detection in saliva was associated with detection in peripheral blood. Detection was associated with K8.1 seropositivity, younger age, and high household density, indicating the importance of in-household person-to-person transmission, likely via saliva.
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    High Levels of Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Saliva and Peripheral Blood from Ugandan Mother-Child Pairs
    (The Journal of infectious diseases, 2006) Mbulaiteye, Sam M.; Walters, Michael; Engels, Eric A.; Bakaki, Paul M.; Ndugwa, Christopher M.; Owor, Anchilla M.; Goedert, James J.; Whitby, Denise; Biggar, Robert J.
    In Africa, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with Burkitt lymphoma. We measured levels of EBV DNA in saliva and buffy coats from 233 asymptomatic Ugandan children with sickle cell disease and their mothers by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. EBV DNA was detected in saliva from 90% of the children (median [interquartile range {IQR}] level, 5.2 [4.2–6.0] log10 copies/mL of saliva) and 79% of the mothers (median [IQR] level, 4.8 [3.7–5.6] log10 copies/mL of saliva) (P ! .001). EBV DNA was detected in buffy coats from 86% of the children (median [IQR] level, 2.5 [2.2–2.9] log10 copies/1 106 peripheral white blood cells [PWBCs]) and 72% of the mothers (median [IQR] level, 2.7 [2.4–3.1] log10 copies/1 106 PWBCs) (Pp.24). Detection of EBV DNA in saliva was positively correlated with detection in buffy coats. EBV DNA was detected more frequently in saliva and buffy coats than was human herpesvirus 8 DNA. Our results indicate that EBV infection persists, with virus readily detectable in saliva and buffy coats from persons without apparent symptoms in Africa.
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    Water, Socioeconomic Factors, and Human Herpesvirus 8 Infection in Ugandan Children and Their Mothers
    (JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2005) Mbulaiteye, Sam M.; Biggar, Robert J.; Pfeiffer, Ruth M.; Bakaki, Paul M.; Gamache, Christine; Owor, Anchilla M.; Mbidde, Edward Katongole; Ndugwa, Christopher M.; Goedert, James J.; Whitby, Denise; Engels, Eric A.
    Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection is common in sub-Saharan Africa, but its distribution is uneven. Transmission occurs during childhood within families by unclear routes.We evaluated 600 Ugandan children with sickle cell disease and their mothers for factors associated with HHV-8 seropositivity in a cross-sectional study. HHV-8 serostatus was determined using an HHV-8 K8.1 glycoprotein enzyme immunoassay. Odds ratios for seropositivity were estimated using logistic regression, and factor analysis was used to identify clustering among socioeconomic variables.One hundred seventeen (21%) of 561 children and 166 (34%) of 485 mothers with definite HHV-8 serostatus were seropositive. For children, seropositivity was associated with age, mother's HHV-8 serostatus (especially for children aged 6 years or younger), lower maternal education level, mother's income, and low-status father's occupation (P < 0.05 for all). Using communal standpipe or using surface water sources were both associated with seropositivity (OR 2.70, 95% CI 0.80-9.06 and 4.02, 95% CI 1.18-13.7, respectively) as compared to using private tap water. These associations remained, albeit attenuated, after adjusting for maternal education and child's age (P = 0.08). In factor analysis, low scores on environmental and family factors, which captured household and parental characteristics, respectively, were positively associated with seropositivity (Ptrend < 0.05 for both). For mothers, HHV-8 seropositivity was significantly associated with water source and maternal income.HHV-8 infection in Ugandan children was associated with lower socioeconomic status and using surface water. Households with limited access to water may have less hygienic practices that increase risk for HHV-8 infection.