Skip to main content

Prevalence of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus among intravenous drug users: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Intravenous drug users (IDUs) have been demonstrated to be highly vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Nevertheless, the prevalence of Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV), an important co-infected agent with HIV, among this population remained obscure. We conducted a systematic review on the epidemiological features of KSHV among IDUs worldwide. Eligible studies were retrieved from 6 electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CBM, CNKI and Wanfang). We calculated the pooled prevalence and 95% confidence interval (CI) overall and among subgroups using either random-effects model or fixed-effects model depending on between-study heterogeneity. The potential publication bias was assessed by the Egger’s test. A meta-regression analysis was performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Finally, twenty-two studies with a total sample of 7881 IDUs were included in the analysis. The pooled prevalence of KSHV was 14.71% (95% CI 11.12%–19.46%) among IDUs. Specifically, KSHV prevalence was 10.86% (95% CI 6.95%–16.96%) in HIV-negative IDUs, and 13.56% (95% CI 10.57%–17.38%) in HIV-positive IDUs. Moreover, prevalence among IDUs from the three continents involved in the current study was similar: 16.10% (95%CI 7.73%–33.54%) in Asia; 14.22% (95%CI 8.96%–22.57%) in Europe and 14.06% (95%CI 11.38%–17.37%) in America. Globally, IDUs are at higher risk of the KSHV infection when compared with the general population, regardless of geographical region or HIV-infection status.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

References

  • Ahmadi Ghezeldasht S, Hassannia T, Rafatpanah H, Hekmat R, Valizadeh N, Ghayour Mobarhan M, Rezaee SA. 2015. Oncogenic Virus Infections in the General Population and End-stage Renal Disease Patients With Special Emphasis on Kaposi’s Sarcoma Associated Herpes Virus (KSHV) in Northeast of Iran. Jundishapur J Microbiol, 8: e14920.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson J, Edlin BR, Engels EA, Kral AH, Seal K, Gamache CJ, Whitby D, O’Brien TR. 2003. Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 among injection drug users in San Francisco. J Infect Dis, 187: 974–981.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bagni R, Whitby D. 2009. Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus transmission and primary infection. Curr Opin HIV AIDS, 4: 22–26.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein KT, Jacobson LP, Jenkins FJ, Vlahov D, Armenian HK. 2003. Factors associated with human herpesvirus type 8 infection in an injecting drug user cohort. Sex Transm Dis, 30: 199–204.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Biryahwaho B, Dollard SC, Pfeiffer RM, Shebl FM, Munuo S, Amin MM, Hladik W, Parsons R, Mbulaiteye SM. 2010. Sex and geographic patterns of human herpesvirus 8 infection in a nationally representative population-based sample in Uganda. J Infect Dis, 202: 1347–1353.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Butler LM, Dorsey G, Hladik W, Rosenthal PJ, Brander C, Neilands TB, Mbisa G, Whitby D, Kiepiela P, Mosam A, Mzolo S, Dollard SC, Martin JN. 2009. Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) seroprevalence in population-based samples of African children: evidence for at least 2 patterns of KSHV transmission. J Infect Dis, 200: 430–438.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cannon MJ, Dollard SC, Smith DK, Klein RS, Schuman P, Rich JD, Vlahov D, Pellett PE. 2001. Blood-borne and sexual transmission of human herpesvirus 8 in women with or at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection. N Engl J Med, 344: 637–643.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chang Y, Cesarman E, Pessin MS, Lee F, Culpepper J, Knowles DM, Moore PS. 1994. Identification of herpesvirus-like DNA sequences in AIDS-associated Kaposi’s sarcoma. Science, 266: 1865–1869.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond C, Thiede H, Perdue T, MacKellar D, Valleroy LA, Corey L. 2001. Seroepidemiology of human herpesvirus 8 among young men who have sex with men. Sex Transm Dis, 28: 176–183.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gambus G, Bourboulia D, Esteve A, Lahoz R, Rodriguez C, Bolao F, Sirera G, Muga R, Del RJ, Boshoff C, Whitby D, Casabona J. 2001. Prevalence and distribution of HHV-8 in different subpopulations, with and without HIV infection, in Spain. AIDS, 15: 1167–1174.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goedert JJ, Charurat M, Blattner WA, Hershow RC, Pitt J, Diaz C, Mofenson LM, Green K, Minkoff H, Paul ME, Thomas DL, Whitby D. 2003. Risk factors for Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection among HIV-1-infected pregnant women in the USA. AIDS, 17: 425–433.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenblatt RM, Jacobson LP, Levine AM, Melnick S, Anastos K, Cohen M, DeHovitz J, Young MA, Burns D, Miotti P, Koelle DM. 2001. Human herpesvirus 8 infection and Kaposi’s sarcoma among human immunodeficiency virus-infected and -uninfected women. J Infect Dis, 183: 1130–1134.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kakavand-Ghalehnoei R, Shoja Z, Najafi A, Mollahoseini MH, Shahmahmoodi S, Marashi SM, Nejati A, Jalilvand S. 2016. Prevalence of human herpesvirus-8 among HIV-infected patients, intravenous drug users and the general population in Iran. Sex Health, 13: 295–298.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kedes DH, Operskalski E, Busch M, Kohn R, Flood J, Ganem D. 1996. The seroepidemiology of human herpesvirus 8 (Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus): distribution of infection in KS risk groups and evidence for sexual transmission. Nat Med, 2: 918–924.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khajedaluee M, Babaei A, Vakili R, Valizade N, Homaei Shandiz F, Alavian SM, Seyed Nozadi M, Jazayeri SM, Hassannia T. 2016. Sero-Prevalence of Bloodborne Tumor Viruses (HCV, HBV, HTLV-I and KSHV Infections) and Related Risk Factors among Prisoners in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran, in 2008. Hepat Mon, 16: e31541.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Larocca L, Leto D, Celesta BM, Maccarone S, Mazza C, Cacopardo B, Nigro L. 2005. Prevalence of antibodies to HHV-8 in the general population and in individuals at risk for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in Catania, Eastern Sicily. Infez Med, 13: 79–85.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee YM, Chuang SY, Wang SF, Lin YT, Chen YMA. 2014. Epidemiology of human herpesvirus type 8 and parvovirus B19 infections and their association with HIV-1 among men who have sex with men and injection drug users in Taiwan. J Microbiol Immunol Infect, 47: 233–238.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Fang Q, Zhou S, Minhas V, Wood C, He N, Zhang T. 2017a. Seroprevalence of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus among HIV-infected Uygurs in Xinjiang, China. J Med Virol, 89: 1629–1635.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z, Fang Q, Zuo J, Wang J, Chen Y, Minhas V, Wood C, He N, Zhang T. 2017b. High seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 and herpes simplex virus 2 infections in men who have sex with men in Shanghai, China. J Med Virol, 89: 887–894.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luo ML, Tan HZ, Zhou Q, Wang SY, Cai C, Guo YW, Shen L. 2013. Realizing the Meta-Analysis of Single Rate in R Software. EBM, 13: 181-184, 188. (In Chinse)

    Google Scholar 

  • Minhas V, Wood C. 2014. Epidemiology and transmission of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. Viruses, 6: 4178–4194.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Moore PS. 2000. The emergence of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (human herpesvirus 8). N Engl J Med, 343: 1411–1413.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parisi SG, Sarmati L, Pappagallo M, Mazzi R, Carolo G, Farchi F, Nicastri E, Concia E, Rezza G, Andreoni M. 2002. Prevalence trend and correlates of HHV-8 infection in HIV-infected patients. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr, 29: 295–299.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Perna AM, Bonura F, Vitale F, Viviano E, Di Benedetto MA, Ajello F, Villafrate MR, Prestileo T, Mancuso S, Goedert JJ, Romano N. 2000. Antibodies to human herpes virus type 8 (HHV8) in general population and in individuals at risk for sexually transmitted diseases in Western Sicily. Int J Epidemiol, 29: 175–179.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Razonable RR. 2011. Rare, unusual, and less common virus infections after organ transplantation. Curr Opin Organ Transplant, 16: 580–587.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Renwick N, Halaby T, Weverling GJ, Dukers NHTM, Simpson GR, Coutinho RA, Lange JMA, Schulz TF, Goudsmit J. 1998. Seroconversion for human herpesvirus 8 during HIV infection is highly predictive of Kaposi’s sarcoma. AIDS, 12: 2481–2488.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rezza G, Andreoni M, Dorrucci M, Pezzotti P, Monini P, Zerboni R, Salassa B, Colangeli V, Sarmati L, Nicastri E, Barbanera M, Pristera R, Aiuti F, Ortona L, Ensoli B. 1999. Human herpesvirus 8 seropositivity and risk of Kaposi’s sarcoma and other acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related diseases. J Natl Cancer Inst, 91: 1468–1474.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rezza G, Lennette ET, Giuliani M, Pezzotti P, Caprilli F, Monini P, Butto S, Lodi G, Di Carlo A, Levy JA, Ensoli B. 1998. Prevalence and determinants of anti-lytic and anti-latent antibodies to human herpesvirus-8 among Italian individuals at risk of sexually and parenterally transmitted infections. Int J Cancer, 77: 361–365.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rohner E, Wyss N, Heg Z, Faralli Z, Mbulaiteye SM, Novak U, Zwahlen M, Egger M, Bohlius J. 2016. HIV and human herpesvirus 8 co-infection across the globe: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Cancer, 138: 45–54.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz RA. 2004. Kaposi’s sarcoma: an update. J Surg Oncol, 87: 146–151.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz RA, Micali G, Nasca MR, Scuderi L. 2008. Kaposi sarcoma: a continuing conundrum. J Am Acad Dermatol, 59: 179–206.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson GR, Schulz TF, Whitby D, Cook PM, Boshoff C, Rainbow L, Howard MR, Gao SJ, Bohenzky RA, Simmonds P, Lee C, De Ruiter A, Hatzakis A, Tedder RS, Weller IVD, Weiss RA, Moore PS. 1996. Prevalence of Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus infection measured by antibodies to recombinant capsid protein and latent immunofluorescence antigen. Lancet, 349: 1133–1138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sosa C, Benetucci J, Hanna C, Sieczkowski L, Deluchi G, Canizal AM, Mantina H, Klaskala W, Baum M, Wood C. 2001. Human Herpes virus 8 can be transmitted through blood in drug addicts. Medicina, 61: 291–294.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stiller CA, Trama A, Brewster DH, Verne J, Bouchardy C, Navarro C, Chirlaque MD, Marcos-Gragera R, Visser O, Serraino D, Weiderpass E, Dei Tos AP, Ascoli V. 2014. Descriptive epidemiology of Kaposi sarcoma in Europe. Report from the RARECARE project. Cancer Epidemiol, 38: 670–678.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Syvertsen JL, Agot K, Ohaga S, Strathdee SA, Camlin CS, Omanga E, Odonde P, Rota G, Akoth K, Peng J, Wagner KD. 2015. Evidence of injection drug use in Kisumu, Kenya: Implications for HIV prevention. Drug Alcohol Depend, 151: 262–266.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Tornesello ML, Biryahwaho B, Downing R, Hatzakis A, Alessi E, Cusini M, Ruocco V, Katongole-Mbidde E, Loquercio G, Buonaguro L, Buonaguro FM. 2010. Human herpesvirus type 8 variants circulating in Europe, Africa and North America in classic, endemic and epidemic Kaposi’s sarcoma lesions during pre-AIDS and AIDS era. Virology, 398: 280–289.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vitale F, Viviano E, Perna AM, Bonura F, Mazzola G, Ajello F, Romano N. 2000. Serological and virological evidence of nonsexual transmission of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV8). Epidemiol Infect, 125: 671–675.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Zhu B, Zhao X, Zhang X. 2000. Seroprevalence of Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus infection among drug users. National Medical Journal of China, 80: 597–598. (In Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitby D, Luppi M, Barozzi P, Boshoff C, Weiss RA, Torelli G. 1998. Human herpesvirus 8 seroprevalence in blood donors and lymphoma patients from different regions of Italy. J Natl Cancer Inst, 90: 395–397.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang PR, Tan XH, Guo SX, Yang L. 2010. Research of Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated herpesvirus in drug users in one city of Xinjiang. Modern Preventive Medicine, 37: 107–109. (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zavitsanou A, Malliori M, Sypsa V, Petrodaskalaki M, Psichogiou M, Rokka C, Giannopoulos A, Kalapothaki V, Whitby D, Hatzakis A. 2010. Seroepidemiology of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection in injecting drug users. Epidemiol Infect, 138: 403–408.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang T, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Wang J, Minhas V, Wood C, He N. 2014a. Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 and hepatitis C virus among drug users in Shanghai, China. Viruses, 6: 2519–2530.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang T, Liu Z, Wang J, Minhas V, Wood C, Clifford GM, He N, Franceschi S. 2017. Seroprevalence of antibodies against Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus among HIV-negative people in China. Infect Agent Cancer, 12: 32.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang T, Shao X, Chen Y, Zhang T, Minhas V, Wood C, He N. 2012. Human herpesvirus 8 seroprevalence, China. Emerg Infect Dis, 18: 150–152.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang T, Wang L. 2017. Epidemiology of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus in Asia: Challenges and opportunities. J Med Virol, 89: 563–570.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang T, Yang Y, Yu F, Zhao Y, Lin F, Minhas V, Wood C, He N. 2014b. Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus infection among female sex workers and general population women in Shanghai, China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Infect Dis, 14: 58.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (17ZR1401400), the Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 81772170, U603117) and the Doctoral Fund of Ministry of Education of China (Grant No. 20120071120050).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yan Zeng or Tiejun Zhang.

Electronic supplementary material

12250_2017_4051_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Prevalence of kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus among intravenous drug users: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fang, Q., Liu, Z., Zhang, Z. et al. Prevalence of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus among intravenous drug users: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Virol. Sin. 32, 415–422 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12250-017-4051-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12250-017-4051-2

Keywords

  • Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)
  • prevalence
  • intravenous drug users (IDUs)