Background Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) seroprevalence in sub-Saharan African children can range up to 50% by age 2 years but factors affecting early age of KSHV infection are not well understood. Malaria during pregnancy has been associated with hindered transplacental transfer of antibodies to several pathogens but whether it affects transplacental transfer of KSHV antibodies is unknown. We aimed to determine if in utero malaria exposure reduced the transfer of KSHV antibodies across the placenta. Methods A cohort study in Kisumu, Kenya enrolled pregnant women at their first antenatal clinic (ANC) visit and followed them through delivery. We included 70 KSHV-positive, HIV-negative mothers and their children. KSHV antibody levels were measured by ELISA (K8.1, ORF73) and multiplex assay (K8.1, ORF73, K10.5, ORF38, ORF50). Transplacental transfer of antibodies was measured by the cord to maternal blood ratio (CMR) of KSHV antibodies. Malaria during pregnancy was defined as detection of Plasmodium falciparum ( Pf ) DNA at any ANC visit or delivery. Among women with malaria during pregnancy, we examined time of last malaria infection prior to delivery (< 27 vs. 27+ weeks gestation) and malaria incidence rate (MIR) (episodes/100 person-weeks). Results KSHV seroprevalence (positive for K8.1 or ORF73 by ELISA) among pregnant women was 88%. Neither malaria during pregnancy, malaria infection timing, nor MIR were associated with maternal delivery KSHV antibody blood levels. Maternal delivery and cord blood KSHV antibody levels were highly correlated but these correlations did not differ by malaria during pregnancy. KSHV transplacental antibody transfer was not associated with malaria during pregnancy, malaria infection timing, nor MIR. Conclusions Malaria during pregnancy does not appear to affect transfer of KSHV antibodies across the placenta.

中文翻译：

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怀孕期间的疟疾和卡波西肉瘤相关疱疹病毒 (KSHV) 抗体的经胎盘转移：肯尼亚母婴配对的队列研究

背景 撒哈拉以南非洲儿童的卡波西肉瘤相关疱疹病毒 (KSHV) 血清阳性率在 2 岁时可达 50%，但影响 KSHV 感染早期的因素尚不清楚。怀孕期间的疟疾与几种病原体的抗体经胎盘转移受阻有关，但它是否影响 KSHV 抗体的经胎盘转移尚不清楚。我们旨在确定子宫内接触疟疾是否会减少 KSHV 抗体跨胎盘的转移。方法 肯尼亚基苏木的一项队列研究在第一次产前诊所 (ANC) 就诊时招募了孕妇，并全程跟踪她们。我们包括 70 名 KSHV 阳性、HIV 阴性的母亲和她们的孩子。通过ELISA（K8.1、ORF73）和多重测定（K8.1、ORF73、K10.5、ORF38、ORF50）测量KSHV抗体水平。通过 KSHV 抗体的脐带与母血比率 (CMR) 测量抗体的经胎盘转移。怀孕期间的疟疾被定义为在任何 ANC 就诊或分娩时检测到恶性疟原虫 (Pf) DNA。在怀孕期间患有疟疾的妇女中，我们检查了分娩前最后一次感染疟疾的时间（< 27 周 vs. 27 周以上）和疟疾发病率 (MIR)（发作/100 人周）。结果孕妇KSHV血清阳性率（ELISA检测K8.1或ORF73阳性）为88%。怀孕期间的疟疾、疟疾感染时间和 MIR 都与母体分娩 KSHV 抗体血液水平无关。母亲分娩和脐带血 KSHV 抗体水平高度相关，但这些相关性并没有因怀孕期间的疟疾而有所不同。KSHV 经胎盘抗体转移与怀孕期间的疟疾、疟疾感染时间或 MIR 无关。结论 怀孕期间的疟疾似乎不会影响 KSHV 抗体跨胎盘的转移。