Relationship between Anaemia, Malaria Co-infection and Kaposi Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) Seropositivity in a Population-based Study in Rural Uganda

We examined anaemia and malaria as risk factors for KSHV seropositivity and antibody levels in a long-standing rural Ugandan cohort, in which KSHV is prevalent. Samples from 4134 children, aged 1-17 years, with a sex ratio of 1:1 and 3149 adults aged 18-103 years, 41% of whom were males, were analysed. Among children, malaria infection was associated with higher KSHV prevalence (61% versus 41% prevalence among malaria infected and uninfected respectively); malaria was not assessed in adults. Additionally, lower haemoglobin level was associated with an increased prevalence of KSHV seropositivity, both in children and in adults.