PREVALENCE OF HUMAN HERPESVIRUS-6 ANTIBODY AMONG ISOLATED AMAZONIAN AMERINDIAN COMMUNITIES IN BRAZIL

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV6) antibody was detected by the anticomplement immunofluorescence test in 65 of 592 serum samples (10.9%) obtained f rom Amerindians belonging to 4 remote communities inhabiting the Amazo n Region of Brazil. Seropositivity rates ranged from 5.4% in the Oyamp i to 14.9% in the Tucano. Among the Mekranoiti and Tiriyo, the seropre valence rates were 12.5% and 11.8%, respectively. In children aged 0-1 0 years, the prevalences of HHV6 antibody ranged from 5.2% to 24.2%, a mong the Oyampi and Mekranoiti tribes, respectively. In the 11-20 and >20 years old age groups, percentages of positivity ranged, in the for mer group, from 9.5% to 17.5% in the Oyampi and Tucano, respectively a nd, in the latter group, from 1.3% in the Oyampi to 14.8% in the Tucan o. The prevalences of HHV6 antibody decreased regularly through the fi rst 3 age-groups in the Mekranoiti and Tiriyo. In addition, frequencie s of seropositivity were consistently higher in males than in females in the Mekranoiti (P<0.05), Oyampi and Tiriyo tribes.