Prevalence of herpesvirus, polyomavirus, and respiratory viruses in saliva from a Quilombola community in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Quilombola communities, composed of descendants of enslaved individuals from Brazil’s colonial period, often face limited access to healthcare, which may increase their susceptibility to viral infections. Oral transmission routes, particularly through saliva, are relevant for viruses such as those in the Polyomaviridae family. Therefore, here we aimed to investigate the prevalence of HSV-1, JC (JCV), and BK polyomaviruses, and respiratory viruses (Influenza A/B, RSV, SARS-CoV-2), as well as the salivary inflammatory profile in individuals from a Quilombola community. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Quilombola community of Mangabeira, Pará, Brazil. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from 100 individuals. Oral health was assessed, and nucleic acids were analyzed using real-time PCR (JCPyV, BKPyV, HSV-1) and multiplex TaqMan PCR (RSV, Influenza A/B, SARS-CoV-2). Cytokines (IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10) were quantified. Results BKPyV was detected in 19%, while HSV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 were found in 3% each. No cases of JCPyV, RSV, or Influenza were detected. BKPyV infection was associated with elevated IFN-γ ( p < 0.01). SARS-CoV-2 and HSV-1 infections were linked to pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles. No association was found between viral detection and tooth loss or the use of prosthesis. Conclusion A high prevalence of BKPyV and a salivary pro-inflammatory response were observed, highlighting potential oral health vulnerabilities in this underserved population.