Antibodies to human herpesvirus type 8 in the general population and in Kaposi's sarcoma patients

Lancet. 1996 Sep 28;348(9031):858-61. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(96)03240-0.

Abstract

Background: Much of the evidence that human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) is associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) has come from molecular studies of HHV-8 DNA. Seroepidemiological studies have been hampered by the lack of a reliable assay.

Methods: The serological data reported here were obtained by means of a mouse monoclonal antibody-enhanced immunofluorescence assay for antibodies to lytic and latent HHV-8 antigens. 1435 single samples of serum (or plasma) from many different disease groups and parts of the world were assayed.

Findings: All patients with African endemic KS and 96% of American patients with AIDS-associated KS were seropositive for lytic antigen, as were 90% of American HIV-infected homosexual men; by contrast only 23% of HIV-seropositive drug users and 21% of HIV-seropositive women were positive for HHV-8 antibody. Factor VIII treatment before 1983 did not increase the risk of HHV-8 infection in patients with haemophilia. In the American general population, about 25% of adults (including volunteer blood donors) and 2-8% of children had antibodies to HHV-8.

Interpretation: Our data are consistent with HHV-8 being primarily associated with sexual transmission, but the HHV-8 seropositivity rate in American children suggests that there is a non-sexual route of HHV-8 infection also. On the evidence available so far, the risk of parenteral transmission is low.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Africa / epidemiology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology
  • HIV Seropositivity / virology*
  • Hemophilia A / virology
  • Herpesviridae Infections / epidemiology*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / transmission
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / immunology*
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / virology
  • Prevalence
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / epidemiology
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / virology*
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Viral