Serologic Evidence of Human Herpesvirus 8 Transmission by Homosexual but Not Heterosexual Sex

Epidemiologic studies link Kaposi's sarcoma with a sexually transmitted agent. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is likely to be that agent, but routes of transmission are poorly described. A seroepidemiologic study was conducted to determine whether HHV-8 is transmitted sexually between heterosexual...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1999-09, Vol.180 (3), p.600-606
Main Authors: Smith, Nicola A., Sabin, Caroline A., Gopal, Robin, Bourboulia, Dimitra, Labbet, Wendy, Boshoff, Chris, Barlow, David, Band, Barbara, Peters, Barry S., de Ruiter, Annemiek, Brown, David W. G., Weiss, Robin A., Best, Jennifer M., Whitby, Denise
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Africa
Africa - ethnology
African Continental Ancestry Group
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
AIDS/HIV
Antibodies
Biological and medical sciences
Bisexuality
Demography
Epidemiology
European Continental Ancestry Group
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Herpes Genitalis - complications
Herpesviridae Infections - complications
Herpesviridae Infections - transmission
Herpesvirus 8, Human
Heterosexuality
HIV
HIV Seropositivity - complications
Homosexuality
Human herpesvirus 2
Human herpesvirus 8
Human sexual behavior
Human viral diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
London
Major Articles
Male
Medical sciences
Men
Microbiology
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Predisposing factors
Regression Analysis
Risk Factors
Seroepidemiologic studies
Sexually transmitted diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - transmission
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - virology
Syphilis
Viral diseases
Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye
Virology
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Summary:Epidemiologic studies link Kaposi's sarcoma with a sexually transmitted agent. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is likely to be that agent, but routes of transmission are poorly described. A seroepidemiologic study was conducted to determine whether HHV-8 is transmitted sexually between heterosexuals. Sera from 2718 patients attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic were tested for antibodies to HHV-8 and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Information on sex partners in the previous 12 months and past STDs were obtained by questionnaire. Relationships between possible risk factors and HHV-8 infection were assessed by logistic regression. Overall, seroprevalence of HHV-8 was 7.3%. Independent risk factors for HHV-8 in the whole group were homo/bisexuality and birth in Africa and, among homo/bisexual men, a history of syphilis and HSV-2 and human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity. Among heterosexuals there was no evidence for sexual transmission; the only independent risk factor for HHV-8 seropositivity was birth in Africa.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1086/314926