Detection and sequence diversity of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) DNA

Detection of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)/human herp esvirus (HHV-8) has been reported frequently in patients with KS associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), We examined the presence o f the KSHV sequence in 8 HIV-positive patients comprising 5 with KS, 2 with syphilis, 1 with prurigo, and 2 HIV-negative patients with angiosarcoma. U sing the polymerase chain reaction, we observed amplification of a DNA frag ment of the expected size in 4 patients with KS. Sequencing analysis of the amplified fragments revealed several base substitutions upon comparison wi th the originally reported sequence. Our results support the hypothesis of a pathogenic role of KSHV in the development of skin lesions in HIV-positiv e patients with KS, and the sequences of KSHV DNA fragments isolated in thi s study also demonstrated strain diversity similar to that reported previou sly.