HIGH HUMAN-HERPESVIRUS-8 SEROPREVALENCE IN THE HOMOSEXUAL POPULATION IN SWITZERLAND

The seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in the Swiss populat ion was investigated. By enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, sera react ive to the recombinant HHV-8 antigen orf 65.2 were found in 24% of hum an immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients without and in 92% o f HIV-positive patients with Kaposi's sarcoma. Surprisingly, 20% of ho mosexual HIV-negative men, versus only 7% of heterosexual HIV-negative individuals and 5% of blood donors, had antibodies to HHV-8.