Antibodies to human herpes virus type 8 (HHV8) in general population and in individuals at risk for sexually transmitted diseases in Western Sicily

Background Human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) appears to be the primary aetiologic agent of Kaposi sarcoma (KS). To study the distribution of HHV8, a seroepi demiological study was carried out in western Sicily, where a high incidenc e rate of classical KS is well documented. Methods A total of 970 sera of healthy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) n egative individuals of general population (1-70 years old) and 742 sera of individuals in different risk groups for HIV infection were evaluated by me ans of an indirect immunofluorescence assay able to detect antibodies to ly tic and latent HHV8 antigens. Results Crude seroprevalence to HHV8 antigens was 11.5% in the general popu lation, and it increased significantly with age from 6% under age 16 to 22% after age 50. Significantly higher HHV8 seroprevalence rates were detected among HIV positive and negative homosexual men (62% and 22%, respectively) , men who had sex with prostitutes (40% and 29%, respectively); female pros titutes (42% and 30%, respectively), and clients at a sexually transmitted disease clinic (male: 60% and 33%, respectively, female: 63% and 43%, respe ctively). In contrast, heterosexual intravenous drug users had seroprevalen ce rates comparable to those found in the general population. Conclusions The results suggest that HHV8 infection is widespread in Wester n Sicily. The high seroprevalence in individuals with high risk sexual acti vity point to the role of sexual behaviour in the transmission of the infec tion in adults, whereas the detection of antibodies in younger population ( under 16 years old) is suggestive of a non-sexual route of transmission, pr obably occurring during childhood by close personal contact.