Human Herpes virus type-8 (HHV-8) seroprevalence was studied in a populatio
n of HIV positive intravenous drug users (IVDUs) from Argentina. Analysis o
f this population also indirectly made it possible to study HHV-8 blood tra
nsmission, because these individuals frequently engage in needle sharing be
havior and are capable of acquiring a broad array of blood borne pathogens,
including Hepatitis B/C virus. The seroprevalence of HHV-8 in IVDUs was co
mpared to a group of non-IVDUs and HIV negative individuals. Of the 223 ind
ividuals tested, 13.45% were HHV-8 positive, 16.99% in the IVDUs group, and
5.71% in the non-IVDUs. Among HIV positive IVDUs, 25/144 (17.36%) were als
o HHV-8 seropositive. The seropositivity rate of HHV-8 in HIV negative IVDU
s was 11.1%. In contrast, HHV-8 seroprevalence in HIV negative heterosexual
individuals without drug usage behavior was even lower (5.71%). The rate o
f HHV-8 infection in HIV positive IVDUs was three times as high compared to
the non IVDU HIV negative individuals, suggesting that IVDU is a risk for
HHV-8 infection. Furthermore, it was found that IVDUs showed a very high ra
te of Hepatitis Bic (52.77%), which also correlate with HHV-8 infection in
this population (23.68%). All Hepatitis B/C positive individuals were also
HIV positive. Our data confirm other studies showing that individuals who s
hare needles are at risk for acquiring Hepatitis B/C and HIV infections. In
addition, our results suggest that they are also at risk to acquiring HHV-
8 infection by the same route.