Human herpesvirus 8

Abstract

Figure 10-1. Incidence and transmission of human herpesvirus 8. of KS lesions across the globe and seroprevalence varies by geographic location. HHV-8 seropositivity is uncommon prior to puberty in the United States, as prevalence rates of antibodies to lytic and latent HHV-8 antigens vary from 0 to 5% in this population [20,21]. The prevalence of antibodies to lytic and latent HHV-8 antigens in otherwise healthy adults without KS in the United States has been reported as 25 to 27% [20,21]. Overall, the seroprevalence rates ranges from less than 5% in North America, Britain, and northern Europe to approximately 10% for southern Europe [22-24]. In African countries, the HHV-8 seroprevalence rates range from 30 to 100% [22,25-28]. Approximately 30% of HIV-1 infected homosexual men in North America and Europe have evidence of HHV-8 infection [22,29-31]. The seroprevalence rates for HHV-8 closely correspond with the incidence rates for KS, as non-AIDS-related KS occurs more commonly in southern Europe and most frequently in Africa [19,32-34].