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Serological and virological evidence of non-sexual transmission of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV8)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2001

F. VITALE ,
E. VIVIANO ,
A. M. PERNA ,
F. BONURA ,
G. MAZZOLA ,
F. AJELLO  and
N. ROMANO
F. VITALE
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Igiene e Microbiologia ‘G. D'Alessandro’ Università degli Studi, Via del Vespro, 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
E. VIVIANO
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Igiene e Microbiologia ‘G. D'Alessandro’ Università degli Studi, Via del Vespro, 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
A. M. PERNA
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Igiene e Microbiologia ‘G. D'Alessandro’ Università degli Studi, Via del Vespro, 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
F. BONURA
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Igiene e Microbiologia ‘G. D'Alessandro’ Università degli Studi, Via del Vespro, 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
G. MAZZOLA
Affiliation:
Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale 6, Presidio Ospedaliero Malattie Infettive ‘Guadagna’, Palermo, Italy
F. AJELLO
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Igiene e Microbiologia ‘G. D'Alessandro’ Università degli Studi, Via del Vespro, 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
N. ROMANO
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Igiene e Microbiologia ‘G. D'Alessandro’ Università degli Studi, Via del Vespro, 133, 90127 Palermo, Italy
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Abstract

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To evaluate whether or not human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) can be transmitted through a non-sexual route a serological survey was carried out in a group of 51 catholic nuns. The seroprevalence rate and the geometrical mean antibody titre to anti-latent HHV8 antigen were similar in nuns and in a group of 60 women, matched by age, in the general population (27 vs. 24%; 1028 vs. 1575, respectively). Moreover, by using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), HHV8 DNA sequences were detected in 7 of 16 (43·8%) saliva and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with classical Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and in 3 out of 7 (42%) AIDS-KS patients. None of 5 HIV positive persons who did not have KS tested positive for HHV8 DNA. HHV8 DNA sequences were also detected in 2 of 12 (17%) saliva and 1 PBMC sample out of 12 healthy HHV8 positive individuals (age range: 30–80 years old). This paper suggests that non-sexual transmission of HHV8 is operating in our geographical setting and saliva may be a potential source of HHV8 spreading in the general population.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 125 , Issue 3 , December 2000 , pp. 671 - 675
Copyright
2000 Cambridge University Press