title: [Human herpesvirus 8].
abstract: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8, KSHV) is a novel virus for which fragments of genomic sequence were identified in 1994. This was done by means of a differential amplification technique applied to the DNA of Kaposi's sarcoma lesions and normal tissues obtained from the same individual. The analysis of nucleotide sequence has shown that HHV-8 is closely related to herpesvirus saimiri and Epstein-Barr virus, two members of Gammaherpesvirinae sub-family. The virus has been observed by means of electron microscopy in chronically infected cell lines. Serological studies are still preliminary but seem to demonstrate a low prevalence of HHV-8 infection among the general population at least in Western countries, HHV-8 is mainly detected by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and molecular hybridization. HHV-8 detection in human tissues is strongly associated with three diseases: Kaposi's sarcoma, body-cavity-based lymphomas and Castleman's disease. The demonstration of the causative role of HHV-8 in the occurrence of these three diseases, particularly Kaposi's sarcoma, would have major consequences for their diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Virologie du CERVI, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Agut
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dupin
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Aubin
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Huraux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*
vernacular_title: L'herpesvirus humain 8.