title: Serologic evidence of human herpesvirus 8 transmission by homosexual but not heterosexual sex.
abstract: Epidemiologic studies link Kaposi's sarcoma with a sexually transmitted agent. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is likely to be that agent, but routes of transmission are poorly described. A seroepidemiologic study was conducted to determine whether HHV-8 is transmitted sexually between heterosexuals. Sera from 2718 patients attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic were tested for antibodies to HHV-8 and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Information on sex partners in the previous 12 months and past STDs were obtained by questionnaire. Relationships between possible risk factors and HHV-8 infection were assessed by logistic regression. Overall, seroprevalence of HHV-8 was 7.3%. Independent risk factors for HHV-8 in the whole group were homo/bisexuality and birth in Africa and, among homo/bisexual men, a history of syphilis and HSV-2 and human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity. Among heterosexuals there was no evidence for sexual transmission; the only independent risk factor for HHV-8 seropositivity was birth in Africa.
authors.affiliation: HIV/GUM, Chelsea and Westminster National Health Service Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sabin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gopal
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bourboulia
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Labbet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boshoff
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Band
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Ruiter
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Best
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Whitby
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001727:Bisexuality; D044383:Black People; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000635:transmission*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D044465:White People