title: Serological and virological evidence of non-sexual transmission of human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV8).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Igiene e Microbiologia G. D'Alessandro Università degli Studi, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viviano
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonura
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzola
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ajello
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Romano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral