Prevalence and distribution of HHV-8 in different subpopulations, with and without HIV infection, in Spain.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the seroprevalence of HHV-8 in several Spanish subpopulations with different risk levels of acquiring HIV-1 infection and from different geographical regions.


METHODS
Cross-sectional seroprevalence study.


METHODS
A total of 1699 serum samples from blood donors (613), children under the age of 12 years (100), injecting drug users (IDU) (382), heterosexuals attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic (273) and homosexual men attending a STD clinic or a HIV-based hospital unit (331) were analysed for anti-HHV-8 antibodies. The presence of antibodies against HHV-8 was tested with an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). A subsample of HHV-8-positive samples was also tested for antibody titre against HHV-8.


RESULTS
The overall seroprevalence of antibodies against HHV-8 for the blood donor population was 6.5% (7.0% in Andalusia, 8.0% in Catalonia and 4.5% in the Basque Country). None of the children tested positive for HHV-8. The HHV-8 prevalence was 86.7% in HIV-positive homosexual men and 28.0% in HIV-negative homosexual men (P < 0.001). Of heterosexual men attending STD clinics, 17.2% tested positive for HHV-8; 11.5% of IDU tested positive for HHV-8. HHV-8 antibody titres by groups parallel the distribution of HHV-8 prevalence. No association between HHV-8 antibody titres and CD4 cell count or HIV viral load was identified.


CONCLUSIONS
The HHV-8 prevalence among blood donors in Spain is higher than in Northern Europe and the USA, but is similar to that in Northern Italy. The distribution of HHV-8 is compatible with a sexually transmitted agent. The distribution of HHV-8 correlates with that of Kaposi's sarcoma but factors other than HHV-8 seem to explain the Kaposi sarcoma distribution.
Gambús
G
G
Centre for Epidemiological Studies on HIV/AIDS in Catalonia (CEESCAT), Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain.
Bourboulia
D
D
Esteve
A
A
Lahoz
R
R
Rodriguez
C
C
Bolao
F
F
Sirera
G
G
Muga
R
R
del Romero
J
J
Boshoff
C
C
Whitby
D
D
Casabona
J
J
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020010:Heterosexuality; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous
D000914:Antibodies, Viral