Seroprevalence of HHV 8 antibodies among the general population and HIV positive persons in the Czech Republic.
BACKGROUND
The seroprevalence rates of herpesvirus 8 (HHV 8) antibodies were determined for the general Czech population and HIV-positive individuals.


OBJECTIVE
Six hundred and sixty six serum samples from the general Czech population and 129 serum samples from HIV-positive persons were tested for the presence of antibodies to the HHV 8 lytic and latent antigens.


METHODS
HHV 8 antibodies were detected by the indirect immunofluorescence test.


RESULTS
In the general Czech population, only 2.4 and 0.3% of the serum samples tested positive for antibodies against the lytic and latent HHV 8 antigens, respectively. As many as 34.9 and 10.9% HIV positive individuals had antibodies to the HHV 8 antigens, respectively. Only three of them have developed Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) to date. At the time of KS diagnosis, the three patients had antibodies to both HHV 8 antigens. HIV-positive homo/bisexuals were at significantly higher risk of acquiring HHV 8 infection compared with HIV-positive heterosexuals. The increase in HHV 8 seroprevalence was associated with progression of the HIV infection from stage A to stage B. No correlation was found between the HHV 8 seroprevalence and CD 4+T-lymphocytes counts or the HIV viral load.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the general Czech population, the HHV 8 seroprevalence is as low as in the West European countries. The mean HHV 8 seroprevalence rate in HIV-positive individuals was 34.9% and was comparable with those reported in other low seroprevalence countries.
Suchánková
A
A
National Reference Laboratory for Herpesviruses, National Institute of Public Health, Srobárova 48, Prague, Czech Republic. herpesvir@bbs.szu.cz
Stanková
M
M
Roubalová
K
K
Vandasová
J
J
Brůcková
M
M
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000821:virology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000821:virology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral