Transmission of human herpesvirus 8: an update.
OBJECTIVE
Human herpesvirus 8 is associated with neoplastic diseases in the immunocompromised host, including Kaposi's sarcoma, multicentric Castleman disease and primary effusion lymphoma. Acquisition and control of human herpesvirus 8 infection have not yet been fully elucidated. This review focuses on the most recent findings on human herpesvirus 8 transmission.


RESULTS
Horizontal transmission by saliva appears the most common route not only in families in endemic regions, but also among high-risk groups in Western countries. Vertical, sexual, and blood and transplant-related transmission, however, remain of significant concern worldwide. Novel approaches to standardize and optimize the assessment of human herpesvirus 8 infection have been reported. New insights on the host immune cell mechanisms devoted to the control of human herpesvirus 8 infection have also been presented.


CONCLUSIONS
The increasing knowledge about the routes of human herpesvirus 8 transmission, which appear now more similar to those of other more ubiquitous human herpesviruses (i.e. Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus), the growing efforts in improving laboratory diagnosis and the caution in the research of new biological associations are the major recent findings. They constitute a fundamental background for directing more appropriate future research and achieving more stringent evidence useful for the control of human herpesvirus 8 spread and for the management of human herpesvirus 8-related diseases.
Pica
Francesca
F
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Volpi
Antonio
A
D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D019737:Transplants / Q000821:virology