title: Human herpesvirus 8 seroprevalence among internationally adopted children coming from Eastern Europe.
abstract: The seroprevalence of Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV8) and its transmission pattern were assessed testing serum samples of 120 internationally adopted children (aged 1-15 years) coming from Eastern Europe. Determinations of IgG antibodies against both latent and lytic HHV-8 antigens were performed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. Antibodies were detected only for lytic antigen of the virus in 12.5% of children with a seroprevalence significatively higher (19.6%) in young children (age 1-6). No correlation was observed between HHV8 seropositivity and serological markers for hepatitis A, B and C viruses and Human Immunodeficiency virus. In conclusion, our findings suggest that HHV8 infection is widespread in some populations from the East Europe, and that person to person contacts among children could be considered the predominant mode of HHV8 transmission in younger age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Science for Health Promotion, Hygiene Section, University of Palermo, Italy. eviviano@igiene.unipa.it
authors.forename: Enza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viviano
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Perna
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cataldo
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firenze
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Romano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005061:Europe, Eastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D038622:Internationality; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral