High human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) prevalence, clinical correlates and high incidence among recently HIV-1-infected subjects in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
BACKGROUND
Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is the etiological agent for Kaposi Sarcoma, which occurs especially in HIV-infected subjects. HHV-8 infection and its clinical correlates have not been well characterized in recently HIV-1-infected subjects, especially men who have sex with men (MSM).


RESULTS
We assessed the HHV-8 seroprevalence, clinical correlates, and incidence after one year of follow-up in a cohort of 228 recently HIV-1-infected individuals, of whom 83.6% were MSM, using indirect immunofluorescence assay. The prevalence of HHV-8 infection at the time of cohort enrollment was 25.9% (59/228). In the univariate model, there were significant associations with male gender, black ethnicity, MSM practice, and previous hepatitis B virus and syphilis infections. In the multivariate model we could still demonstrate association with MSM, hepatitis B, and black ethnicity. No differences in mean CD4+ cell counts or HIV viral load according to HHV-8 status were found. In terms of incidence, there were 23/127 (18.1%) seroconversions in the cohort after 1 year.


CONCLUSIONS
HHV-8 is highly prevalent among recently HIV-1-infected subjects. Correlations with other sexually transmitted infections suggest common transmission routes.
Batista
Mariana Dias
MD
Infectious Diseases Division, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ferreira
Suzete
S
Sauer
Mariana M
MM
Tomiyama
Helena
H
Giret
Maria Teresa Maidana
MT
Pannuti
Cláudio S
CS
Diaz
Ricardo S
RS
Sabino
Ester C
EC
Kallas
Esper G
EG
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence