Epidemiology of human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) or the herpes virus associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KSHV)

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also called Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), is not a ubiquitous virus. In countries with a low viral seroprevalence (< 5% in adult general population) as the USA, Northern Europe and Asia, the infection concerns essentially homosexual men. In this latter population, the viral transmission seems to occur during sex. In endemic countries (HHV-8 seroprevalence between 10-70% in the adult general population) as in the Mediterranean basin (Italy, Greece), and Africa (East and Central Africa), men, women and children are infected. In these countries, HHV-8 seroprevalence increases with age and often reaches adult rates before the end of puberty. Viral transmission, in general endemic populations, seems to occur from mother to child and between sibs whereas heterosexual transmission appears to concern essentially groups at risk for sexual transmitted diseases. Saliva is a major reservoir of HHV-8.