ABSTRACT
Human herpes virus 8 [HHV-8], also known as Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpes virus, is believed to be the infectious trigger for Kaposi sarcoma. HHV-8 transmission takes place via different routes such as saliva, sexual intercourse, mucosal contact and possibly blood transfusion. The objective of this study was to determine HHV-8 seroprevalence in otherwise healthy blood donors as immunocompetent hosts, in HIV positive individuals [immunocompromised hosts], and in hemodialysis patients as multi-transfused patients. This is the first time that research of this magnitude on HHV-8 prevalence is conducted in Iran. The study method was analytic-observational. We measured HHV-8 antibody levels in 118 hemodialysis patients, 35 HIV positive subjects and 256 healthy blood donors. The primary test method was ELISA; positive results were confirmed by IFA [immunofluorescence assay]. Subjects with positive results on both ELISA and IFA were regarded as HHV-8 cases. Overall, 20 hemodialysis patients [16.9%], 16 HIV individuals [45.7%] and 5 blood donors [2%] had HHV-8 antibodies. Analysis with ?2 tests did not show any significant association with sex [p=0.24], blood transfusion or the number of transfused blood units [p=0.36 and 0.73, respectively]. But there was positive correlation between age and the presence of antibodies [P=0.01]. Serologic prevalence of HHV-8 in blood donors [as apparently healthy individuals] proved to be lower than in other studies and, in some cases, equal to the figures from other countries. The high prevalence of HHV-8 antibodies in HIV positive individuals may be partly attributed to high-risk sexual behavior and repeated exposure to pathogenic agents. The higher prevalence of HHV-8 antibodies in hemodialysis patients as compared to blood donors [normal individuals] may be related to specific dialysis procedures or multiple transfusions with the resulting potential for infection