Human herpesvirus 8 can be transmitted through blood in drug addicts
Medicina (B.Aires)
;
61(3): 291-294, 2001. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-290124
RESUMO
Human Herpes virus type-8 (HHV-8) seroprevalence was studied in a population of HIV positive intravenous drug users (IVDUs) from Argentina. Analysis of this population also indirectly made it possible to study HHV-8 blood transmission, because these individuals frequently engage in needle sharing behavior and are capable of acquiring a broad array of blood borne pathogens, including Hepatitis B/C virus. The seroprevalence of HHV-8 in IVDUs was compared to a group of non-IVDUs and HIV negative individuals. Of the 223 individuals tested, 13.45 percent were HHV-8 positive, 16.99 percent in the IVDUs group, and 5.71 percent in the non-IVDUs. Among HIV positive IVDUs, 25/144 (17.36 percent) were also HHV-8 seropositive. The seropositivity rate of HHV-8 in HIV negative IVDUs was 11.1 percent. In contrast, HHV-8 seroprevalence in HIV negative heterosexual individuals without drug usage behavior was even lower (5.71 percent). The rate of HHV-8 infection in HIV positive IVDUs was three times as high compared to the non IVDU HIV negative individuals, suggesting that IVDU is a risk for HHV-8 infection. Furthermore, it was found that IVDUs showed a very high rate of Hepatitis B/C (52.77 percent), which also correlate with HHV-8 infection in this population (23.68 percent). All Hepatitis B/C positive individuals were also HIV positive. Our data confirm other studies showing that individuals who share needles are at risk for acquiring Hepatitis B/C and HIV infections. In addition, our results suggest that they are also at risk to acquiring HHV-8 infection by the same route.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
HIV Infections
/
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
/
Needle Sharing
/
Herpesviridae Infections
/
Herpesvirus 8, Human
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Etiology study
/
Observational study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Argentina
Language:
English
Journal:
Medicina (B.Aires)
Journal subject:
Medicine
Year:
2001
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Argentina
/
United States
Institution/Affiliation country:
Fundación de Ayuda al Inmunodeficiente (FUNDAI)/AR
/
University of Miami School of Medicine/US
/
University of Nebraska/US
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