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Incidence of HHV-8 (KSHV) in various risk groups and the general population
Assays vary between studies and some may be more sensitive than others. These data are derived from data summarized in Talbot, S.J. and Whitby, D (1999) Karposi's sarcoma and human herpes virus-8 in "HIV and the New Viruses", Dalgleish, A.G. and Weiss, R. editors. Academic Press and in Martin et al. (1998) NEJM 338:948-954. US figures are shown in red for comparison
| Incidence in
control populations
US HIV- controls: 0%,
0% (HHV-8 incidence is low in the general population but higher in populations that exhibit high classic KS incidence e.g. Mediterranean countries such as Italy and Greece) |
Incidence in KS+
populations
Classic endemic KS:
100% (HHV-8 incidence strongly correlates with classical KS in an HIV negative population) |
| Incidence in
populations with STDs
US STD clinic attenders: 13% (This shows that HHV-8 is sexually transmitted) HHV-8 in the non-homosexual population does not correlate with number of partners or STD history and appears not to be sexually transmitted. In the UK the only risk factor in the heterosexual population is country of origin. In Africa, HHV-8 occurs in children and may be transmitted mother to child |
Incidence in the
general homosexual population
Exclusively homosexual: 40% (HHV-8 is more common in the homosexual population than in the general population) |
Incidence in
homosexual population according to number of partners in previous year
(HHV-8 is more prevalent in a population of men with a large number of male sexual partners. This also indicated that HHV-8 is sexually transmitted) |
|
| Incidence in
HIV+ population with no KS
US HIV+ HS men: 30%,
23%, 48% (HHV-8 incidence is high in homosexual men with HIV and at risk for KS)
|
Incidence in HIV+ population
with AIDS-KS
US AIDS KS: 83%, 52% (HHV-8 incidence strongly correlates with aggressive KS in an HIV positive population) |