Human herpesvirus 8 transmission from mother to child and between siblings in an endemic population

Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) antibodies in women from São Paulo, Brazil: association with behavioral factors and Kaposi's sarcoma

“…Nevertheless, exceptions have been found in some areas of West Africa, South America and Australasia [1,[3][4][5]. Although these regions are considered endemic for HHV-8 infection, few or no cases of KS have been detected in them.…”

“…On the other hand, saliva and/or other body fluids have been considered to be vehicles for the spread of virus in patients presenting classic and endemic KS, as well as in healthy populations in areas endemic for HHV-8 infection, especially during childhood [1][2][3][4][5]. Studies conducted on women worldwide have produced mixed findings, showing higher incidences among female injectable drug users (IDUs) in the US, females who have HIV-infected partners, female sex workers, and females living in KSendemic regions, such as Africa and the Caribbean [2,[9][10].…”

The Viral Etiology of AIDS‐Associated Malignancies

“…In these countries, the seroprevalence of KSHV in different risk groups mirrors the incidence of AIDS-KS, with a seroprevalence rate of between 25% and 50% among homosexual men. On the contrary, the reported seroprevalence of KSHV is high in the adult general population in regions of Brazil, French Guiana, the Mediterranean basin, and Central and Southern Africa, where it ranges from 10% to over 80%; these regions are considered endemic for KSHV (Cunha et al, 2005;Freitas et al, 2002;Kazanji et al, 2005;Klaskala et al, 2005;Mayama et al, 1998;Mbulaiteye et al, 2003;Olsen et al, 1998;Plancoulaine et al, 2000Plancoulaine et al, , 2004Wilkinson et al, 1999). Central African countries, like the Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Zambia, also have the highest KSHV infection rates in the world .…”

The pleiotropic effects of Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus

“…In endemic countries, transmission occurs mainly in childhood, and transmission from the mother to the child, or among siblings or playmates, appears to be the most important route [44][45][46][47][48][49]. Seroprevalence rates in Africa continue to rise during adulthood and transmission through sexual contact is also likely [50,51] (further references in ref 43).…”