The Prevalence of Human Herpes Virus Type 8 in Semen Specimens of HIV-Negative Iranian Population Detected by Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction

Abstract

Background: Human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) is a member of the herpes family that, like other herpesviruses, causes a lifelong infection following entrance into the human body. The etiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, this virus, was first identified in a biopsy of a Kaposi's sarcoma tumor in an HIV-infected patient. Objectives: The aim of this research was to evaluate the prevalence of HHV-8 in semen specimens from HIV-negative individuals. Methods: Semen specimens obtained from HIV-negative individuals referred to an infertility center were transferred to the central laboratory for HHV-8 DNA amplification via the nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Results: The prevalence of HHV-8 in the referral population was 26%. Conclusions: The prevalence of HHV-8 in the semen samples of our study population may be representative of its prevalence in the normal population. Further studies are, therefore, recommended to determine the prevalence of the virus in the normal Iranian population.