BACKGROUND: The modes of transmission of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) remain unclear. GOAL: To study HHV-8 seroprevalence and risk factors among young men. STUDY DESIGN: The Young Men's Survey was a multisite cross-sectional HIV seroprevalence and behavioral risk survey of men aged 15 to 22 years who attended public venues frequented by young men who have sex with men (MSM). Blood specimens were tested for HHV-8 by using an immunofluorescence assay at a 1:40 dilution among 488 participants in Seattle-King County, WA. RESULTS: Total HHV-8 seroprevalence was 6% among MSM and 5% among men who have sex only with women (MSW). In multivariate analysis, unprotected receptive anal sex during the past 6 months, injection drug use, and cytomegalovirus infection were associated with HHV-8 seropositivity in MSM. CONCLUSION: The HHV-8 seroprevalence among these young MSM was similar to the HHV-8 seroprevalence among young MSW, but lower than seroprevalence estimates in earlier studies of older MSM. The association of MSM between HHV-8 infection and unprotected receptive anal sex supports previous findings that HHV-8 is sexually transmitted. Although CMV infection and injection drug use may be markers for unsafe sexual practices, it is also possible that these are independent risk factors for acquiring HHV-8.
BACKGROUND: The modes of transmission of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) remain unclear. GOAL: To study HHV-8 seroprevalence and risk factors among young men. STUDY DESIGN: The Young Men's Survey was a multisite cross-sectional HIV seroprevalence and behavioral risk survey of men aged 15 to 22 years who attended public venues frequented by young men who have sex with men (MSM). Blood specimens were tested for HHV-8 by using an immunofluorescence assay at a 1:40 dilution among 488 participants in Seattle-King County, WA. RESULTS: Total HHV-8 seroprevalence was 6% among MSM and 5% among men who have sex only with women (MSW). In multivariate analysis, unprotected receptive anal sex during the past 6 months, injection drug use, and cytomegalovirus infection were associated with HHV-8 seropositivity in MSM. CONCLUSION: The HHV-8 seroprevalence among these young MSM was similar to the HHV-8 seroprevalence among young MSW, but lower than seroprevalence estimates in earlier studies of older MSM. The association of MSM between HHV-8infection and unprotected receptive anal sex supports previous findings that HHV-8 is sexually transmitted. Although CMV infection and injection drug use may be markers for unsafe sexual practices, it is also possible that these are independent risk factors for acquiring HHV-8.
Authors: Lisa M Butler; Willy A Were; Steven Balinandi; Robert Downing; Sheila Dollard; Torsten B Neilands; Sundeep Gupta; George W Rutherford; Jonathan Mermin Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2011-01-26 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: C Casper; D Carrell; K G Miller; F D Judson; A S Meier; J S Pauk; R A Morrow; L Corey; A Wald; C Celum Journal: Sex Transm Infect Date: 2006-06 Impact factor: 3.519
Authors: Sin How Lim; David Ostrow; Ron Stall; Joan Chmiel; Amy Herrick; Steve Shoptaw; Uyen Kao; Adam Carrico; Michael Plankey Journal: AIDS Behav Date: 2012-01
Authors: Beryl A Koblin; Thomas Perdue; Leigh Ren; Hanne Thiede; Vincent Guilin; Duncan A MacKellar; Linda A Valleroy; Lucia V Torian Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Mariana Dias Batista; Suzete Ferreira; Mariana M Sauer; Helena Tomiyama; Maria Teresa Maidana Giret; Cláudio S Pannuti; Ricardo S Diaz; Ester C Sabino; Esper G Kallas Journal: PLoS One Date: 2009-05-19 Impact factor: 3.240