Abstract
The presence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in nasal secretions and saliva from 14 HHV-8- seropositive persons, including 8 Kaposi's sarcoma patients: 7 were human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected, 6 of whom were asymptomatic. HHV-8 was detected in one or both body fluids in 8 (57%) of 14 subjects. Parallel PCR testing revealed the concomitant presence of cytomegalovirus, Epstein- Barr virus, and HHV-6 in various combinations in these body fluids. These data indicate frequent shedding of multiple herpes-viruses in nasal secretions and saliva, particularly in Kaposi's sarcoma patients. Both body fluids are therefore potential sources HHV-8 by nonsexual transmission.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 213-216 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 177 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1998 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Received 28 February 1997; revised 31 July 1997. Informed consent was obtained from all subjects participating in this study, which received the approval of the Committee on Human Research, University of California, San Francisco. Financial support: Universitywide AIDS Research Program grant R95-SF-088. Reprints or correspondence: Dr. Jay A. Levy, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-1270.