Infect Chemother.  2008 Aug;40(4):246-247. 10.3947/ic.2008.40.4.246.

A Study of HHA-8 Seroprevalence in Korean Health Care Workers

• Joo WC
• Choi YJ
• Park JE
• Lee HM
• Lee JS
• Cheong MH
• Moon JH
• Kim SM

• KMID: 2170242
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2008.40.4.246

Abstract

HHV-8 virus is known to be associated with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in HIV seropositive patients and its seroprevalence has geographic difference. In South Korea, incidence of KS is low not only in general population but also in HIV patients compared to other countries. It is speculated that low seroprevalence of HHV-8 has contributed to the low incidence of KS in South Korea. We examined the seroprevalence of anti HHV-8 IgG of HIV seronegative health care workers in one University hospital. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used for diagnosis. One person (0.6%, 1/164) was seropositive, six were equivocal (3.7%, 6/164) and 157 people were seronegative (95.73%, 157/164). This study revealed that seroprevalence of HHV-8 in general population was low in South Korea. Further studies are needed to be carried out to evaluate the low HHV-8 seroprevalence in Korea.

Keyword

Herpesvirus 8; Hunman; Seroprevalence; Korea

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care
Herpesvirus 8, Human
HIV
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Incidence
Korea
Republic of Korea
Sarcoma, Kaposi
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Viruses
Immunoglobulin G

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