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Conceptual Emergence of Human Herpesvirus 8 (Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus) as an Oral Herpesvirus

C.G. Teo

Virus Reference Department, Centre for Infections, Health Protection Agency, 61 Colindale Ave., London NW9 5HT, UK; current address, Division of Viral Hepatitis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30305, USA, CTeo{at}cdc.gov.

Recognition of the various clinico-epidemiologic forms of Kaposi’s sarcoma, a disease putatively caused by an infectious agent, did not provide ready clues as to how that agent might be transmitted, although fecal and sexual routes were implicated. Application of serologic and genome-detection assays, and cell-culture studies following the identification of human herpesvirus 8 as the causative agent now implicate that virus as one that is orally shed. While oral transmission of the virus might account for the viral endemicity in Africa and Mediterranean countries, why it is particularly prevalent among male homosexuals in the West remains more difficult to explain. Such explanation may be sought from behavioral studies into the role saliva plays in sexual interactions.

KEY WORDS: Kaposi’s sarcoma • human herpesvirus 8 • saliva • disease transmission • sexual behavior • oral sex