Objective: The purpose of this report was to review the current literature on human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) with particular attention to the aspects of interest for dental health care workers.
Material and methods: The authors searched original research and review articles on specific aspects of HHV-8 infection, including virology, epidemiology, transmission, diagnosis, natural history, therapy, and oral aspects. The relevant material was evaluated and reviewed.
Results: HHV-8 is a recently discovered DNA virus that is present throughout the world but with major geographic variation. In the Western world, the virus, transmitted mainly by means of sexual contact, is strongly associated with Kaposi's sarcoma and body cavity-based lymphoma and more controversially with multiple myeloma and non-neoplastic disorders. There is no specific effective treatment, but human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitors may play an indirect role in the clearance of HHV-8 DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. HHV-8 DNA is present in saliva, but as yet, there are no documented instances of nosocomial transmission to health care workers. The prevalence of HHV-8 among dental health care workers is probably similar to that in the general population.
Conclusion: HHV-8 does not appear to be ubiquitous in most populations, particularly in western Europe and the United States, where it may be restricted to a population at risk of having Kaposi's sarcoma develop (men infected with human immunodeficiency virus and patients who are iatrogenically immunosuppressed). Most serologic studies suggest a global HHV-8 seroprevalence of 2% to 10% and show that the virus may be under immunologic control in people who are healthy but infected with HHV-8. Also, HHV-8 certainly has the means to overcome cellular control and immune responses and thus predispose to malignancy. To date, there are no data to suggest that health care staff members are at particular risk of HHV-8 acquisition through occupational routes.