Human herpesvirus 8 and human herpesvirus 2 infections in prison population

• Published in: Journal of medical virology Vol. 79; no. 2; pp. 167 - 173
• Main Authors: Sarmati, L., Babudieri, S., Longo, B., Starnini, G., Carbonara, S., Monarca, R., Buonomini, A.R., Dori, L., Rezza, G., Andreoni, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.02.2007; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B - transmission; Hepatitis B - virology; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C virus; Herpes Genitalis - epidemiology; Herpes Genitalis - transmission; Herpes Genitalis - virology; herpes simplex virus 2; Herpesviridae Infections - epidemiology; Herpesviridae Infections - transmission; Herpesviridae Infections - virology; Herpesvirus 2, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus 8, Human - immunology; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - transmission; HIV Infections - virology; human herpes virus 8; Human herpesvirus 8; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Italian prisoners; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Prisoners; Prisons; Risk Factors; sexual transmitted diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral - epidemiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral - transmission; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral - virology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Viral diseases; Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye; Virology; Italy; Gammaherpesvirinae; Human; Herpesviridae; Alphaherpesvirinae; Herpes; Infection; Virus; Human herpesvirus 8; Italian prisoners; sexual transmitted diseases; Viral disease; Human herpesvirus 2; herpes simplex virus 2; human herpes virus 8
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.20774

Incarcerated persons have high rates of infectious diseases. Few data on the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in prisoners are available. This multi‐center cross‐sectional study enrolled 973 inmates from eight Italian prisons. Demographic and behavioral data were collected using an anonymous standardized questionnaire and antibodies to HIV, HCV, HBV, HSV‐2, and HHV‐8 were detected in a blood sample obtained from each person at the time of the enrollment in the study. Two hundred and two out of the 973 subjects (20.7%) had antibodies against HHV‐8. HHV‐8‐seropositive subjects were more likely to be older than 30 years with a higher educational level. HHV‐8 infection was associated significantly with HBV (P < 0.001) and HSV‐2 (P = 0.004) seropositivity and with previous imprisonments. Multivariate analysis showed that HHV‐8 infection in Italian inmates was associated with HBV (P < 0.001) and HSV‐2 (P = 0.002) seropositivity otherwise among foreigners inmates HHV‐8 was significantly associated with HBV infection (P = 0.05). One hundred and eighty‐six (21.2%) prisoners had anti‐HSV‐2 antibodies. At multivariate analysis HSV‐2‐positivity was significantly associated with HIV (P < 0.001) and HHV‐8 infections (P = 0.003), whereas it was inversely associated with HCV infection (0.004). A relatively high seroprevalence of HHV‐8 and HSV‐2 among Italian prison inmates was found. The association of HHV‐8 and HSV‐2 infections suggest sexual transmission of these viruses among Italian prison inmates. J. Med. Virol. 79:167–173, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.