Detection of Human Herpesvirus 8 in Cervical Cells of Chinese Women with Abnormal Papanicolaou Smears

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Abstract
Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), also known as Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)—associated herpesvirus, is the first member of the genus Rhadinovirus known to infect humans [1]. HHV-8 has been strongly associated with KS in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. HHV-8 has also been detected in high percentages of primary effusion lymphomas, cases of multicentric Castleman's disease, and bone marrow dendritic cells of patients with myeloma. There is controversy about whether HHV-8 is ubiquitous and how the virus is transmitted in the healthy population. Reports on the frequency of virus shedding in the genital tract are being disputed, and the role of heterosexual transmission is also uncertain.