Salivary shedding of HHV-8 in people infected or not by human immunodeficiency virus 1.

Background: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), the main agent involved in the etiopathogenesis of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is primarily transmitted through sexual contact. The potential of saliva as a source of HHV-8 transmission remains unclear. The purpose of this work was to determine the frequency of HHV-8 detection in saliva of HIV-infected individuals and their family contacts.