Seroprevalence of HHV-6 and HHV-8 among blood donors in Greece
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Authors
Politou, Marianna
Koutras, Dimitrios
Kaparos, Georgios
Valsami, Serena
Pittaras, Theodoros
Logothetis, Emmanouil
Panayiotakopoulos, George
Kouskouni, Evangelia
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Abstract
Background: Herpes viruses infection transmitted through healthy but infected blood donors pose a danger to
herpes-naive immunocompromised recipients. The risk of transfusion-related HHV-8 transmission is different in
endemic and not endemic areas. HHV-6 and HHV-8 seroprevalence and viral load among blood donors have been
reported from different countries. The aim of our study was to assess the seroprevalence of HHV-8 and HHV-6 in
volunteer blood donors from Greece which is unknown.
Findings: Serum samples from 179 healthy blood donors were tested for the presence of IgG antibodies against
HHV-6 and HHV-8 with ELISA. None of the 179 donors of Greek origin tested was positive for HHV-8. HHV-6
seropositivity was assessed in 160 blood donors’ samples and was found to be 78.75% (126/160). The HHV-6
seroprevalence did not differ either between males and females or among different decade age groups.
Conclusions: The fact, that no blood donor was positive for HHV-8 IgG antibodies indicates that the risk for transfusion
related HHV-8 transmission in Greece, if any, is negligible and does not warrant broad testing for HHV-8. Definitely
further studies are needed, in order to clarify the potential risk of HHV-6 transmission.
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Keywords
HHV-6 seroprevalence, HHV-8 seroprevalence, Blood donors, Greece