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To the Editor—The study by Mbulaiteye et al. [1] examines the distribution of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) seropositivity within families in rural Tanzania, to determine routes of the infection's spread. Their findings agree with those from ep- idemiological surveys of other endemic areas; such surveys show that there are significant nonsexual associations within families, with high seroprevalence in young children. Although Mbulaiteye et al. recognize that it is not clear what the routes of HHV-8 transmission are, they propose that young children may become infected with this virus “through exposure to HHV-8-infected saliva, mainly from family members” (p. 1783); concerning the mechanisms of exposure to saliva, Mbulaiteye et al. suggest that it “may occur when mothers premasticate food for infants or clean children's faces with saliva” (p. 1783). Nonetheless, these cultural practices can only partially explain the se- roprevalence of HHV-8 in younger children. A more general explanation is provided by Coluzzi et al. [2] and is reinforced by Coluzzi et al. [3], who have suggested that blood-feeding arthropods (e.g., mosquitoes) play a role in the epidemiology of HHV-8 infection.

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Correspondence
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