Novel Human Herpesvirus 8 Subtype D Strains in Vanuatu, Melanesia

Abstract

We show human herpesvirus 8 with diverse molecular subtype D variants to be highly endemic among the Ni-Vanuatu population. Most K1 genes were nearly identical to Polynesian strains, although a few clustered with Australian or Taiwanese strains. These results suggest diverse origins of the Ni-Vanuatu population and raise questions about the ancient human population movements in Melanesia.

Keywords

• Human herpesvirus
• HHV-8
• Melanesia
• molecular epidemiology
• Vanuatu
• dispatch