Prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in Different Risk Groups: Thirty Years after the Onset of HIV

Abstract

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) is a sexually transmitted disease causing a lifelong persisting infection. Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of anti-HSV2-IgG in a German collective. We evaluate the German serological status, point out trends in the chronological spread of HSV2 infection, and position our findings in a global context. Methods: Serum samples from 29,694 patients at the University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, Germany, were screened for anti-HSV2-IgG using ELISA. We evaluated five defined groups containing patients from the departments of pediatrics (PED), gynecology (GYN), dermatology (DER), psychiatrics (PSY) and patients suffering from HIV/AIDS (HIV). Results: We retrospectively evaluated an overall seropositivity to anti-HSV2-IgG of 13.6% (95% CI 13.1–14.1), with a significantly higher level in females (15.9%, 95% CI 15.4–16.5) than in males (11.4%, 95% CI 10.9–11.9). The highest seroprevalence was detected in HIV (34.7%, 95% CI 30.3–39.3). The lowest rate was observed in PED (9.9%, 95% CI 9.4–10.6) with an estimated number of 18 infections at delivery between 1/1/2000 and 1/1/2011. Conclusions: HSV2 infections are widespread in Germany with a tremendous health risk for newborns. Therefore, the public’s perception of HSV2 should be strengthened and protected sexual intercourse should be propagated.

High prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV)- type 2 co-infection among HIV-positive women in Ukraine, but no increased HIV mother-to-child transmission risk

“…Prevalence of Herpes simplex virus Type 2 (HSV-2) infection, the leading cause of genital ulcer disease worldwide, is around 17–22 % in adults across Europe and the United States with higher prevalence in HIV-positive individuals (35–40 %) [ 5 ]. It is well established that genital ulcer disease caused by HSV-2 increases risk of HIV sexual acquisition [ 6 ].…”

Prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 and Risk Factors Associated With This Infection in Women in Southern Brazil

“…Therefore, the herpes infection can be a gateway to HIV, and conversely, HIV can be a risk factor for acquisition of herpes14 16 17 22 25. Although no study patient had a genital ulcer present at the time of collection, they could have had these injuries at some point in their lives.…”

Προγνωστική Και Διαγνωστική Αξία Των VZV Λοιμώξεων Σε HIV Ασθενείς, Κλινικές Και Εργαστηριακές Συσχετίσεις VZV Και HIV Λοιμώξεων

“…Ταυτόχρονα με τθν αρχικι λοίμωξθ, ο ιόσ εγκακίςταται ςτον οργανιςμό με αποτζλεςμα να υπάρχει πικανότθτα επανενεργοποίθςθσ είτε ςιωπθλά, είτε με ςυμπτϊματα υποτροπιάηουςασ λοίμωξθσ όπωσ ο επιχείλιοσ ζρπθσ. Θ διάγνωςθ μπαίνει με: 1) μικροςκοπικι εξζταςθ, 2) καλλιζργεια του ιοφ, 3) ανοςοανίχνευςθ, 4) προςδιοριςμό του DNA του ιοφ (137).…”