Rising incidence and prevalence of herpes simplex type 2 infection in a cohort of 26 year old New Zealanders

Abstract

Objectives: To examine changes in the incidence and prevalence of herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) infection in a birth cohort of 26 year old New Zealanders in whom seroprevalence had been measured at 3.4% at age 21. Methods: Sera from 869 cohort members were tested using an indirect IgG enzyme linked immunoassay specific to the HSV-2 glycoprotein G. Serological results were compared with detailed sexual histories. Results: In all, 96 participants (11%) were seropositive for HSV-2, including at least 56 who seroconverted after their 21st birthday. Among those known to be seronegative at age 21, the annual seroconversion rate was 13.5 cases per 1000 per year, compared with 8.1 cases per 1000 per sexually active year before age 21. New infections were associated with female sex and an early age of first intercourse. The average rate of partner change was lower in the cohort after age 21, and was only modestly increased among those who acquired new HSV-2 infections between ages 21 and 26. Conclusions: HSV-2 seroprevalence has risen sharply in this sexually active cohort, despite a reduction in the overall level of partner change. Increased rates of HSV-2 acquisition after age 21 may be due to a higher prevalence of infection in the pool of potential partners encountered during the third decade of life. Factors related to partner choice may have more influence on the risk of HSV-2 infection than the number of sexual partners alone. (Sex Transm Inf 2001;77:353-357)

Seroprevalence and Seroincidence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infections in a Cohort of Adolescents in Italy

“…16,17 This is of particular importance when considering that, according to a recent study, later coitarche reduces the risk of not only STDs, but also of fertility-threatening complications as a result of STDs acquired at a young age. 18 Differently from most other studies, 13,14 in our study, the HSV-2 seroprevalence was not higher among females, which, however, is consistent with the results of surveys conducted in Italy in various populations. 2,3 The protective effect of anti-HSV-1 antibodies against the acquisition of HSV-2 infection is still unclear.…”

“…With regard to HSV-2 seroincidence, the 0.4 per 100 PY observed in our study is lower than the rates reported among adolescents in other countries. 11,12,14 That both the seroprevalence and seroincidence of HSV-2 are lower in Italy compared with other industrialized countries could be related to the finding that Italian adolescents have their first sexual experience at a later age (median age of 18 years for both males and females) 15 and are thus exposed to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) later than other adolescents. 16,17 This is of particular importance when considering that, according to a recent study, later coitarche reduces the risk of not only STDs, but also of fertility-threatening complications as a result of STDs acquired at a young age.…”

Transmission of Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 in a Prospective Cohort of HIV‐Negative Gay Men: The Health in Men Study

“…A similar association-but only with HSV-2-was recently reported in a study of homosexual men in the United States [20]. For HSV-2 and, to a lesser extent, for HSV-1, seroprevalence in the general population is higher in women than in men [8,10,16,29,34,37]. The association with heterosexual contact could be related to the late establishment of homosexual contact in some homosexually active men, as well as previous sexual activity with women.…”

Core Group Evolution Over Time

“…16 We have shown that early age at first sex is also associated with prevalence and incidence of herpes simplex virus type 2 in this population in males and females. 17 In contrast, sociocultural definitions based on socioeconomic factors are of little application in this population, because the associations are too weak and also change with age.…”