Type-Specific Seroprevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 and Associated Risk Factors in Middle-Aged Women From 6 Countries: The IARC Multicentric Study

• Published in: Sexually transmitted diseases 2007-12, Vol.34 (12), p.1019-1024
• Main Authors: PATNAIK, PADMAJA, HERRERO, ROLANDO, MORROW, R. ASHLEY, MUÑOZ, NUBIA, BOSCH, F. XAVIER, BAYO, SINÉ, EL GUEDDARI, BRAHIM, CACERES, EDUARDO, CHICHAREON, SAIBUA B., CASTELLSAGUÉ, XAVIER, MEIJER, CHRIS J. L. M., SNIJDERS, PETER J. F., SMITH, JENNIFER S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Colombia; Colombia - epidemiology; Epidemiology; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Female; General aspects; Herpes Genitalis - epidemiology; Herpes Genitalis - virology; Herpes simplex virus 1; Herpes simplex virus 2; Herpes viruses; Herpesvirus 1, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus 2, Human - immunology; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Humans; Infectious diseases; Mali - epidemiology; Medical sciences; Men; Middle Aged; Middle aged women; Morocco - epidemiology; Peru - epidemiology; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sexual Behavior; Sexual Partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; Spain - epidemiology; Species Specificity; STD; Studies; Thailand; Thailand - epidemiology; Women
• ISSN: 0148-5717; 1537-4521
• DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e31811f4118

Goal: To determine type-specific seroprevalence of herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and HSV-2 risk factors. Study Design: Six-hundred fifty eight middle-aged control women (hospital-based in 4 of 6 countries) from a multicenter cervical cancer case-control study participated from 1985 to 1997. Type-specific serum IgG antibodies against HSV-1 and HSV-2 were detected with Western Blot. Results: HSV-1 seroprevalence was 89% to 100% everywhere except Thailand (51%). HSV-2 seroprevalence ranged from 9% (Spain) to 57% (Colombia), and was independently associated with having ≥2 lifetime sexual partners overall [Odds ratio (OR), 2.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5-3.1], and in Morocco (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-6.1) and Thailand (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.3-15.4), and with being unmarried in Colombia, Peru, Spain, but not significantly in Mali. Women whose male partner's sexual debut was ≤17 years had a higher HSV-2 risk (OR, 4.3 95% CI, 1.3-13.7). Conclusions: HSV-2 seroprevalence in middle-aged women varied over 4-fold and was associated with riskier sexual behaviors in women and their male partners.