Herpes simplex virus 2 infection: A risk factor for HIV infection in heterosexuals

• Published in: Indian journal of dermatology, venereology, and leprology venereology, and leprology, 2008-05, Vol.74 (3), p.230-233
• Main Authors: Anuradha, K, Singh, H. Maan, Gopal, K.V.T, Rama, Rao G. Raghu, Ramani, T.V, Padmaja, Jyothi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Complications and side effects; Demographic aspects; Dermatology; Diagnosis; Disease; Drug therapy; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epidemiology; Female; General aspects; Health aspects; Health education; Herpes; Herpes Simplex - complications; Herpes Simplex - epidemiology; Herpes Simplex - virology; Herpes viruses; Herpesvirus 2, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus diseases; Heterosexuality; Heterosexuals; HIV; HIV infection; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - etiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus, Herpes simplex virus 2, Seroprevalence; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunoassay; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical examination; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sexual behavior; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
• ISSN: 0378-6323; 0973-3922; 1998-3611
• DOI: 10.4103/0378-6323.41367

Background: Genital ulcerative disease is one of the risk factors for acquisition of HIV. As HSV-2 infection is currently the most common cause of genital ulcerative disease, it acts as a potential risk factor for HIV infection. The present study was undertaken to know the seroprevalence of antibodies to HSV-2 in HIV seropositive individuals and in the general population, and to ascertain if HSV-2 is a risk factor for developing HIV infection. Methods: The study group included one hundred new HIV seropositive persons irrespective of active genital herpes or history of genital herpes. Fifty age- and sex- matched healthy volunteers were included as controls. In all patients and controls, diagnostic serology was done for HSV-2 using HSV-2-specific glycoprotein IgG2 by indirect immunoassay using the ELISA test. Statistical value ′P′ was calculated using the Chi-squared test. Results: Out of the 100 HIV seropositives, 66 were males and 34 were females with an age range of 20-54 years. In only 22 (19 males and 3 females) of these, positive history of genital herpes was obtained. In 49 out of the 100 HIV seropositives, IgG2 antibodies against HSV-2 were detected. In the control group, 11 out of 50 controls were seropositive for HSV-2 IgG2 antibody. There was a statistically significant association between HSV-2 and HIV seropositivity with ′P′ value < 0.005. Conclusion: The high prevalence of HSV-2 seropositivity in the HIV-infected group (49%) as compared to normal controls (22%) was statistically significant. Prior HSV-2 infection could be an important risk factor for acquisition of HIV in our patients.