BACKGROUND: The prevalence of infections with herpes viruses 1 and 2 (HSV1 and HSV2) have significantly changed in the developed countries during the last three decades. This study provides up-to-date estimates of HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence and information on the correlates of infection in a representative sample of the Israeli population. METHODS: Three thousand eight hundred and eighty-one sera collected in 2000-2001 from an age-stratified general population sample were tested using an indirect IgG ELISA for type-specific HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies. RESULTS: Unadjusted HSV-1 seroprevalence was 59.8% (95% confidence interval: 58.2-61.4) and increased with age in both genders. Multivariate analysis revealed that HSV-1 seroprevalence rates were significantly higher in females, non-Jews, subjects who were not born in Israel, inhabitants of Jerusalem and Southern Israel and among subjects also seropositive for HSV-2. Unadjusted HSV-2 seroprevalence among adults was 9.2% (95% confidence interval: 7.9-10.2), and was higher in females, peaking at 20.5% in females aged 40-49. In a multivariate model, females, subjects who were not born in Israel and residents of Jerusalem and Southern Israel were significantly associated with HSV-2 seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: HSV-1 seroepidemiology in Israel resembles the trends in industrialized countries. HSV-2 seroprevalence rates is in the lower range reported across Europe.
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of infections with herpes viruses 1 and 2 (HSV1 and HSV2) have significantly changed in the developed countries during the last three decades. This study provides up-to-date estimates of HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence and information on the correlates of infection in a representative sample of the Israeli population. METHODS: Three thousand eight hundred and eighty-one sera collected in 2000-2001 from an age-stratified general population sample were tested using an indirect IgG ELISA for type-specific HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies. RESULTS: Unadjusted HSV-1 seroprevalence was 59.8% (95% confidence interval: 58.2-61.4) and increased with age in both genders. Multivariate analysis revealed that HSV-1 seroprevalence rates were significantly higher in females, non-Jews, subjects who were not born in Israel, inhabitants of Jerusalem and Southern Israel and among subjects also seropositive for HSV-2. Unadjusted HSV-2 seroprevalence among adults was 9.2% (95% confidence interval: 7.9-10.2), and was higher in females, peaking at 20.5% in females aged 40-49. In a multivariate model, females, subjects who were not born in Israel and residents of Jerusalem and Southern Israel were significantly associated with HSV-2 seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS:HSV-1 seroepidemiology in Israel resembles the trends in industrialized countries. HSV-2 seroprevalence rates is in the lower range reported across Europe.
Authors: Batya B Davidovici; Ran D Balicer; Eyal Klement; Manfred S Green; Ella Mendelson; Zehava Smetana; Dani I Cohen Journal: Eur J Epidemiol Date: 2007-08-01 Impact factor: 8.082