[HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositivity rates in pregnant women admitted to Izmir Ataturk Research and Training Hospital, Turkey].

In this study, the seropositivity rates of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2, and their distribution according to the age groups in the sera of asymptomatic pregnant women who were admitted to Gynecology and Obstetrics clinics of Izmir Ataturk Research and Training Hospital for routine control, were investigated. IgG and IgM antibodies specific for HSV-1 and HSV-2 were screened by commercial ELISA kits (RADIM SpA-Pomezia, Italia). Total IgG seropositivity rates for HSV-1 and HSV-2 were found as 94.7% (108/114) and 8.2% (13/158), while IgM seropositivities were 0 (0/114) and 1.4% (2/148), respectively. The distribution of HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG seropositivity rates according to the age groups were as follows; 100% (8/8) and 10% (1/10) in 18-20; 92.9% (26/28) and 13.9% (5/36) in 21-25; 93.3% (42/45) and 3% (2/66) in 26-30; 96.6% (28/29) and 8.3% (3/36) in 31-35 and 100% (4/4) and 20% (2/10) in 36-40 years age groups, respectively. HSV-2 IgM antibodies were positive only in 21-25 years age group (2/35; 5.7%). The difference between seropositivity rates of HSV-1 IgG and HSV-2 IgG were found statistically significant (p = 0.000, p < 0.05); whereas the differences between both HSV-1 IgG and IgM and HSV-2 IgG and IgM seropositivity rates in the age groups didn't display statistical significance (p = 0.872, p> 0.05; p = 0.217, p> 0.05). The aim of this letter was to contribute to the seroepidemiological data of HSV prevalance in pregnant women in our region.