Claudia Reinheimer1, Hans W Doerr. 1. Institute for Medical Virology, University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. claudia.reinheimer@kgu.de
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) is a sexually transmitted disease causing a lifelong persisting infection. OBJECTIVE: To determine the seroprevalence of anti-HSV2-IgG in a German collective. We evaluate the German serological status, point out trends in the chronological spread of HSV2 infection, and position our findings in a global context. METHODS: Serum samples from 29,694 patients at the University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, Germany, were screened for anti-HSV2-IgG using ELISA. We evaluated five defined groups containing patients from the departments of pediatrics (PED), gynecology (GYN), dermatology (DER), psychiatrics (PSY) and patients suffering from HIV/AIDS (HIV). RESULTS: We retrospectively evaluated an overall seropositivity to anti-HSV2-IgG of 13.6% (95% CI 13.1-14.1), with a significantly higher level in females (15.9%, 95% CI 15.4-16.5) than in males (11.4%, 95% CI 10.9-11.9). The highest seroprevalence was detected in HIV (34.7%, 95% CI 30.3-39.3). The lowest rate was observed in PED (9.9%, 95% CI 9.4-10.6) with an estimated number of 18 infections at delivery between 1/1/2000 and 1/1/2011. CONCLUSIONS: HSV2 infections are widespread in Germany with a tremendous health risk for newborns. Therefore, the public's perception of HSV2 should be strengthened and protected sexual intercourse should be propagated.
BACKGROUND:Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) is a sexually transmitted disease causing a lifelong persisting infection. OBJECTIVE: To determine the seroprevalence of anti-HSV2-IgG in a German collective. We evaluate the German serological status, point out trends in the chronological spread of HSV2 infection, and position our findings in a global context. METHODS: Serum samples from 29,694 patients at the University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, Germany, were screened for anti-HSV2-IgG using ELISA. We evaluated five defined groups containing patients from the departments of pediatrics (PED), gynecology (GYN), dermatology (DER), psychiatrics (PSY) and patients suffering from HIV/AIDS (HIV). RESULTS: We retrospectively evaluated an overall seropositivity to anti-HSV2-IgG of 13.6% (95% CI 13.1-14.1), with a significantly higher level in females (15.9%, 95% CI 15.4-16.5) than in males (11.4%, 95% CI 10.9-11.9). The highest seroprevalence was detected in HIV (34.7%, 95% CI 30.3-39.3). The lowest rate was observed in PED (9.9%, 95% CI 9.4-10.6) with an estimated number of 18 infections at delivery between 1/1/2000 and 1/1/2011. CONCLUSIONS:HSV2 infections are widespread in Germany with a tremendous health risk for newborns. Therefore, the public's perception of HSV2 should be strengthened and protected sexual intercourse should be propagated.
Authors: Thaís Duquia Moraes Caldeira; Carla Vitola Gonçalves; Gisele Rodrigues de Oliveira; Tânia Vieira da Fonseca; Regina Gonçalves; Clair Teixeira do Amaral; Vanusa Pousada da Hora; Ana Maria Barral de Martinez Journal: Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo Date: 2013 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 1.846