OBJECTIVES: To measure the prevalence of HSV-2 antibodies in a birth cohort of 21 year old New Zealanders from whom detailed sexual histories had been obtained, and to assess the potential for HSV-2 serology in characterising a young adult population's risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). METHODS: Sera from 784 cohort members were tested using an indirect IgG enzyme linked immunoassay specific to the HSV-2 glycoprotein G. Positive results were confirmed by western blot. RESULTS: In all, 27 subjects were seropositive for HSV-2 (3.4%), only seven of whom gave a history of genital herpes (26%). Risk among females increased with lifetime number of partners, while risk for males increased with having a first partner who was aged 16 years or under. CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of HSV-2 infection in this cohort was low, but similar to that seen in several other populations in this age group. HSV-2 seropositivity did not appear to be a sensitive marker for high risk sexual activity in this young population. This may be because a critical mass of HSV-2 carriers has not accumulated among potential partners by age 21 years.
OBJECTIVES: To measure the prevalence of HSV-2 antibodies in a birth cohort of 21 year old New Zealanders from whom detailed sexual histories had been obtained, and to assess the potential for HSV-2 serology in characterising a young adult population's risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STD). METHODS: Sera from 784 cohort members were tested using an indirect IgG enzyme linked immunoassay specific to the HSV-2 glycoprotein G. Positive results were confirmed by western blot. RESULTS: In all, 27 subjects were seropositive for HSV-2 (3.4%), only seven of whom gave a history of genital herpes (26%). Risk among females increased with lifetime number of partners, while risk for males increased with having a first partner who was aged 16 years or under. CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of HSV-2 infection in this cohort was low, but similar to that seen in several other populations in this age group. HSV-2 seropositivity did not appear to be a sensitive marker for high risk sexual activity in this young population. This may be because a critical mass of HSV-2 carriers has not accumulated among potential partners by age 21 years.
Authors: D T Fleming; G M McQuillan; R E Johnson; A J Nahmias; S O Aral; F K Lee; M E St Louis Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1997-10-16 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: D Siegel; E Golden; A E Washington; S A Morse; M T Fullilove; J A Catania; B Marin; S B Hulley Journal: JAMA Date: 1992-10-07 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: A L Cunningham; F K Lee; D W Ho; P R Field; C L Law; D R Packham; I D McCrossin; E Sjögren-Jansson; S Jeansson; A J Nahmias Journal: Med J Aust Date: 1993-04-19 Impact factor: 7.738
Authors: J E Eberhart-Phillips; N P Dickson; C Paul; G P Herbison; J Taylor; A L Cunningham Journal: Sex Transm Infect Date: 2001-10 Impact factor: 3.519