Prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (hsv-1 and hsv-2) Amongst non-high risk and High risk populations in Sri Lanka

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: HSV-1 and HSV-2 infects both the ora cavity and the genital tract whilst the HSV-i generally causes genital infection. Both c these human herpesviruses cause botl primary and recurrent infections leading ft a lifelong persistence of antibodies. Mol infections of either type are asymptomatic Detection of type specific antibodies hai important implications in the diagnosis of HS' infection in sexually active adults ar> prevention of mother to child transmissiof Recently, problems associated with commo epitopes which elicit cross reactiv antibodies in infected individuals have bee overcome by new HSV type specif! serological assays using the gG1 protein < HSV-1 and gG-2 of HSV-2 as antigens. Th study determine the burden and the epidemiology of type specific HSV infection amongst Sri Lankan populations. OBJECTIVE: To estimate and compare age and gender specific seroprevalences of HSV-1 and HSV-2 amongst non-high risk and high risk populations from Sri Lanka. DESIGN: A prospective study among selected target groups. Setting: Children (aged 1-12 years) and non-high risk adults (aged 13-89 years) and blood donors (aged 15-54 years) reported to Teaching Hospital, Ragama, expectant mothers (aged 14-44 years) of Kelaniya Medical Officer of Health (MOH) division, and the patients attended Central STD Clinic Colombo (aged 4-79 years) during the years 2000 and 2001 were included in this study. METHODS: Single sample of blood was obtained from each of 433 children, 757 ante-natal women, 1374 non-high risk adults, 929 blood donors, and 676 STD clinic attendees. Samples were tested for IgG class antibody responses to HSV infections using FDA approved type specific ELISA assay (MRL) at the Dept . of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Kelaniya. RESULTS: Overall seroprevalence of HSV-1 among children, ante-natal women, blood donors, adult patients and STD attendees was 51.3%, 75.2%, 79.3%, 75.9% and 78.7% respectively whilst the seroprevalence of HSV-2 was 4.6%, 8.3%, 10.9%, 19.8% and 39.6% respectively. Age and gender specific differences in seroprevalence were observed within study groups.