International Journal of Epidemiology 2001;30:580-588
© International Epidemiological Association 2001
Infectious Disease |
Prevalence and association between herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2-specific antibodies in attendees at a sexually transmitted disease clinic
a Departments of Dermatology and Venereology,
b Virology,
c Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt and Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
d Rotterdam Eye Hospital, The Netherlands.
Wim Roest, MD, Department of Dermato-Venereology, Room 1783, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail: roest{at}derma.fgg.eur.nl
Abstract
Background Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 was determined in 1993 and 1998 in a randomly selected study group of 1024 and 654 attendees, respectively, at the sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic of the University Hospital Rotterdam-Dijkzigt, The Netherlands. Correlations of HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositivity were investigated. The relationship between HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies was also studied.
Methods Data were collected in a cross-sectional study from February 1993 until February 1994 and from January 1998 until December 1998. Glycoprotein G (gG) HSV type specific serum IgG was determined.
Results Seroprevalence of HSV-1 was 68% versus 59% (1993 versus 1998, 
2-test P < 0.001), of HSV-2 it was 30% versus 22% (1993 versus 1998, 2-test P < 0.001). Using logistic regression analyses, HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositivity were significantly associated with age and ethnicity in both groups. In 1993, HSV-1 seropositivity also correlated with lower level of education and female gender, whereas in 1998 it correlated with ‘number of sexual partners in the past 6 months’ and ‘present diagnosis of STD’. In both groups, HSV-2 seropositivity was also more prevalent in females and related to sexual lifestyle variables. In an exposure-disease model, HSV-1 seropositivity was not correlated with HSV-2 seropositivity (odds ratio 1993 = 1.1, 95% CI : 0.8–1.7; odds ratio in 1998 = 1.0, 95% CI : 0.5–1.8).
Conclusions Seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 is falling among STD clinic attendees in Rotterdam. A changing pattern of risk factors for HSV-1 seropositivity indicates increasing sexual transmission of HSV-1. Seropositivity for HSV-2 correlated with known risk factors. A previous HSV-1 infection does not reduce susceptibility to subsequent genital HSV-2 infections.
KEY MESSAGES
- HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections are becoming less common among STD clinic attendees in Rotterdam.
- A changing pattern of risk factors correlated with HSV-1 seropositivity indicates that sexual transmission of HSV-1 is increasing.
- A prior HSV-1 infection does not reduce suseptibility to subsequent genital HSV-2 infection.
Keywords Herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, genital herpes, epidemiology, seroprevalence, risk factors, transmission
Accepted 17 October 2000
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