Abstract
Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections Worldwide. It facilitates the acquisition of HIV and is the primary cause of genital herpes which when acquired by women during pregnancy account for half of the mobidity and mortality among neonates. Lifelong latent HSV-2 infection raises concern among women of reproductive age considering the risk of neonatal transmission. In Nigeria screening for HSV-2 and co-infection with HIV in antenatal clinics is not routinely done. A cross-sectional study, was carried out among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in four hospitals in Jigawa state. A total of 300 consenting pregnant women were enrolled, the study involved collection of sociodemographic data and laboratory determination of HSV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and HIV seroprevalence using WHO standard procedure of Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test kit (DIAPRO Diagnostic Bioprobes, Milano, Italy), UNI-GOLD Wicklow, Ireland and ALERE Determine, respectively. Statistical significance was determined at p<0.05Of the 300 samples tested, overall seroprevalence of 55 (18.3%) and 44 (14.7%) for HSV-2 and HIV were recorded. The HSV-2 and HIV Co-infection rate was 16 (5.3%) among respondent. About 87.5% of the co-infection occurred in respondents that were in their 2<sup>nd</sup> Trimester. Addionally, co-infection was found to be high among respondents between the age of 15-34yrs with 81.3%. In this study, education status, parity, stage of pregnancy, occupation, History of blood transfusion had no statistical significance with HSV-2 and HIV co-infection (p>0.05). This study has demonstrated the existence and risk of neonatal herpes in the study area. It is recommended that HSV testing should be placed among the standard medical checkup tests in the area, again advocacy and public awareness on the potential public health burden of HSV-2 and HIV co-infection should be observed.
Highlights
Herpes Simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide, HSV-2 is the predominant cause of genital herpes, it leads to periodic recurrences of painful genital ulcers in symptomatic individuals; it is asymptomatic in about 80%–90% of individuals in whom viral reactivation and shedding occur undetected [1]
The analysis indicated that a total number of 16 (5.3%) were under co-infections of HIV and HSV-2 while the remaining 284 (94.7%) of the respondents were under non-co-infections of HIV and HSV-2
Pregnant women with genital herpes caused by HSV-2 can transmit the virus to their neonate at birth, the greatest risk of transmission to the fetus and newborn occurs in cases of initial maternal infection contracted in the second half of pregnancy, which is a potential cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity [15]
Summary
Herpes Simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide, HSV-2 is the predominant cause of genital herpes, it leads to periodic recurrences of painful genital ulcers in symptomatic individuals; it is asymptomatic in about 80%–90% of individuals in whom viral reactivation and shedding occur undetected [1]. HSV-2 transmissions can remain sustainable in the general public and the prevalence rates can reach very high levels if interventions to curb the infection are not taken. There is a direct relationship between HSV-2 and HIV prevalence, and both viruses have reciprocal biological interactions [2]. In HIVpositive patients, infection with HSV-2 accelerates replication and genital shedding of the virus; such individuals are more likely to transmit HIV [3]. HSV2 is the primary cause of genital ulcers, among potentials cofactor of HIV herpes viruses are commonly mentioned because they are ubiquitous and contagious
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