Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Acquisition Research Articles

Association between acquisition of herpes simplex virus type 2 in women and bacterial vaginosis.

A longitudinal cohort study of sexually active women 18-30 years of age was conducted to identify variables associated with the acquisition of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections. Six hundred seventy HSV-2-seronegative women were followed up at 4-month intervals for 1 year; acquisition of HSV-2 antibodies was detected in 32 of these women. Black race, < or =12 years of education, having a new sex partner, and bacterial vaginosis (BV) were associated with HSV-2 seroconversion on univariate analysis. Antecedent HSV-1 infection was not protective against HSV-2 acquisition. After controlling for other identified risk factors in multivariable models, the diagnosis of BV remained associated with an increased risk of acquiring HSV-2 infection (hazard ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-4.5; P=.05). In this study, the population attributable risk of BV for HSV-2 seroconversion was 21%. Additional studies are needed to determine whether screening and treatment of BV could reduce susceptibility to the acquisition of HSV-2 in women.

Condoms Reduce Women's Risk of Herpes Infection, but Do Not Protect Men

Researchers analyzed behavioral and demographic data from participants in two multisite HSV vaccine trials conducted in the middle 1990s to assess whether using condoms reduces the transmission of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The study included 528 couples who at enrollment tested negative for both HSV-2 and HIV and had been involved in a monogamous relationship for at least 6 months with an individual infected with HSV-2. Susceptible partners were interviewed during an initial screening where they were instructed to keep a diary of their sexual activity for the duration of the study. During the studys observation period 26 of the women and 5 of the men acquired HSV- 2. The researchers found that the susceptible partners likelihood of acquiring the virus increased with each additional sex act per week and each 5-year reduction in age; the risk was doubled if the source partner was seropositive for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Participants who reported having used condoms more than 50% of the time throughout their lives were less likely to acquire the virus than those who reported less condom use. Moreover using condoms for more than 25% of sex acts was associated with a decreased risk of HSV-2 acquisition. However when the data were analyzed by gender condom use was highly protective for women but had no significant effect for men.

Prevalence and incidence of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among male Zimbabwean factory workers.

Stored sera from a cohort of 2397 male factory workers in Harare, Zimbabwe, were screened for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)-specific antibodies, to estimate the prevalence and incidence of genital herpes infection and to assess the relation between HSV-2 and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition. The prevalence of HSV-2 at enrollment was 39.8%. Correlates of HSV-2 seropositivity were HIV seropositivity, marital status, history of sexually transmitted disease (STD), older age, and higher income. The incidence of HSV-2 seroconversion during follow-up was 6.2/100 person-years. Correlates of HSV-2 seroconversion were enrollment while HIV-positive or seroconversion during follow-up, reported genital ulcer, history of STD, and number of sex partners. No evidence was found that HSV-2 infection was more likely to precede HIV or vice versa. HSV-2 and HIV seropositivity are strong markers for high-risk sexual behavior. Improved interventions targeted to populations in which the incidence of either viral infection is high are needed.

Transmission of Genital Herpes by Donor Insemination

This report describes a donor in a therapeutic donor insemination program who asymptomatically acquired a primary herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection from his long-standing sexual partner. His fresh semen was used to inseminate two HSV-seronegative recipients; in one a primary HSV-2 infection developed, and in one it did not. Direct evidence of transmission from donor to recipient was documented by restriction enzyme analysis of the HSV-2 isolates obtained from the donor's semen and from the recipient's cervix. Because of the possibility of asymptomatic acquisition and transmission of HSV-2, semen donors and their sexual partners should undergo serologic screening for genital herpes using new, type-specific HSV serologic techniques.