2 research outputs found
Study - High seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in STD clinic attendees and non-high risk controls: A case control study at a referral hospital in South India
BACKGROUND: In Asia, HSV seroprevalence studies are sparse and they
have recorded lower prevalence of HSV infection, especially HSV-2.
AIMS: To ascertain the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in patients
attending a STD clinic in a referral hospital in south India and to
compare it with a control group. METHODS: The study included 135
consecutive STD cases having history of ulcerative or non-ulcerative
STD in the present or in the past 5 years and 135 age and sex-matched
controls. Diagnostic serology was done for HSV-1 and HSV-2 using type
specific IgG by indirect immunoassay using ELISA. The results were
analyzed utilizing Chi- square test. RESULTS: Amongst 135 STD clinic
cases, 106 cases were males and 29 cases were females with male to
female ratio of 3.65:1. The mean age was 32.2 years (range 16-65
years). Among study group cases, 112 (82.9%) cases were co-infected
with HSV-1 and HSV-2, 11 (8.1%) cases were seropositive for HSV-1 alone
and 3 (2.2%) cases were seropositive for HSV-2 alone. In the control
group, 112 (82.9%) cases were co-infected with HSV-1 and 2, 12 (9.6%)
for HSV-1 alone and 1(0.8%) for HSV-2 alone. Correlation of HSV-1 and
HSV-2 serology with various demographic and behavioral factors was
statistically insignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Seroprevalence of HSV-1 and
HSV-2 in STD clinic cases and control group is high, similar to that
recorded in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, serological studies for HSV-1 and
HSV-2 cannot be taken as a marker of sexual behavior in our set of
population