title: Incidences of antibodies to hepatitis B, herpes simplex and cytomegalovirus in prostitutes.
abstract: The 170 prostitutes registered by the local public health authority (165 female, 5 male; ages 17-61) were serologically investigated by ELISA and CFT for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers (n = 170), anti-CMV (n = 118) and anti-HSV 2 antibodies (n = 117). 4.7% (1.2%) were found to be HBs- (HBe-)antigen carriers; 1.2% revealed an acute hepatitis B (seroconversion of anti-HBc or IgM-anti-HBc highly positive); 17.1% presented a past and resolved hepatitis B (anti-HBs positive). These rates exceeded those of 125 female age-matched control persons considerably, out of whom only 2.4% (0.8%) presented HBs-(HBe-) antigen and 3.2% anti-HBs antibodies. 90% of the prostitutes investigated proved to be anti-CMV IgG (1.7% IgM) antibody positive and were compared to healthy blood donors (47% IgG, 0% IgM-anti-CMV antibody carriers) and other CMV risk groups: pregnant women 56 (13), patients in hemodialysis 61 (0), hemophiliac patients 69 (0), patients after kidney transplantation 90 (16) and after open-heart surgery 87 (4) % anti-CMV IgG (IgM) antibody carriers. An AIDS patient suffered from simultaneous HBV and CMV infections. The risk of HSV 2 infection is among prostitutes (38.5% seropositives) five times as high as among female age-matched control persons (7.2% seropositives, n = 125). These results confirm that prostitutes must be regarded as a risk for the spread of hepatitis BV and CMV- and HSV 2-caused diseases in the population.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dannenmaier
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Alle
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Hoferer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Oertel
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Doerr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005860:Germany, West; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011634:Public Health; D012306:Risk; D011477:Sex Work
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M