Isolation of herpes simplex virus from sexually transmitted disease patients in Ibadan, Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
Despite the public health importance of herpes simplex virus infection in Nigeria, attempts have not been made to isolate and identify the virus.


OBJECTIVE
To isolate, identify, and type the virus from patients attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Ibadan, Nigeria.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-three clinical samples from 116 patients were taken and inoculated into tissue culture for virus isolation. The isolates were identified and typed using chloroform sensitivity test, histocytological study, Complement Fixation Test (CFT), and indirect immunofluorescent antibody technique (IFAT).


RESULTS
Virus was isolated from seven of the 153 samples. Two of the seven were HSV-1, and five were HSV-2.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first documented isolation of the herpes simplex virus in Nigeria. The study has provided baseline data for future studies on genital herpes in Nigeria. These results may have interesting implications with respect of HIV transmission and other related sexually transmitted diseases in Nigeria.
Oni
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AA
Department of Virology, College of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Adu
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FD
Ekweozor
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CC
D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012703:Serotyping; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014505:Urban Population