Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among attendees of a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Italy. Italian Herpes Forum.
OBJECTIVE
An increased prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection has been recently observed in industrialized countries.


OBJECTIVE
To determine HSV-2 seroprevalence in a high-risk population in Italy.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed to ascertain the HSV-2 prevalence among 919 persons attending an STD clinic in northern Italy. A HSV-2-specific glycoprotein G-2-based immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (Gull/Meridian ELISA; Meridian Diagnostics, Cincinnati, OH) was used and validated against Western blot analysis.


RESULTS
A prevalence of 24.6% was found without differences between males and females. Seroprevalence increased with age and number of partners during the previous year. Compared with Western blot analysis, the Gull/Meridian ELISA showed a sensitivity of 91.9% and a specificity of 98%, and positive and negative predictive values of 93.9% and 97.4%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first Italian survey of HSV-2 infection conducted with a properly validated, Food and Drug Administration-approved, type-specific serologic method in a high-risk population. It is likely that between one to three million adults are infected with HSV-2.
Cusini
M
M
Institute of Institute of Dermatogological Science, Ospedale Maggiore, Milan, Italy.
Cusan
M
M
Parolin
C
C
Scioccati
L
L
Decleva
I
I
Mengoli
C
C
Suligoi
B
B
Palú
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral