title: Prevalence and risk factors for herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among adolescents and adults in northern Cameroon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A number of surveys have reported a high prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection in south central and east central Africa.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the distribution and modes of HSV-2 transmission in northern Cameroon.
  
  
  METHODS
  A serosurvey was conducted among 194 adolescents and adults in a Cameroon hospital. Antibodies against HSV-2 were detected by a gG2-specific enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HSV-2 antibodies was found to be 37.1%. In the multivariate analysis, female gender, no condom use, a positive syphilis serology, and HIV infection were significantly associated with HSV-2 infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current findings show that the HSV-2 seroprevalence in northern Cameroon is high and similar to that found in other African countries. HSV-2 infection represents a marker for at-risk sexual behavior and may be a common cofactor for HIV transmission in this geographic area.
authors.affiliation: AIDS and STD Unit, Laboratory of Epidemiology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. suligoi@iss.it
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suligoi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tchamgmena
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarmati
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bugarini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Bakary
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glikoutou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral