title: Prevalence and determinants of herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in a cohort of HIV-positive individuals in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections may be a risk factor for the transmission of HIV. Data on the prevalence of HSV-2 infection among HIV-positive individuals are scarce.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal was to study the seroprevalence of and risk factors for HSV-2 infection among a cohort of Italian HIV-positive individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study. HSV-2 serologic testing was performed for individuals with known date of HIV seroconversion, on the serum specimen obtained on the date closest to the estimated date of seroconversion. Antibodies to HSV-2 (anti-HSV-2) were detected by a gG2-specific ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 380 HIV-positive individuals were tested for anti-HSV-2; 126 (33.2%) of them were positive. Older age at HIV seroconversion and homosexuality were significantly associated with HSV-2 infection in the multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data stress the need for including anti-HSV-2 testing and therapy in the management of HIV positivity, especially for reducing the risk of transmission of HIV through herpetic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Reparto AIDS e MST, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. suligoi@iss.it
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suligoi
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorrucci
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreoni
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zerboni
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezza
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral