title: The prevalence of Herpes simplex virus type-2 infection in blood donors in Harare, Zimbabwe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of HSV-2 infections in a population of blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Harare Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) Centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  314 serum specimens of voluntary blood donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  HSV-2 sero-prevalence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age (Q1, Q3) of the blood donors was 18 (17,27) years and 65% of them were males. HSV-2 infection was detected in 29 (9.7%) of the 299 specimens that were analyzed. There was a strong association between age of blood donors and HSV-2 seropositivity (p < 0.001). Older blood donors tended to be positive while younger donors tended to be negative for HSV-2 antibodies. Though not as strong, there was also an association between HSV-2 and HIV seropositivity (p = 0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of HSV-2 infections in blood donors in Harare is high, considering the nature of the population studied. Therefore, the testing for HSV-2 in the serum of prospective blood donors should be included in the screening profiles used at the BTS centre in Harare, Zimbabwe to improve blood and blood products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Medical School, PO Box 178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gwanzura
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Chigonda
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mvere
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: De Villiers
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siziya
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral