Seroepidemiology of herpes simplex type 2 in pregnant women in Belgium.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to study the prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 in pregnant women in Belgium.


METHODS
The serum of 1000 consecutive women was collected. HSV-1 and HSV-2 control sera were added to the study. HSV-2 antibodies were tested with the HerpeSelect 2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Focus) based on the use of the recombinant gG-2 antigen.


RESULTS
The 21 HSV-2 control subjects were positive. Among the HSV-1 control subjects, 18 were negative and 4 were positive. Among the pregnant women, 80.3% were negative, 1.5% had equivocal results, and 18.2% were positive. No statistical difference was observed according to the origin (European or African) of the women.


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained with the control sera indicate a high sensitivity of the Focus ELISA, as well as a capacity to discriminate between HSV-1/HSV-2 infection. The HSV-2 prevalence in the studied population raises the question of the possible benefit of a specific preventive program in pregnant women.
Bodéus
M
M
Department of Microbiology, Unit of Virology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. bodeus@mblg.ucl.ac.be
Laffineur
K
K
Kabamba-Mukadi
B
B
Hubinont
C
C
Bernard
P
P
Goubau
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral