Transmission of herpes simplex virus Type 2 among factory workers in Ethiopia.
The herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics are believed to fuel each other, especially in sub-Saharan countries. In Ethiopia during 1997-2002, a retrospective study was conducted to examine risk factors for infection and transmission of HSV-2, in a cohort of 1612 factory workers. Prevalence of HSV-2 seropositivity at enrollment was 40.9%, and incidence of seroconversion was 1.8 seroconversions/100 person-years (PY), which decreased over time. Independent risk factors for seropositivity were having an HSV-2-seropositive partner, female sex, HIV antibodies, positive Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay result, older age, low education level, and orthodox religion. These same factors were independent risk factors for HSV-2 seroconversion, with the exception of the latter 3. Most HSV-2-infected persons did not report symptoms. Among 41 monogamous HSV-2-serodiscordant heterosexual couples, incidence of HSV-2 seroconversion was 20.75 seroconversions/100 PY for women and 4.93 seroconversions/100 PY for men. The high burden of both HSV-2 and HIV infection in Ethiopia warrants stringent control measures.
Kebede
Yenew
Y
Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, and Ethio-Netherlands AIDS Research Project, Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dorigo-Zetsma
Wendelien
W
Mengistu
Yohannes
Y
Mekonnen
Yared
Y
Schaap
Ab
A
Wolday
Dawit
D
Sanders
Eduard J
EJ
Messele
Tsehaynesh
T
Coutinho
Roel A
RA
Dukers
Nicole H T M
NH
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies