title: The burden of infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2: seroprevalence study in Estonia.
abstract: Information on age- and gender-specific prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 infections is crucial to guide genital herpes control strategies. Such data are not available from the newly independent Eastern European countries. We present of study of the age- and gender-specific prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in low risk populations in Estonia. Serum samples from 1016 children, 794 first trimester antenatal women, and 1036 blood donors (462M, 574F) were tested for HSV IgG antibodies by type-specific HSV-1 and HSV-2 assays. High seroprevalence rates of HSV-1 among children, pregnant women and (non-paid) blood donors were found. HSV-2 infection was not detected among boys. Gender differences in HSV-2 seroprevalence rates among people of reproductive age were observed: higher rates were recorded among pregnant women (23%) and female blood donors (21%), compared to 11% among male blood donors. HSV-1 seroprevalence was high in adults. HSV-2 seroprevalence was higher among females than males and increased substantially with age. HSV-2 prevalence in these non-high risk populations was relatively high, and may indicate a risk for an impending sexually- and STI- driven HIV epidemic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Estonia. annskla@ut.ee
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uusküla
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nygard-Kibur
authors.forename: Frances M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mayaud
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Jamie N R
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: David W G
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution