title: High seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in STD clinic attendees and non-high risk controls: a case control study at a referral hospital in south India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Asia, HSV seroprevalence studies are sparse and they have recorded lower prevalence of HSV infection, especially HSV-2.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in patients attending a STD clinic in a referral hospital in south India and to compare it with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 135 consecutive STD cases having history of ulcerative or non-ulcerative STD in the present or in the past 5 years and 135 age and sex-matched controls. Diagnostic serology was done for HSV-1 and HSV-2 using type specific IgG by indirect immunoassay using ELISA. The results were analyzed utilizing Chi- square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amongst 135 STD clinic cases, 106 cases were males and 29 cases were females with male to female ratio of 3.65:1. The mean age was 32.2 years (range 16-65 years). Among study group cases, 112 (82.9%) cases were co-infected with HSV-1 and HSV-2, 11 (8.1%) cases were seropositive for HSV-1 alone and 3 (2.2%) cases were seropositive for HSV-2 alone. In the control group, 112 (82.9%) cases were co-infected with HSV-1 and 2, 12 (9.6%) for HSV-1 alone and 1(0.8%) for HSV-2 alone. Correlation of HSV-1 and HSV-2 serology with various demographic and behavioral factors was statistically insignificant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in STD clinic cases and control group is high, similar to that recorded in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, serological studies for HSV-1 and HSV-2 cannot be taken as a marker of sexual behavior in our set of population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, STD, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry--605 006, India.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Shivaswamy
authors.forename: Devinder Mohan
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Thappa
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Jaisankar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sujatha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*