Genital shedding of herpes simplex virus type 2 in childbearing-aged and pregnant women living in Gabon.
The prevalence of genital shedding of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 and related risk factors was evaluated in a prospective population of 355 women attending the Maternity Joséphine Bongo, in Libreville, Gabon. We found a high prevalence (66%) of HSV-2 seropositivity, with a high proportion, 14%, of women harbouring HSV-2 DNA shedding in their genital secretions. HSV-2 genital shedding was positively associated with previous episodes of genital blisters, current genital ulcer, current genital blister, HIV seropositivity and HSV-2 seropositivity. The high prevalence of HSV-2 in childbearing-aged population indicates that young women living in Gabon are at high risk for HIV acquisition in HIV-seronegative women sexually exposed to HIV, for HIV transmission in HIV-infected women co-infected by HSV-2 and finally for HSV-2 vertical transmission during pregnancy.
Ozouaki
Francis
F
Maternité Joséphine Bongo, Gabon.
Ndjoyi-Mbiguino
Angélique
A
Legoff
Jérôme
J
Onas
Isabelle Ndombi
IN
Kendjo
Eric
E
Si-Mohamed
Ali
A
Mbopi-Kéou
François-Xavier
FX
Malkin
Jean-Elie
JE
Bélec
Laurent
L
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D017201:Virus Shedding