title: Genital shedding of herpes simplex virus type 2 in childbearing-aged and pregnant women living in Gabon.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Maternité Joséphine Bongo, Gabon.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozouaki
authors.forename: Angélique
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ndjoyi-Mbiguino
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Legoff
authors.forename: Isabelle Ndombi
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Onas
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kendjo
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Si-Mohamed
authors.forename: François-Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Mbopi-Kéou
authors.forename: Jean-Elie
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Malkin
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bélec
mesh_terms: 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