Decline in the prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 among Israeli young adults between 1984 and 2002.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 in male and female soldiers discharged from the Israel Defense Force (IDF) over a period of 18 years.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to study the secular trends of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection rates in Israeli young adults.


METHODS
Three consecutive cross-sectional studies were carried out on stored sera of systematic random samples of soldiers (median age = 20.8) discharged from the IDF in 1984-1985, 1992-1993, and 2001-2002. HSV-1 and -2 seroprevalence was analyzed using indirect IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for type-specific antibodies.


RESULTS
There was a significant decrease in HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositivity rates at discharge from the army and an estimated 10-fold decline in the incidence rates of HSV-2 infection during the military service over the last 2 decades.


CONCLUSIONS
The decline in HSV-1 seroprevalence rate is similar to that reported from other industrialized countries. The decrease in HSV-2 seroprevalence and transmission rates among Israeli young adults is steeper than that reported from Western countries.
Davidovici
Batya B
BB
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
Grotto
Itamar
I
Balicer
Ran D
RD
Robinson
Noah J
NJ
Cohen
Dani
D
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019456:Health Transition; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G