Type-specific seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 and associated risk factors in middle-aged women from 6 countries: the IARC multicentric study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine type-specific seroprevalence of herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and HSV-2 risk factors.


METHODS
Six-hundred fifty eight middle-aged control women (hospital-based in 4 of 6 countries) from a multicenter cervical cancer case-control study participated from 1985 to 1997. Type-specific serum IgG antibodies against HSV-1 and HSV-2 were detected with Western Blot.


RESULTS
HSV-1 seroprevalence was 89% to 100% everywhere except Thailand (51%). HSV-2 seroprevalence ranged from 9% (Spain) to 57% (Colombia), and was independently associated with having >or=2 lifetime sexual partners overall [Odds ratio (OR), 2.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5-3.1], and in Morocco (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-6.1) and Thailand (OR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.3-15.4), and with being unmarried in Colombia, Peru, Spain, but not significantly in Mali. Women whose male partner's sexual debut was <or=17 years had a higher HSV-2 risk (OR, 4.3 95% CI, 1.3-13.7).


CONCLUSIONS
HSV-2 seroprevalence in middle-aged women varied over 4-fold and was associated with riskier sexual behaviors in women and their male partners.
Patnaik
Padmaja
P
Department of Epidemiology, CB# 7435, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, USA.
Herrero
Rolando
R
Morrow
R Ashley
RA
Munoz
Nubia
N
Bosch
F Xavier
FX
Bayo
Sine
S
El Gueddari
Brahim
B
Caceres
Eduardo
E
Chichareon
Saibua B
SB
Castellsague
Xavier
X
Meijer
Chris J  L  M
CJ
Snijders
Peter J F
PJ
Smith
Jennifer S
JS
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000276:immunology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008302:Mali / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral