title: Type-specific seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 and associated risk factors in middle-aged women from 6 countries: the IARC multicentric study.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, CB# 7435, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7435, USA.
authors: Padmaja
authors: P
authors: Patnaik
authors: Rolando
authors: R
authors: Herrero
authors: R Ashley
authors: RA
authors: Morrow
authors: Nubia
authors: N
authors: Munoz
authors: F Xavier
authors: FX
authors: Bosch
authors: Sine
authors: S
authors: Bayo
authors: Brahim
authors: B
authors: El Gueddari
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Caceres
authors: Saibua B
authors: SB
authors: Chichareon
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Castellsague
authors: Chris J  L  M
authors: CJ
authors: Meijer
authors: Peter J F
authors: PJ
authors: Snijders
authors: Jennifer S
authors: JS
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral