title: Low seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 among pregnant women in Senegal.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is considered as a major co-factor of both sexual transmission and acquisition of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The HIV epidemic in Senegal is characterized by a remarkable and stable low prevalence. Whether HSV-2 may also constitute a possible co-factor favouring the spreading of HIV epidemic in Senegal is yet unknown. This prompted us to evaluate the HSV-2 seroprevalence in the sentinel population of pregnant women in Senegal. Two hundred and sixty pregnant women attending Roi Baudouin maternity in the capital city Dakar (n = 14; 135) and the antenatal clinic in Kaolack (n = 125), the third city of Senegal, were prospectively recruited between March and August 2003. Fifty-six women (22%) were positive for HSV-2 serology. The prevalence of HSV-2 seropositivity was higher in women living in Dakar (26%) than in those living in Kaolack (16%) (P < 0.01). Only two women from Dakar and two other from Kaolack were found to be HIV-1-infected. Our observations suggest a seemingly low seroprevalence of HSV-2 infection in adult women Senegal, comparable with those usually reported in Western countries. Further, epidemiological surveys are needed to confirm these results in the general population.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Militaire de Ouakam, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors.forename: Silman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diawara
authors.forename: Coumba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toure Kane
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Legoff
authors.forename: Astou Gueye
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Gaye
authors.forename: Souleymane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mboup
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bélec
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral