title: Seroprevalence of HIV, HSV-2, and Treponema pallidum in the Kosovarian population.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of infection with HIV, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and Treponema pallidum (TP) in a Kosovarian population. A cross-sectional study was performed in Peja, Kosovo, from January to March 2005, among 1285 persons recruited at the Peja Hospital. The seroprevalence of HIV, HSV-2, and TP was evaluated, and the viral correlates for each infection were analysed. No HIV-positive cases were found. The seroprevalence of HSV-2 was 20.2%. The factors significantly associated with HSV-2 infection at the multivariate analysis were: female gender (adjusted OR, 1.73; 95% CI 1.24-2.41) and being married (adjusted OR, 1.46; 95% CI 1.06-2.01). Three persons (0.2%) had a positive serology for TP. The only risk factor associated with TP infection was age = 50 y. Our results show a low seroprevalence of HIV infection and TP, and a high seroprevalence of HSV-2 in Kosovo. These findings suggest the need for appropriate surveillance systems, prevention programmes, and information aimed at controlling the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in this area. Moreover, the circulation of infections acquired through sexual contact may facilitate an increase in the sexually transmitted HIV epidemic in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suligoi
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quaglio
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Regine
authors.forename: Naser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramadani
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertinato
authors.forename: Arben
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cami
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dentico
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Figliomeni
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camoni
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Putoto
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rezza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000453:epidemiology