title: Association between herpes simplex virus type 2 and HIV-1 in a population of married couples from Dakar, Senegal.
abstract: Numerous studies suggest that herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) increases the risk of HIV-1 infection but recent clinical trials of HSV-2 suppressive therapy failed to show an effect. We assessed the putative association between HSV-2 and HIV-1 in a population of HIV-concordant-negative, HIV-1-discordant and HIV-1-concordant-positive married couples from Dakar, Senegal. In agreement with previous studies, we observed a strong overall association between HSV-2 and HIV-1 (odds ratio 4.61; P < 0.001). However, this association was mainly determined by a low HSV-2 prevalence in HIV-concordant-negative couples compared with HIV-1-discordant and HIV-1-concordant-positive couples (23% versus 59% and 66%, respectively; P < 0.001). We observed no further differences in HSV-2 prevalence between HIV-1-discordant and HIV-1-concordant-positive couples (59% and 66%, respectively; P = 0.483). Neither the index (59% versus 62%, P = 1.000) nor recipient partners (41% versus 63%, P = 0.131) in HIV-1-discordant and HIV-1-concordant-positive couples showed significant differences in HSV-2 prevalence. HSV-2 does not constitute a clear risk factor for HIV-1 infection in this population.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, Laboratory of Bacteriology-Virology, CHU Le Dantec, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar,  Senegal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seydi
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Dieye
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sow
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mboup
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kestens
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jennes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology