title: Genital infection with herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in women from natal, Brazil.
abstract: Objective. To evaluate the prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 in pregnant and nonpregnant women, testing the correlation between DNA of the viruses with colposcopic and/or cytological changes, and evaluate association with sociodemographic characteristics and sexual activity. Methods. Included in this study were 106 pregnant and 130 nonpregnant women treated at primary health care units of Natal, Brazil, in the period 2010-2011. The patients were examined by colposcopy, and two cervical specimens were collected: one for cytology examination and another for analysis by PCR for detection of HSV-1 and HSV-2. Results. HSV-1 alone was detected in 16.0% of pregnant and 30.0% of nonpregnant women. For HSV-2, these rates were 12.3% and 15.5%, respectively. HSV-2 had a higher correlation with cytology and/or colposcopy changes than HSV-1 did. Genital HSV-1 infection was not associated with any of the variables tested, whereas HSV-2 infection was associated with ethnicity, marital status, and number of sexual partners. Conclusions. The prevalence of HSV-1 was higher than that observed for HSV-2 in both pregnant and nonpregnant women. The genital infection by HSV-2 was higher in women with changed colposcopy and/or cytology, and it was associated with ethnicity, marital status, and number of sexual partners.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Salgado Filho, S/N, Campus Universitario, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cleine Aglacy Nunes
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Salgado Filho, S/N, Campus Universitario, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erika Galvão
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Salgado Filho, S/N, Campus Universitario, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego Breno Soares
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida General Gustavo de Farias, S/N, Petropolis, 59012-570 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Ney Oliveira
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Cobucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Tocogynecology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Nilo Peçanha 259, Petropolis, 59012-300 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria da Conceição de Mesquita
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Cornetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Rio Grande do Norte State, Rua Miguel Antonio da Silva Neto, S/N, Aeroporto, 59607-360 Mossoro, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thales Allyrio Araújo de Medeiros
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Salgado Filho, S/N, Campus Universitario, Lagoa Nova, 59078-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Medeiros
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: de Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida General Gustavo de Farias, S/N, Petropolis, 59012-570 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jenner Chrystian Veríssimo
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Salgado Filho, S/N, Campus Universitario, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil ; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Salgado Filho, S/N, Campus Universitario, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josélio Maria Galvão
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Salgado Filho, S/N, Campus Universitario, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil ; Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Avenida Salgado Filho, S/N, Campus Universitario, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970 Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Veríssimo
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Fernandes