title: Low prevalences of HIV infection and HSV genital shedding in the general adult female population in Senegal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the main co-factor for heterosexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa, and could be involved in the dynamics of the HIV epidemic in Senegal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genital shedding of HSV was evaluated in adult females who had visited the provincial healthcare centres in Diass, Louga, and Kebemer in Senegal. Study subjects were interviewed by a healthcare worker for sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behavior, and HIV serology was offered. In addition, cervical secretion lavage samples were evaluated for HSV DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the melting curve analysis of which permitted distinction between HSV type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV type 2 (HSV-2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 302 women (mean age, 40 years) enrolled, none were infected by HIV. The mean age at first sexual intercourse was 20 years, and the mean number of sexual partners in the previous year was 1.3 (range, 1-7). Only 6 of 302 (1.9%) women had cervico-vaginal secretions positive for HSV DNA. No association between HSV DNA shedding and any sociodemographic or biological variables was found. Surprisingly, genital shedding of HSV-1 was found in two (0.7%) women, representing 33% of herpes-shedding women, and HSV-2 in four (1.5%) women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our observations indicate a low prevalence of HSV DNA genital shedding in adult Senegalese women.
authors.affiliation: Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Dakar, Senegal. diawaraps@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Silman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diawara
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bélec
authors.forename: Ahmadou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dem
authors.forename: Seydou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mbaye
authors.forename: Halimatou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Diop Ndiaye
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matta
authors.forename: Sokhna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bousso Gueye
authors.forename: Souleymane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mboup
authors.forename: Coumba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toure Kane
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000821:virology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017201:Virus Shedding; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral