title: Strong Country Level Correlation between Syphilis and HSV-2 Prevalence.
abstract: Background. Syphilis is curable but Herpes Simplex Virus-2 (HSV-2) is not. As a result, the prevalence of syphilis but not HSV-2 may be influenced by the efficacy of national STI screening and treatment capacity. If the prevalence of syphilis and HSV-2 is found to be correlated, then this makes it more likely that something other than differential STI treatment is responsible for variations in the prevalence of both HSV-2 and syphilis. Methods. Simple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between national antenatal syphilis prevalence and HSV-2 prevalence in women in two time periods: 1990-1999 and 2008. Adjustments were performed for the laboratory syphilis testing algorithm used and the prevalence of circumcision. Results. The prevalence of syphilis was positively correlated with that of HSV-2 for both time periods (adjusted correlations, 20-24-year-olds: 1990-99: R (2) = 0.54, P < 0.001; 2008: R (2) = 0.41, P < 0.001 and 40-44-year-olds: 1990-99: R (2) = 0.42, P < 0.001; 2008: R (2) = 0.49, P < 0.001). Conclusion. The prevalence of syphilis and HSV-2 is positively correlated. This could be due to a common set of risk factors underpinning both STIs.
authors.affiliation: HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp, Belgium; Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7700, South Africa.
authors.forename: Chris Richard
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsoumanis
authors.affiliation: HIV/STI Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Nationalestraat 155, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kara
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8612-8413
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osbak