Herpes simplex virus type 2 seropositivity in a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Israel

Seroepidemeliogic surveys have provided valuable information on the prevalence and incidence of herpes simplex virus-2 infection in general and in selected populations.

To review the reliability of traditional diagnostic approaches in herpes simplex virus-2 infection.

In this cross-sectional study, 472 patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted disease in 1998-1999 were evaluated for HSV-2 infection through collection of epidemiologic and clinical data. HSV-2 infection was confirmed by the presence of specific viral glycoprotein, gG-2, antibody in sera.

The seroprevalence of HSV-2 among clinic attendees was 9.33%. Of these attendees only 22% presented with or reported a history of typical vesicular lesions in the genital area. Infection rate was higher in patients with multiple sex partners (20.8% vs. 8.7%, P < or = 0.0023), in individuals aged 30 or older (12.6 vs. 6.4%, P = 0.03) and in the Israeli Jewish population as compared to the Israeli Arab population (11.1% vs. 2.4%, P < or = 0.01). Females with multiple sex partners exhibited higher rates of infection than did their male counterparts (50 vs. 16.1%, P < or = 0.0275).

The findings support the need for HSV-2 serologic testing in patients presenting to STD clinics even when typical genital lesions are not evident but where risk factors for HSV-2 infection are identified.