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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

A Primary Neuron Culture System for the Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Latency and Reactivation
Published on: April 2, 2012
[Herpes simplex virus type 1: a possible sexually transmitted agent among college students]
Enrique Corona-Oregón1, Carlos Jesús Conde-González, Blanca Lilia Barrón
1Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
Objective:
To study the factors associated with the presence of antibodies against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and to screen for HSV-1 in genital samples.
Materials And Methods:
Students answered a survey and provided biological samples (blood and genital discharge). The detection of IgG and IgM antibodies against HSV-1 was performed by an ELISA test. From IgM positive samples we sought and extracted genital DNA and identified a beta-globulin gene and HSV-1.
Results:
Eight hundred and fifteen students participated. IgG/HSV-1 seroprevalence was 56.7%, HSV-1 infection was associated with number of sexual partners, exchanging sex for money, same sex relationships and occasional partners. IgM/HSV-1 seroprevalence was 18.2%, 91 samples were positive for human beta-globuline but none for HSV-1 DNA.
Conclusions:
Epidemiological evidence suggests that HSV-1 could be transmitted by sexual contact among college students; however, HSV-1 was not detected in any of the genital samples analyzed. To further test our hypothesis we need to study HSV-1 among high risk groups or increase our sample size.
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Herpes
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