Selected epidemiological features of herpes genitalis in Israel based on laboratory data

The incidence in Israel of genital infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been increasing steadily over the last two decades. During the years 1973-91, 1,508 patients had an HSV infection confirmed by viral culturing. The yearly incidence of new cases rose from sporadic cases in the seventies to 32.4 cases per 1,000 patients in 1990. The age distribution pattern did not change since 1980 and showed a peak incidence in subjects aged 20-40 years. The increase of HSV type 2 (HSV-2) infection rate in the Israeli population, as judged from specific geometric mean titers (GMT), rose from 15.25 in 1970 to 89.3 in 1991, while the GMT for HSV type 1 (HSV-1) did not increase significantly. The incidence of HSV-2 positive subjects (HSV-2/HSV-1 antibody ratio > or = 1) was low in the Jewish Israeli population, compared to other demographic areas. The predominant type of genital infection was HSV-2, although 21% of genital isolates were HSV-1.