Seroepidemiological Study of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 in the Black Sea Region of Turkey

Objective: In spite of the wide prevalence and growing incidence of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection (HSV-1), relatively few data have been published regarding the seroepidemiology of the infection in the Turkish population. The study was designed to determine the age and sex-specific seroepidemiology of HSV-1 infection in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Material and Methods: Between March 1 and April 30, 2007, 1072 blood samples were randomly collected and examined by virus neutralization test (VNT) from patients aged 5-84 years who were referred to the University hospital outpatient clinics for various reasons in Black Sea Region of Turkey. Results: Overall HSV-1 seroprevalence was 59.7% (640/1072), and 58% of males (283/490) and 62% of females (357/582) were HSV-1 positive (p&gt;0.05). In the group aged 15-19, seropositivity was significantly higher than in the group aged 19-24 (p=0.0333). Conclusion: Subgroup analysis indicates a higher HSV-1 infection seropositivity than had been estimated in children and adolescents in the Black Sea region of Turkey. The high prevalence of HSV-1 infection in children underlines the need for education among potential risk groups.

Keywords:

Herpes simplex virus, epidemiology, Turkey,

PDF

___

Brugha R, Keersmaekers K, Renton A, Meheus A. Genital herpes infection: a review. Int J Epidemiol. 1997;26:698-709.
Nahmias AJ, Lee FK, Beckman-Nahmias S. Sero-epidemiological and sociological patterns of herpes simplex virus infection in the world. Scand J Infect Dis 1990;69:19-36.
Corey L, Spear PG. Infections with herpes simplex viruses. N Engl J Med. 1986;314:749-57.
Mbopi-Kéou FX, Grésenguet G, Mayaud P, Weiss HA, Go- pal R, Matta M et al. Interactions between herpes simplex vi- rus type 2 and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in African women: opportunities for intervention. J Infect Dis. 2000;182:1090-6.
Auvert B, Ballard R, Campbell C, Caraël M, Carton M, Fehler G et al. HIV infection among youth in a South African mining town is associated with herpes simplex virus-2 seropositivity and sexual behaviour. AIDS 2001;15:885-98.
Gwanzura L, McFarland W, Alexander D, Burke RL, Katzenstein D. Association between human immunodeficiency virus and her- pes simplex virus type 2 seropositivity among male factory work- ers in Zimbabwe. J Infect Dis 1998;177:481-4.
Wald A, Link K. Risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection in herpes simplex virus type 2–seropositive persons: a meta-anal- ysis. J Infect Dis 2002;185:45-52.
Smith JS, Robinson NJ. Age-specific prevalence of infection with herpes simplex virus types 2 and 1: a global review. J Infect Dis 2002;186:3-28.
Artiran Igde F, Igde M, Yazici Z, Okur Gumusova S, Birinci A, Sancak R et al. Distribution of HSV-1 IgG antibodies by two methods comparing in Turkish atopic children. New Microbiol 2007;30:109-12.
Askun D, Ataca B. Sexuality related attitudes and behaviors of Turkish university students. Arch Sex Behav 2007;36:741-52.
Lennette, EH. General principles underlying laboratory diag- nosis of viral and rickettsial infections. In.E.H.Lennette and J.N.Schmidtt (eds). Diagnostic procedures for virus and ricketsial disease. New York, Am.Public Health Association, 3rd edition, 1964;3:48-50.
Frey HR, Liess B. Vermehrungskinetik und verwendbarkeit einer stark cythopathogen VD-MD virusstammes für diagnostische un- tersuchugen mit der Mikrotiter Method. Zentralbl Veterinarmed B 1971;18:61-71.
Dolar N, Serdaroglu S, Yilmaz G, Ergin S. Seroprevalence of her- pes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in Turkey. J Eur Acad Derma- tol Venereol 2006;20:1232-6.
Pebody RG, Andrews N, Brown D, Gopal R, De Melker H, Fran- çois G et al. The seroepidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in Europe. Sex Transm Infect 2004;80:185-91.
Papadogeorgakis H, Caroni C, Katsambas A, Pimenta JM, Avde- liodi C, Kotrotsou T et al. Herpes simplex virus seroprevalence among children, adolescents and adults in Greece. Int J STD AIDS 2008;19:272-8.
Ibrahim AI, Kouwatli KM, Obeid MT. Frequency of herpes sim- plex virus in Syria based on type-specific serological assay. Saudi Med J 2000;21:355–60.
Ghebreidan H, Ruden U, Cox S, Wahren B, Grandien M. Prevelance of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, cytomegalo- virus and varicella-zoster virus infection in Eriteria. J. Clin. Virol 1999:12;53-64.
Becker TM, Magder L, Harrison HR. The epidemiology of infec- tion with the human herpesviruses in Navajo children. Am. J. Epi- demiol 1988;127:1071-8.
Ibrahim AI, Kouwatli KM, Obeid MT. Frequency of herpes sim- plex virus in Syria based on type-specific serological assay. Saudi Med J 2000;21:355–60.
Wutzler P, Doerr HW, Färber I, Eichhorn U, Helbig B, Sauerbrei A et al. Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in se- lected German populations-relevance for the incidence of genital herpes. J. Med. Virol 2000;61:201-7.
Isacsohn M, Smetana Z, Rones ZZ, Raveh D, Diamant Y, Samu- eloff A et al. A sero-epidemiological study of herpes virus type 1 and 2 infection in Israel. J Clin Virol 2002;24:85-92.
Vyse AJ, Gay NJ, Slomka MJ, Gopal R, Gibbs T, Morgan-Capner P et al. The burden of infection with HSV-1 and HSV-2 in England and Wales: implications for the changing epidemiology of genital herpes. Sex Transm Infect 2000;76:183-7.
Tunback P, Bergstrom T, Andersson AS., Nordin P, Krantz I, Low- hagen GB. Prevalence of herpes simplex virus antibodies in child- hood and adolescence: a cross sectional study. Scand. J. Infect. Dis 2003;35:498-502.
Davidovici BB, Gren M, Marouni MJ, Bassal R, Pimenta JM, Co- hen D. Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 and correlates of infection in Israel. J. Infect 2006;52:367-73.
Langenberg AG, Corey L, Ashley RL, Leong WP, Straus SE. A pro- spective study of new infections with herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2: Chiron HSV Vaccine Study Group. N Engl J Med 1999;341:1432-8.
Ross J, Smith I, Elton R. The epidemiology of herpes simplex types 1 and 2 infection of the genital tract in Edinburgh 1978-91. Genitourin Med 1993;69:381-3.
Gibson JJ, Hornung CA, Alexander GR, Lee FK, Potts WA, Nah- mias AJ. A cross-sectional study of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in college students: occurrence and determinants of infec- tion. J Infect Dis 1990;162:306-12.
Peutherer JF, Smith IW, Robertson DH. Genital infection with her- pes simplex virus type 1. J Infect 1982;2:33-5.
Lavery HA, Connolly JH, Russell JD. Incidence of genital herpes in Northern Ireland in 1973–83 and herpes simplex types 1 and 2 isolated in 1982–84. Genitourin Med 1986;62:24-7.
Barton IG, Kinghorn GR, Najem S, Al-Omar LS, Potter CW. Inci- dence of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 isolated in patients with herpes genitalis in Sheffield. Br J Vener Dis 1982;58:44-7.