Sero-prevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in Rakai District, Uganda

I. W. Emonyi, R. H. Gray, J. Zenilman, K. Schmidt, M. J. Wawer, K. N. Sewankambo, D. Serwadda, N. Kiwanuka, F. Nalugoda

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is sexually transmitted and causes one of the genital ulcerative diseases associated with the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1). Objective: To determine the prevalence of serological reactivity to a type specific HSV-2 antigen (gG2) ELISA assay. Setting: Rakai district, Uganda. Subjects: Two hundred and one serum samples of persons aged 15-54 years. The sampels were randomly selected by a computer programme. Results: Out of the 201 serum samples selected, 117 (58.2%) had serological evidence of HSV-2 infection. Twenty nine (32.2%) out of the 74 males and 88 (69.3%) out of the 127 females, respectively, had serological evidence of HSV-2 infection giving a female:male ratio of 1.8 (95% C1 1.3-2.4). The most important risk factor for acquisition of HSV-2 in males was found to be age while in the females, the most important risk factors were age and the number of sexual partners in the previous five years. Conclusion: HSV-2 was highly prevalent in this rural population of Uganda.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)428-430
Number of pages3
JournalEast African medical journal
Volume77
Issue number8
StatePublished - 2000

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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