Decreasing Prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Antibodies in Selected Groups of Women in Sweden

Abstract

High estimates of herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence have been reported for women who were pregnant in Sweden in the 1980s, probably reflecting sexual risk-taking during the 1960s and 1970s. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the HSV-2 seroprevalence in pregnant women and in the female attendees at a clinic for sexually transmitted infections in Sweden at the beginning of the 21st century and to compare the results with those of earlier Swedish studies. Sera were collected during the period 2000 to 2002 from 299 pregnant women at an antenatal clinic and from 290 female attendees at a clinic for sexually transmitted infections in Gothenburg. To enable comparison with earlier seroprevalence data the same test method was used; Helix pomatia antigen in an enzyme-linked immunoassay. The overall HSV-2 prevalence was 10.4% for the pregnant women and 25.2% for the female attendees at the clinic for sexually transmitted infections. The seroprevalence of HSV-2 in pregnant women appears to have decreased in Sweden during the past decade, which may reflect changes in sexual behaviour.

Frequent detection of cytomegalovirus and Epstein–Barr virus in cervical secretions from healthy young women

“…The relatively high proportion of genital HSV‐1 compared with HSV‐2 in the cervical samples in the present study might be explained by the fact that HSV‐1 has been shown to cause about 80% of first episodes of genital herpes in young women . Furthermore, seroprevalence rates for HSV‐2 in Swedish women (25–29 years) were as low as 15% in the general population 1990–91 compared with 60% for HSV‐1 and only 6% in pregnant women younger than 25 years in 2002 . Cervical shedding of VZV, a virus with a seroprevalence at a similar level to EBV, >90% in the adult population, has to our knowledge not been investigated previously.…”

Inhibition of γ-Secretase Cleavage in the Notch Signaling Pathway Blocks HSV-2-Induced Type I and Type II Interferon Production

“…G enital infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is the most common sexually transmitted ulcerative disease worldwide. About one-fourth of the adult Swedish population is affected by genital HSV-2 infection (2,6,21). The clinical effects of HSV-2 infection range from no symptoms (asymptomatic infection) to severe and recurrent episodes of genital and non-genital symptoms.…”

Seroprevalence of HSV-2 among Women of Reproductive Age in Zaria, Kaduna State

“…This high prevalence showed that factors that prevent its transmission and effective control measures are not in place in these developing countries. Studies from Sweden, Switzerland and China presented a significant low seroprevalence value of 20.7% [24] and 10.8% [25] respectively among antenatal women. A significant association was observed between increasing age with seroprevalence of HSV-2 reaching 100% in those above 45 years (p=0.001).…”