Epidemiology of Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in Pregnancy: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted viral diseases Worldwide. HSV type 2 causes most genital herpes and HSV type 1 is usually transmitted via non-sexual contacts. We studied 109 pregnant women between January 2007 and December 2008, in relation to their age, condom use, number of sexual partners, age at first intercourse, parity and smoking habits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of HSV cervical infection and HSV co-infection with other genital microorganisms associated with poor neonatal outcome. Our results show that of the 109 outpatients enrolled, 30% were HSV1 and/or HSV2 positive, of whom 30% were infected with both HSVI and HSV2, 18% were infected with HSV1 alone and 52% with HSV2 alone. A significant association between HSVI and HSV2 infection was found, and the prevalence of HSV2 infection in women infected with HSVI was 63%. The prevalence of HSV1I2 varied in the presence of other vaginal microorganisms but a statistical significant association was not found. This pilot study is probably too small to obtain statistically significant results. Nevertheless, using these observed results, we calculated that about 530 patients with comparable features should be enrolled to detect an increase of 50% in HSV infection due to the presence of other genital infections and potential risk factors.Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted viral diseases worldwide (1). Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and Herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-I), belonging to the Herpesviridae family, are transmitted through epithelial mucosal cells and skin wounds, and migrate to nerve tissues where they persist in a latent state. HSV-l is found predominantly in the trigeminal ganglia, and HSV-2 in the lumbosacral ganglia. Nevertheless, these viruses can infect both orofacial areas and the genital tract (2). These viruses are highly contagious and are not generally associated with long-term deterioration in health. Diagnosis is often associated with stress and concerns about both further sexual relationships and the safety of child-bearing. The greatest risk of disease in the newborn comes with late-pregnancy acquisition of genital infection in the mother and is probably due to her lack of type-specific antibodies.In the general population, HSV seroprevalence is lower and HSV-2 rates are higher in women than in men (1). In pregnant women, the seroprevalence