Seroprevalence and Co-Infection of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 and Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a sexually transmitted virus that is the most common cause of genital ulceration worldwide. The increasing evidence that HSV-2 infection could significantly enhance the rates of sexual transmission and acquisition of hu-man immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in developing countries informed our design of this study. Objective: To determine the seroprevalence and co-infection of HSV-2 and HIV and to evaluate their association with demographic factors among adults (?15yrs) in Pankshin. Methods: One hundred and eighty blood samples were collected from adults, age ?15 years from Town Clinic Pankshin and General hospital Billang Shippang in Pankshin Local Govern-ment Area of Plateau State. DetermineTM and Stat pak rapid test kits were used to screen the collected samples for antibodies to HIV. The seroprevalence of HSV-2 was determined using Diapro HSV-2 type specific ELISA Kit according to the manufacturers instructional manual. Results: The estimated prevalence of HSV-2 was 24.4% and it was higher among women (26.09%) than among men (21.53%). That of HIV was 19.49%; men had a prevalence rate of 4.69% while that of women was 5.22%. Conclusion: HSV-2 antibodies were frequent in the study group, genital herpes was not re-ported by the HSV-2 positive subjects, indicating low awareness of the HSV-2 infection. The prevalence of HIV however was not that significant. The percentage of co-infection was 2.8%.