Seroprevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 in patients with HIV positive from Ebonyi State, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 13; no. 4; p. e069339
• Main Authors: Onu, Euslar Nnenna, Ekuma, Uchechukwu Onyeukwu, Judi, Hawraa K, Ogbu, Ogbonnaya, Okoro, Nworie, Ajugwo, Gloria C, Akrami, Sousan, Okoli, Chukwudum S, Anyanwu, Chioma Ngozi, Saki, Morteza, Edeh, Peter Anyigor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 18.04.2023; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Original research
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral; Automation; Civil service; Cross-Sectional Studies; Encephalitis; Epidemics; Female; Females; general medicine (see internal medicine); Herpes Genitalis - epidemiology; Herpes Simplex - epidemiology; Herpes viruses; Herpesvirus 1, Human; Herpesvirus 2, Human; HIV; HIV & AIDS; HIV Infections - complications; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Infections; Male; Nigeria - epidemiology; Patients; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serology; sexual medicine; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Teaching hospitals; Nigeria; United States > US; HIV & AIDS; general medicine (see internal medicine); sexual medicine
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069339

ObjectivesTo assess the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 in patients infected with HIV in Nigeria.DesignCross-sectional design from January to June 2019.SettingFederal Teaching Hospital, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.ParticipantsA total of 276 patients with HIV were analysed using ELISA method for the presence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 specific IgG antibodies.OutcomesFisher’s exact test was used to determine the association between the seroprevalence of HSV and demographic variables (statistically significant=p value ≤0.05).ResultsTotally, 212 (76.8%) and 155 (56.2%) patients with HIV were seropositive for HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG antibodies, respectively. The seroprevalence of HSV-1 was significantly higher than the HSV-2 in patients with HIV (p value <0.0001). HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence were higher in patients aged more than 30 years. The seroprevalence of HSV-1 was significantly higher (p=0.01) in females (82.4%, 131/159) than males (69.2%, 81/117), but there was no significant difference in seroprevalence of HSV-2 in females (57.9%, 92/159) compared with males (53.8%, 63/117) (p=0.51). Professional drivers had a higher seroprevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 and there was a significant association between the occupation and the HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositivity (p>0.05). The seroprevalence of HSV-1 was significantly higher in the singles (87.4%, 90/103) than the married patients with HIV (p=0.001). However, HSV-2 seroprevalence was significantly higher in the married patients with HIV (63.6%, 110/173) (p=0.001).ConclusionsPrevalence of 76.8% for HSV-1 and 56.2% for HSV-2 among patients with HIV was seen. The HSV-1 was significantly higher in the singles while HSV-2 seroprevalence was significantly higher in the married patients with HIV with HSV-1 and HSV-2 coinfection rate of 7.6%. This study became very imperative to provide an important insight into the hidden dynamics of HSV infections.