Seroprevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 and Cytomegalovirus in Adolescents

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 135 - 139
• Main Authors: Rosenthal, Susan L., Stanberry, Lawrence R., Biro, Frank M., Slaoui, Moncef, Francotte, Myriam, Koutsoukos, Marguerite, Hayes, Marianne, Bernstein, David I.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.02.1997; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult; Age Factors; Antibodies; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Clinical Articles; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus - immunology; Cytomegalovirus Infections - etiology; Female; Herpes Genitalis - etiology; Herpes simplex virus 1; Herpes simplex virus 2; Herpesvirus 1, Human - immunology; Herpesvirus 2, Human - immunology; Human herpesvirus 1; Human herpesvirus 2; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Risk Factors; Seroepidemiologic studies; Sex Factors; Sexual partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; Simplexvirus; Viral diseases; Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye; Human; Cytomegalovirus; Prevalence; Herpesviridae; Alphaherpesvirinae; Serology; Betaherpesvirinae; Infection; Virus; Herpesvirus hominis 1; Herpesvirus hominis 2; Viral disease; Adolescent
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1093/clinids/24.2.135

We determined the prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies in a cohort of adolescents 12 to 22 years of age in anticipation of the development of vaccines to control HSV and CMV infections. For the overall study population, we found that 62% were seropositive for HSV type 1 (HSV-1), 12% were seropositive for HSV type 2 (HSV-2), and 65% were seropositive for CMV. Race was not related to HSV-1 seropositivity, but African-American adolescents were more likely than Caucasian adolescents to be seropositive for HSV-2 and CMV. Girls also were more likely than boys to be seropositive for HSV-2 and CMV. For boys, history of a sexually transmitted disease was identified as a risk factor for HSV-2 seropositivity; for girls, a greater number of sexual partners increased the risk of being seropositive for HSV-2. Our data demonstrating a high prevalence of infection during adolescence suggest that immunization for HSV-1, HSV-2, and CMV may need to occur in childhood.