International Journal of
Virology and AIDS
MATTHEW et al. Int J Virol AIDS 2019, 6:052
Volume 6 | Issue 1
ISSN: 2469-567X
Open Access
DOI: 10.23937/2469-567X/1510052
MATTHEW et al. Int J Virol AIDS 2019, 6:052 • Page 1 of 7 •
Citaon: MATTHEW O, NDOMB T, ONAKEWHOR J, MATAWAL B, OSAGIE E, et al. (2019) Mul-Center
Study on the Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 Co-Infecon
among Pregnant Women in Nigeria. Int J Virol AIDS 6:052. doi.org/10.23937/2469-567X/1510052
Accepted: March 28, 2019: Published: March 30, 2019
Copyright: © 2019 MATTHEW O, et al. This is an open-access arcle distributed under the terms
of the Creave Commons Aribuon License, which permits unrestricted use, distribuon, and
reproducon in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Objectives: Substantial proportions of new HIV infections
in sub-Saharan Africa are associated with herpes simplex
virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection hence the magnitude of
infection in the population suggests the expected course of
HIV epidemic. We determined prevalence of genital herpes
as a result of HSV-2 and its associated factors among
pregnant women in Nigeria.
Methods: A total of 2,362 sera of pregnant women aged
18-49 years attending two different antenatal clinics in two
communities in Nigeria were analysed using ELISA specific
for IgG antibodies to HSV-2 (Kalon Biological Ltd, U.K). HIV
antibodies were screened using sequential algorithm of
rapid HIV tests.
Results: Prevalence of genital herpes was 38.8% (95%
CI: 36.8-40.7%). HSV-2 was associated with first time
pregnancy, high maternal age and age of sex partner in this
study. 264 women (11.2%) had current symptomatic genital
ulceration. Odds of HSV-2 sero-positivity was 6 times higher
in HIV-sero-positive than sero-negative women (76.3% vs.
34.9%, p < 0.001). This remained significant after controlling
for age, education, marital status and religion. Among
HIV-sero-positive women, low CD4 and current genital
ulcerative disease (GUD) were associated with higher HSV-
2 prevalence.
Conclusion: HSV-2 was highly prevalent; few women had
prior or current GUD. Treatment of HSV-2 in populations
like pregnant women would be among approaches towards
preventing and managing HIV infections.
Keywords
Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), Human immunodefi-
ciency virus (HIV), Pregnant women, Sexually transmitted
infections (STI), Co-infection, Nigeria
Mul-Center Study on the Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency
Virus/Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 Co-Infecon among Pregnant
Women in Nigeria
Olayemi MATTHEW
1,2*
, Teclaire NDOMB
1,3
, Joseph ONAKEWHOR
4
, Bitrus MATAWAL
5
, Esosa OSAGIE
1,4
,
Alashle ABIMIKU
1,3,6
and Man CHARURAT
6
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
*Corresponding author: Olayemi Mahew, Instute of Human Virology Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria; California Miramar
University, 3550 Camino Del Rio North, Ste 208. San Diego, CA 92108, USA, Tel: +1-443-712-3288, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-
1117-1916
1
Instute of Human Virology Nigeria, Nigeria
2
California Miramar University, USA
3
Plateau Laboratory Virology Research Center, Nigeria
4
University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
5
Plateau State Specialist Hospital, Nigeria
6
Instute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA
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Introducon
Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2) infecon is a
sexually transmied infecon (STI) which is recognized
as the most common cause of genital ulcer disease
worldwide [1,2].
Most of the people infected are unaware in
spite of symptoms [3]. HSV-2 infecon is a growing
global problem with high prevalence in women in
developing countries, especially those with human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infecon [4]. Studies show
that STIs like HSV-2 increases the probability of someone
acquiring HIV as well as enhances transmission by
increasing suscepbility and infecousness [5]. Herpes