Seroepidemiology of Herpes Simplex Viruses Type 1 and 2 in Pregnant Women in Croatia
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are one of the most widespread causes of human viral infections. In Croatia, only two published studies have analyzed the seroprevalence of HSV infections in childbearing-aged and pregnant women (2005–2010), while...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | Medicina |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/2/284 |
| _version_ | 1797297519665872896 |
|---|---|
| author | Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek Marko Belamaric Thomas Ferenc Dan Navolan Branko Kolaric Ljiljana Milasincic Ljiljana Antolasic Mateja Vujica Ferenc Maja Vilibic Adriana Lukunic Maja Bogdanic |
| author_facet | Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek Marko Belamaric Thomas Ferenc Dan Navolan Branko Kolaric Ljiljana Milasincic Ljiljana Antolasic Mateja Vujica Ferenc Maja Vilibic Adriana Lukunic Maja Bogdanic |
| author_sort | Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are one of the most widespread causes of human viral infections. In Croatia, only two published studies have analyzed the seroprevalence of HSV infections in childbearing-aged and pregnant women (2005–2010), while more recent data are lacking. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and risk factors for HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections among pregnant women in Croatia in the period from 2011 to 2021. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: This study included 667 pregnant women aged 16–45 years submitted for HSV-1 and HSV-2 serology testing. Serum samples were initially screened for HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies using a commercial ELISA test with a confirmation of HSV-2-positive samples using an immunoblot assay. <i>Results</i>: The overall IgG seroprevalence rates were 69.9% for HSV-1 and 3.8% for HSV-2. A significant gradual increase in the HSV-2 seroprevalence with age was observed from 0.5% in participants under 30 years to 8.3% in participants above 40 years. The HSV-1 seroprevalence was stable up to 40 years (70.0 and 68.3%, respectively), with an increase to 86.1%, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. Area of residence (urban or suburban/rural), geographic region (continental or coastal), and obstetric history (normal pregnancy or unfavorable obstetric history) were not associated with HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence. Older age was found to be a significant risk factor for HSV-2 seropositivity in both univariate and multivariate risk analysis. <i>Conclusions</i>: HSV-1 infection is widely prevalent among pregnant women with a stable trend over time. However, a declining trend in the HSV-2 seroprevalence was observed compared to 2005–2010. Serological screening in pregnant women is important in identifying seronegative women who are susceptible to HSV infection as well as seropositive women who are at risk for genital herpes recurrence during delivery. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:21:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1719226288c747d689614203866dae1d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T22:21:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj.art-1719226288c747d689614203866dae1d2024-02-23T15:26:39ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442024-02-0160228410.3390/medicina60020284Seroepidemiology of Herpes Simplex Viruses Type 1 and 2 in Pregnant Women in CroatiaTatjana Vilibic-Cavlek0Marko Belamaric1Thomas Ferenc2Dan Navolan3Branko Kolaric4Ljiljana Milasincic5Ljiljana Antolasic6Mateja Vujica Ferenc7Maja Vilibic8Adriana Lukunic9Maja Bogdanic10Department of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaTeaching Institute for Emergency Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Merkur, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, RomaniaAndrija Stampar Teaching Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Psychiatry, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Microbiology, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Virology, Croatian Institute of Public Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are one of the most widespread causes of human viral infections. In Croatia, only two published studies have analyzed the seroprevalence of HSV infections in childbearing-aged and pregnant women (2005–2010), while more recent data are lacking. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and risk factors for HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections among pregnant women in Croatia in the period from 2011 to 2021. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: This study included 667 pregnant women aged 16–45 years submitted for HSV-1 and HSV-2 serology testing. Serum samples were initially screened for HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgM and IgG antibodies using a commercial ELISA test with a confirmation of HSV-2-positive samples using an immunoblot assay. <i>Results</i>: The overall IgG seroprevalence rates were 69.9% for HSV-1 and 3.8% for HSV-2. A significant gradual increase in the HSV-2 seroprevalence with age was observed from 0.5% in participants under 30 years to 8.3% in participants above 40 years. The HSV-1 seroprevalence was stable up to 40 years (70.0 and 68.3%, respectively), with an increase to 86.1%, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. Area of residence (urban or suburban/rural), geographic region (continental or coastal), and obstetric history (normal pregnancy or unfavorable obstetric history) were not associated with HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence. Older age was found to be a significant risk factor for HSV-2 seropositivity in both univariate and multivariate risk analysis. <i>Conclusions</i>: HSV-1 infection is widely prevalent among pregnant women with a stable trend over time. However, a declining trend in the HSV-2 seroprevalence was observed compared to 2005–2010. Serological screening in pregnant women is important in identifying seronegative women who are susceptible to HSV infection as well as seropositive women who are at risk for genital herpes recurrence during delivery.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/2/284herpes simplex viruspregnant womenseroprevalenceepidemiologyCroatia |
| spellingShingle | Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek Marko Belamaric Thomas Ferenc Dan Navolan Branko Kolaric Ljiljana Milasincic Ljiljana Antolasic Mateja Vujica Ferenc Maja Vilibic Adriana Lukunic Maja Bogdanic Seroepidemiology of Herpes Simplex Viruses Type 1 and 2 in Pregnant Women in Croatia Medicina herpes simplex virus pregnant women seroprevalence epidemiology Croatia |
| title | Seroepidemiology of Herpes Simplex Viruses Type 1 and 2 in Pregnant Women in Croatia |
| title_full | Seroepidemiology of Herpes Simplex Viruses Type 1 and 2 in Pregnant Women in Croatia |
| title_fullStr | Seroepidemiology of Herpes Simplex Viruses Type 1 and 2 in Pregnant Women in Croatia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seroepidemiology of Herpes Simplex Viruses Type 1 and 2 in Pregnant Women in Croatia |
| title_short | Seroepidemiology of Herpes Simplex Viruses Type 1 and 2 in Pregnant Women in Croatia |
| title_sort | seroepidemiology of herpes simplex viruses type 1 and 2 in pregnant women in croatia |
| topic | herpes simplex virus pregnant women seroprevalence epidemiology Croatia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/60/2/284 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tatjanavilibiccavlek seroepidemiologyofherpessimplexvirusestype1and2inpregnantwomenincroatia AT markobelamaric seroepidemiologyofherpessimplexvirusestype1and2inpregnantwomenincroatia AT thomasferenc seroepidemiologyofherpessimplexvirusestype1and2inpregnantwomenincroatia AT dannavolan seroepidemiologyofherpessimplexvirusestype1and2inpregnantwomenincroatia AT brankokolaric seroepidemiologyofherpessimplexvirusestype1and2inpregnantwomenincroatia AT ljiljanamilasincic seroepidemiologyofherpessimplexvirusestype1and2inpregnantwomenincroatia AT ljiljanaantolasic seroepidemiologyofherpessimplexvirusestype1and2inpregnantwomenincroatia AT matejavujicaferenc seroepidemiologyofherpessimplexvirusestype1and2inpregnantwomenincroatia AT majavilibic seroepidemiologyofherpessimplexvirusestype1and2inpregnantwomenincroatia AT adrianalukunic seroepidemiologyofherpessimplexvirusestype1and2inpregnantwomenincroatia AT majabogdanic seroepidemiologyofherpessimplexvirusestype1and2inpregnantwomenincroatia |