Molecular and Serological Epidemiology of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and 2 in Pregnant Women of Gorgan City, North East of Iran

Seyyede Delafruz  Hosseini; Mohammad  Yasaghi; Elham  Mobasheri; Hadi Razavi  Nikoo; Alijan  Tabarraei

doi:10.18502/jri.v24i1.11907

Seyyede Delafruz Hosseini Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Mohammad Yasaghi Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Elham Mobasheri Gorgan Congenital Malformations Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Hadi Razavi Nikoo Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Alijan Tabarraei Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jri.v24i1.11907

Keywords: HSV-1, HSV-2, Iran, Pregnant women, Sexually transmitted infections.

Abstract

Background: As one of the most widespread sexually transmitted infections, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSVs) globally account for 60-95% of persistent infections in adults. This infection is prevalent in women of gestational age and is likely to be transmitted from the infected mother to her neonate. Additionally, it gives rise to devastating complications in neonates. This study was designed to estimate the molecular and serological prevalence of HSV-1 and 2 in pregnant women of Gorgan city, North East of Iran.

Methods: Vaginal secretions and blood specimens of 315 pregnant women referred to an educational hospital in the North east of Iran were tested for HSV-1 and HSV-2 using multiplex PCR and ELISA assays. Chi-Square test was utilized to evaluate the association of qualitative variables and the level of significance was set at p≤0.05. Moreover, statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V.19.0.

Results: HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA was detected in 5.7% and 8.3% of participants, respectively. Given the serological analyses of total HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies, 92.7% (239/315) of patients were IgG positive and 5.4% (17/315) were IgM positive.

Conclusion: The rate of HSV-1 and 2 in the present study was lower than that reported by World Health Organization (WHO). This study emphasizes the conduction of further investigations on HSVs since these viruses are probably playing significant role in sexually transmitted infections.