Herpes Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Herpes, including details on herpes simplex virus (hsv), genital, oral, symptoms, treatment.

Transmission of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in a prospective cohort of HIV-negative gay men: the health in men study.

Jin F, Prestage GP, Mao L, Kippax SC, Pell CM, Donovan B, Templeton DJ, Taylor J, Mindel A, Kaldor JM, Grulich AE

National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia. jjin@nchecr.unsw.edu.au

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing reports of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1)-associated anogenital herpes, there are very limited data comparing the seroepidemiological profile of and risk factors for HSV-1 and HSV type 2 (HSV-2) infection. METHODS: Sexual behaviors were examined as risk factors for prevalent and incident HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections in a community-based cohort of 1,427 HIV-negative gay men in Australia. RESULTS: The prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 at baseline was 75% and 23%, respectively. The rate of prevalent infection with HSV-1, as well as the rate of prevalent infection with HSV-2, was much lower in individuals <25 years of age, and each type of infection was associated with a higher number of both male and female sex partners. The median duration of follow-up of the cohort was 2.0 years. Among participants who were susceptible to infection, the incidence rates for HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection were 5.58 and 1.45 cases per 100 person-years, respectively. In multivariate analysis, incident infection with HSV-1 was significantly associated with younger age (P=.027) and reports of frequent insertive oral sex with casual partners (hazard ratio, 3.91 [95% confidence interval, 1.23-12.44]; P=.021). Incident infection with HSV-2 was significantly associated with a variety of anal sex practices with casual partners. CONCLUSIONS: Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 were commonly sexually transmitted, and there were more HSV-1 than HSV-2 seroconversions. Public-health strategies targeted against anogenital herpes increasingly need to take into account the importance of HSV-1 infection.

Published 9 August 2006 in J Infect Dis, 194(5): 561-70.
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