Seroprevalence and Co-Infection of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 and Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Nigeria

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is a sexually transmitted virus that is the most common cause of genital ulceration worldwide. The increasing evidence that HSV-2 infection could significantly enhance the rates of sexual transmission and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in developing countries informed our design of this study. To determine the seroprevalence and co-infection of HSV-2 and HIV and to evaluate their association with demographic factors among adults (≥15yrs) in Pankshin. One hundred and eighty blood samples were collected from adults, age ≥15 years from Town Clinic Pankshin and General hospital Billang Shippang in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State. DetermineTM and Stat pak rapid test kits were used to screen the collected samples for antibodies to HIV. The seroprevalence of HSV-2 was determined using Diapro HSV-2 type specific ELISA Kit according to the manufacturer’s instructional manual. The estimated prevalence of HSV-2 was 24.4% and it was higher among women (26.09%) than among men (21.53%). That of HIV was 19.49%; men had a prevalence rate of 4.69% while that of women was 5.22%. HSV-2 antibodies were frequent in the study group, genital herpes was not reported by the HSV-2 positive subjects, indicating low awareness of the HSV-2 infection. The prevalence of HIV however was not that significant. The percentage of co-infection was 2.8%.