Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Seroprevalence in Pregnant Women in Urmia, Northwest of Iran, during 2014-2015

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence has been shown to be a potential sign of infection in pregnant women, and it could be applied to check HSV-2 transmission. This study evaluated the anti-HSV-2 IgG prevalence in pregnant women who were referred to health centers in Urmia, Northwest of Iran, during 2014-2015.

Serum samples were collected from 86 pregnant women and tested for Anti-HSV-2-specific IgG using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays kit.

Five (5.8%) pregnant women showed the presence of Anti-HSV-2-specific IgG antibodies. Previous abortion was reported in 16 (19.7%) and 2 subjects in the seronegative and seropositive groups, respectively.

Data from the present study indicate a lower number of HSV-2 seropositives among the pregnant women in Urmia. This reduction would be a result of low number of studied subjects used in the present study; hence, assessing a large sample is recommended.