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African Health Sciences
Makerere University Medical School
ISSN: 1680-6905 EISSN: 1680-6905
Vol. 15, No. 3, 2015, pp. 737-747
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Bioline Code: hs15103
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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African Health Sciences, Vol. 15, No. 3, 2015, pp. 737-747
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Seropositivity and determinants of immunoglobulin-G (IgG) antibodies against Herpes simplex virus (HSV) types -1 and -2 in pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Okonko, Iheanyi Omezuruike & Cookey, Tochi Ifeoma
Abstract
Background: This study is the first documented prevalence of IgG antibody against HSV-1&-2 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria
and thus provides baseline data for future in-depth studies on HSV infection in South-South, Nigeria.
Objective: This study determined the seropositivity and determinants of serum IgG antibody against HSV-1 & HIV-2
among pregnant women attending BMSH, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Methods: Serum samples from 180 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital
(BMSH) in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Serum samples were analysed with commercial HSV type-1&-2 specific IgG Enzyme
Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. Chi-square analysis was used to determine the association of infection with
socio-demographic variables.
Results: Of the 180 pregnant women, 179 (99.4%) were seropositive and 1(0.6%) was seronegative for HSV 1&2 IgG antibody.
No statistical association existed between the prevalence of HSV-1&-2 IgG antibodies and the socio-demographic
variables studied (p>0.05) except for marital status which was significantly associated (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Our data shows that HSV-1 & 2 seropositivity among pregnant women in Port Harcourt is high; thus serological
screening for HSV-1&-2 might be advisable for antenatal attendees.
Keywords
BMSH, determinants, ELISA, HSV-1, HSV-2, IgG, seropositivity
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