PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Pebody, R G
AU  - Andrews, N
AU  - Brown, D
AU  - Gopal, R
AU  - de Melker, H
AU  - François, G
AU  - Gatcheva, N
AU  - Hellenbrand, W
AU  - Jokinen, S
AU  - Klavs, I
AU  - Kojouharova, M
AU  - Kortbeek, T
AU  - Kriz, B
AU  - Prosenc, K
AU  - Roubalova, K
AU  - Teocharov, P
AU  - Thierfelder, W
AU  - Valle, M
AU  - Van Damme, P
AU  - Vranckx, R
TI  - The seroepidemiology of herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 in Europe
AID  - 10.1136/sti.2003.005850
DP  - 2004 Jun 01
TA  - Sexually Transmitted Infections
PG  - 185--191
VI  - 80
IP  - 3
4099  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/80/3/185.short
4100  - http://sti.bmj.com/content/80/3/185.full
SO  - Sex Transm Infect2004 Jun 01; 80
AB  - Objectives: To describe the seroepidemiology of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 in the general populations of eight European countries to better understand recent reported changes in disease epidemiology. Methods: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, England and Wales, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, and Slovenia conducted national cross sectional serological surveys for HSV-1 and HSV-2 between 1989 and 2000. Survey sizes ranged from 3000 to 7166 sera. External quality control was ensured through reference panel testing. Results: Large intercountry and intracountry differences in HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalence were observed. Age standardised HSV-1 seroprevalence ranged from 52% in Finland, to 57% in the Netherlands, 67% in Belgium, 81% in Czech Republic, and 84% in Bulgaria. Age standardised (>12 years) HSV-2 seroprevalence ranged from 24% in Bulgaria, to 14% in Germany, 13% in Finland, 11% in Belgium, 9% in Netherlands, 6% in Czech Republic, and 4% in England and Wales. In all countries, probability of seropositivity for both infections increased with age. A large proportion of teenagers and young adults remain HSV-1 susceptible particularly in northern Europe. Women were significantly more likely to be HSV-2 seropositive in six of seven (p<0.05) countries and HSV-1 seropositive in four of seven (p<0.05) countries, particularly in northern Europe. No significant evidence of a protective role of HSV-1 for HSV-2 infection was found adjusting for age and sex (p<0.05). Conclusions: There is large variation in the seroepidemiology of HSV-1 and HSV-2 across Europe. The observation that a significant proportion of adolescents are now HSV-1 susceptible may have implications for transmission and clinical presentation of HSV-1 and HSV-2.