Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 in adult HIV-infected patients and blood donors in Croatia

The present study estimates herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence and evaluates its association with age, sex, human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among adults in Croatia. A cross-sectional survey included 166 HIV-infected patients and 219 blood donors. Antibodies against HSV-2 were determined by enzyme immunoassays based on gG2 recombinant glycoprotein. HSV-2 seroprevalence was 45.8% in HIV-infected patients and 8.7% in blood donors (p < 0.0001; OR 8.8; 95% CI 5.05-15.49). Independent predictors of HSV-2 seropositivity were HIV infection (OR 11.0; 95% CI 5.93-20.41), female gender (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.22-4.26), older age (OR 3.93; 95% CI 2.74-7.11), and HHV-8 seropositivity (OR 2.72; 95% CI 1.09-6.75). Understanding the epidemiology of HSV-2 is a critical first step in designing interventions to decrease HSV-2 and HIV transmission. The association of HSV-2 with HIV infection and HHV-8 antibodies suggests a similar transmission route.