Transmission of Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 in a Prospective Cohort of HIV‐Negative Gay Men: The Health in Men Study

Background. Despite increasing reports of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 (HSV-1)-associated anogenital herpes, there are very limited data comparing the seroepidemiological profile of and risk factors for HSV-1 and HSV type 2 (HSV-2) infection. Methods. Sexual behaviors were examined as risk factors for prevalent and incident HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections in a community-based cohort of 1427 HIV-negative gay men in Australia. Results. The prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 at baseline was 75% and 23%, respectively. The rate of prevalent infection with HSV-1, as well as the rate of prevalent infection with HSV-2, was much lower in individuals