Seroprevalence of and risk factors for antibodies to herpes simplex viruses, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among Southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women

Background and Objectives: Few published data describe the seroprevalence of antibodies to herpes viruses and hepatitis viruses among Southwestern minority women. Goals: To determine the prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-1 and type-2, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C among 595 southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients seeking gynecologic care; and to investigate risk factors associated with seropositivity. Study Design: Analysis of serologic and interview data. Antibody assays were based on purified glycoprotein assays (herpes simplex virus), and commercial assays for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. Results: Hispanic ethnicity was a risk factor for herpes simplex virus type-1 (age-adjusted odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-5.3) but was not associated with antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-2, hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C virus. Risks associated with seropositivity to herpes simplex virus type-included 2 a high lifetime number of sex partners, history of any sexually transmitted disease, and increasing age. Among all patients with herpes simplex virus type-2 antibodies, only 11.1% gave histories of genital herpes infection. For women with antibodies to hepatitis B virus, 31.1% gave histories of hepatitis during adulthood. Conclusions: The seroprevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-1 and herpes simplex virus type-2 was high in this clinic population; the prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-1 was significantly higher in Hispanics than in non-Hispanic whites. Antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-and 2 hepatitis B virus were associated with most indicators of sexual behavior. The high prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus type-2 and the infrequent reporting of histories of genital herpes suggest that asymptomatic infection with herpes is common among these clinic patients.
Hispanic women in the southwestern U.S. may be more likely to test positive for herpes simplex virus type-1 than non-Hispanic white women. Researchers in New Mexico tested blood samples from 595 Hispanic and non-Hispanic white patients of a university clinic for the presence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus (HSV) type-1 and type-2, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. HSV may predispose women to developing cervical cancer. A total of 469 women from both ethnic groups combined had antibodies to HSV-1, and 181 were positive for HSV-2. Hispanic women with normal Pap smears had three times the risk of HSV-1 than did non-Hispanic whites. A high number of sexual partners was a risk factor for HSV-2. Women had a relatively low rate of reporting genital herpes, suggesting that many HSV infections are without symptoms.