Seroprevalence of Anti- Herpes Simplex Virus Type2 IgG, IgM Antibodies Abul-Razak SH. Hasan Among Pregnant Women in Diyala Province

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is the leading cause of genital ulcer disease worldwide. The acquisition of genital herpes during pregnancy has been associated with spontaneous abortion, prematurity, and congenital and neonatal herpes. Objectives: To determine the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 among pregnant women in Diyala province. Materials and methods: Ninety one pregnant women were chosen from those attending the primary health care centers in Baquba Diyala province, during the period from 1 st November / 2012 till 30 th April / 2013. The age range between (15-37) years and the mean age was (25.10 ± 5.27) years. Antiherpes simplex virus type 2 IgM and IgG antibodies were assayed by Enzyme linked immunosorbant assay technique. (ELISA). Results: The results showed that the antiherpes simplex virus type 2 IgG, IgM antibodies seroprevalence among pregnant women was 2 out of 91(2.2%), and 2out of 91(2.2%) respectively. The results of statistical analysis did not reveale significant differences with age, residence, educational levels, duration of pregnancy, previous of abortion and number of abortions on the prevalence of antiherpes simplex type virus 2 IgM and IgG. The rate of susceptibility for herpes simplex virus type 2 infection among pregnant women was 89 (97.8%). Conclusion: Low prevalence rate of HSV-2 seropositivity was appeared among pregnant women in studies area. However, it's necessary to focus on the women that demonstrated susceptibility for herpes simplex virus type 2 infection. Keyword: HSV type 2, Anti-herpes simplex virus type 2 IgG, Antiherpes simplex virus type 2 IgM, Pregnant women. 1 Department of Microbiology College of Medicine Diyala University – Diyala Iraq. 2,3,4,5 Department of Biology College of Education of Pure Science Diyala University – Diyala Iraq. Seroprevalence of AntiHerpes Simplex Virus Type2 IgG, IgM Antibodies Abul-Razak SH. Hasan Among Pregnant Women in Diyala Province Diyala Journal of Medicine 38 Vol. 5, Issue 1, October 2013 Introduction Herpes simplex type 2 is members of the family herpesviridae the alphaherpesvirinae subfamily of human herpersviruses together with varizellazoster virus [1]. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted and the major cause of genital infection worldwide, and can infect both male and female [2]. A primary symptomatic genital herpes infection is usually the most severe, especially in women. It causes blistering and ulceration of the external genitalia and cervix leading to vulval pain, dysuria, vaginal discharge and local lymphoadenopathy [3]. Intra-uterine herpes simplex virus infection can cause significant morbidity and mortality in the developing fetus if the pregnant mother gets acute infection during pregnancy, the acquisition of genital herpes during pregnancy result in spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation, preterm labour, congenital and neonatal herpes infections [4,5]. Herpes simplex type 2 is transmitted by sexual contact and also from the infected mother to her fetus /newborn in utero, intapartum and postantally through the placenta and birth canal [6]. Epidemiology of genital herpes varies between different countries and between groups of individuals depending on the demographic and clinical characteristics. In recent years, the number of HSV-2 infections has markedly increased, from the late 1970s HSV-2 seroprevalence has increased by 30% resulting that one out of five adult infected [7]. Regarding pregnant population, there is a high prevalence of genital herpes, among pregnant women, HSV-2 seroprevalence rates between (6.2% 24.4%) have been reported [8, 9]. Age and gender are important risk factors associated with the acquisition of genital HSV-2 infection [10]. Thus this study aims to determine presence of antiHSV-2 IgM, IgG among pregnant women and study the correlation with different parameters like age, gender, education levels, duration of pregnancy, previous of abortion and number of abortion. Material and methods Study locations and subjects: Ninety one pregnant women were chosen from those attending the primary health care centers in Baquba Diyala province, during 1 st November / 2012 till 30 th April / 2013. The age range between (15-37) years and the mean age was (25.10 ± 5.27) years. Information on age, month of pregnancy, residence, educational levels, was recorded by personal interview. Blood sampling and laboratory analysis: Three ml of blood was drawn from pregnant women in plane plastic test tubes by vein punctures and separated by centrifugation at 3000 rotation / minute for 5 minutes, sera were stored frozen until the serological examination were performed on them. Antiherpes simplex type virus 2 IgG and IgM antibodies was detected by Enzym – Linked Immunosorbant Assay (Nova Tec immundiagnostica GmbH, Germany). The technique was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions. Positive or negative cases were determined by comparing the absorbance value of each sample in this study with that of the cut-off control value, samples with an absorbance value less than the cut-off value were considered as negative; samples with a value above the cut-off value were considered positive. Statistical analysis: It was performed by using SAS version -11, and P value of < 0.05 was considered significance. Seroprevalence of AntiHerpes Simplex Virus Type2 IgG, IgM Antibodies Abul-Razak SH. Hasan Among Pregnant Women in Diyala Province Diyala Journal of Medicine 39 Vol. 5, Issue 1, October 2013 Results Ninety one of healthy pregnant women were included in this study, the mean age was (25.10±5.27) years. The age range was (1537) years. Twenty five (27.47%) of pregnant women were from urban areas, while 66 (72.52%) were resided in rural areas. Seventy three (80.21%) of women with no previous abortion, table (1). Table (1): Baseline data of pregnant women. Variable Frequency Percent Age (years) >20 20-29 30-40 12 59 20 13.18 % 64.63 % 21.97 % Residence Urban Rural 25 66 27.47 % 72.52 % Education Illiterate & Primary Preparatory &Secondary University & higher 43 7 41 47.25 % 7.69 % 45.05 % Month of pregnancy First trimester Second trimester Third trimester 16 33 42 17.58 % 36.26 % 46.15 % Abortion No Yes 73 18 80.21 % 19.78 % Number of abortion NON 1 2 3> 73 11 5 2 80.21 % 12.08 % 5.49 % 2.19 %