A. Anderssonellstrom et al., PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODIES TO HERPES-SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE-1 AND TYPE-2, EPSTEIN-BARR-VIRUS AND CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IN TEENAGE GIRLS, Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases, 27(4), 1995, pp. 315-318
Seropositivity to herpes virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes virus type 2 (HS
V-2), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was estimated
in a group of 98 16-year-old Swedish girls. Antibodies to HSV-1 were
seen in 41% of the girls and to HSV-2 in 1%, and antibodies to CMV in
45 and to EBV in 82%. In girls with coitus experience, there was signi
ficantly higher prevalence of HSV-1 and EBV antibodies, compared with
girls with no sexual contact. The age of coitarche or number of coitus
partners did not affect the rate of seropositivity. During 2 years of
follow up, 13 girls seroconverted. All but one EBV-seroconverting gir
l, were sexually active, and no girl converted for more than one type
of virus. We conclude that transmission of herpes viruses is common in
adolescence, and sexuality, even with regard to its close association
with kissing, is one important determinant.