A SEROPREVALENCE STUDY OF HERPES-VIRUS TYPE-2 INFECTION IN ISRAELI WOMEN - IMPLICATIONS FOR ROUTINE SCREENING

The aim of the study was to obtain data on the prevalence of herpes si mples virus type 2 (HSV-2) in selected populations of women and to ide ntify groups that might benefit from routine prenatal screening. The p rospective seroprevalence study was performed in 1,921 women in Israel during the period 1986-90. Four different population groups of women 17-60 years old were included. Groups 1 and 2 comprised 1,214 healthy female government employees and kibbutz and moshav residents, and Grou ps 3 and 4 comprised 707 Jewish and non-Jewish women with gynecologica l complaints. HSV-2 antibody in the sera were studied by the microneut ralization method. In the healthy women (groups 1 and 2), the prevalen ce of antibodies to HSV-2 was 2-3%. Genital HSV-2 asymtomatic shedding was 1%. In the women with gynecological complaints (groups 3 and 4) t he prevalence of antibodies to HSV-2 was 10% in Jewish and 16% in non- Jewish women. These data support the conclusion that there is no justi fication for routine prenatal HSV-2 screening in Israel in a healthy f emale population.