Prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus 2 among homosexual men either positive or negative for human immunodeficiency viruses in Slovakia

We determined the prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2 , HSV-2 antibodies) in sera of homosexual men either positive for human imm unodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1, HIV+, a group of 27 sera) or negative for HIV -1 and HIV-2 (HIV-, a group of 52 sera) in Slovakia. Antibodies to HSV-2 gl ycoprotein G-2 (gG-2, gG-2 antibodies) were determined by a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and immunoblot anal ysis. We found that 40% of HIV+ and 23% of HIV homosexual men were positive for the gG-2 antibodies, what is 3.6 and 2.1 times higher incidence, respe ctively, than that in the control heterosexual population (Bystricka et al. , Acta Virol. 42, 319-324, 1998). Identification of individuals infected wi th genital herpes among HIV' and HIV- homosexual men should be succeeded by antiviral therapy in order to prevent transmission of HSV-2 and HIV as wel l in this community.