Seroepidemiology of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and 2 in Northern Iran

Herpes simplex virus [HSV] type 1 and 2 are common infectious agents worldwide. Data on prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection are limited in Asia, especially in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HSV type 1 and 2 based on age, gender, marital status, education, living area, job, symptoms and history of disease variables. The study population included 800 randomly selected persons from laboratories in Gilan Province, Iran, from 2010 to 2011. Demographic data gathered by a well-designed questionnaire and for serological studies, blood samples were collected and centrifuged. ELISA HSV-1, 2 and HSV-2 specific ELISA kits were used to determine IgG type specific antibodies in sera samples. Person's chi-square test was applied to compare HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositivities. HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG antibodies wrere positive in 467 [58.4%] and 28 [3.5%] subjects, respectively. There was significant correlation between age, marital status, job, symptoms, history of disease and HSV seroprevalence [P<0.05]. Our findings were in agreement with prior studies in which HSV-1 infections was more prevalent than HSV-2 and seropositivity increased with age

[Assessment of periodontal condition among Iranian HIV+ patients during 2005]

There is no precise information of periodontal status in HIV-infected Iranian patients, so this descriptive study was performed to assess periodontal condition among HIV-infected patients referred to the three HIV patients medical centers in Tehran during 2005. One hundred and eighteen known HIV+ patients, confirmed by ELISA, Western blot and clinical examination, participated in this study. Data on age, gender, level of education, smoking, marital status, type of addiction, type of antiretroviral medicine, their dose and duration of consumption, etiology of their disease, and level of CD4 were recorded. None had surgery on neck and mouth. MGI, PI [Shick and Ash], PD, and CAL were measured on 6 surfaces of each of the Ramjord's teeth. Data analysis was done by SPSS, SAS, generalized estimated equation, Hotte Ling's multivariate model, Pearson and Spearman correlation tests. One hundred and fourteen men [96.6%] and 4 women [3.4%] with mean age of 33.6 +/- 6.49 participated in the study. 14 persons [27%] had CD4<200, 29 patients [55.7%] had 200500. Mean MGI, PI, and PD were 1.33 +/- 0.41, 2.8 +/- 0.18, and 1.66 +/- 0.98 respectively. There was no difference between CD4 and MGI and PI [P=0.1 and P=0.2], but in patients with CD4<200, CAL was significantly higher than the other two CD4 groups [P=0.02]. PD in this group was significantly higher than the other CD4 groups [P=0.01]. MGI and PI level in the study group were high which indicates poor oral hygiene. CAL was increased with immune system deficiency which indicates the influence of HIV-infection as a risk factor on the periodontal disease severity