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Co-existence of Herpes simplex virus type 2 and two other oncoviruses is associated with cervical lesions in women living with HIV in South-Western Nigeria


Jude Ogechukwu Okoye
Anthony Ajuluchukwu Ngokere
Charles Erinle
Chinenye Mbamalu

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in cervical lesions is under-reported, especially in Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infected persons.


Objectives: This study determined the prevalence of viral mono-infections, co-infections and squamous cell intraepithelial lesions (SIL) in HIV seropositive (HIV+) and HIV seronegative (HIV-) women.


Methods: This study included HIV+ and HIV- women (105 each). Cervical smears and viral antibodies were evaluated by Papanicolaou’s technique and ELISA method, respectively.


Results: The prevalence of HSV-2, HPV and EBV infections, and SIL were higher in HIV+ women (75.2, 41.9, 41 and 32.4%) than in HIV- women (45.7, 26.7, 26.7 and 13.3%) at p< 0.0001, p= 0.029, 0.041 and 0.002, respectively. Higher prevalence of viral mono-infection and tri-infection was observed in HIV+ women (43.8 and 24.8%) than in HIV- women (27.6 and 8.6%) at p= 0.021, and 0.003, respectively. The prevalence of SIL was also higher in HIV+ women with viral mo- no-infection, bi-infection and tri-infection (15.2, 42.9, and 53.8%) than in HIV- women (6.9, 12.5, and 44.4%) at p= 0.468, 0.041, and 0.711, respectively.


Conclusion: This study suggests that the high prevalence of SIL in HIV+ women could be associated with viral co-infec- tions.


Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; human immunodeficiency virus; human papilloma virus; herpes simplex virus type 2; cervi- cal lesion.


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905