Longitudinal assessment of HIV-1 and HSV-2 shedding in the genital tract of West African women

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2005 Aug 15;39(5):632-4.

Abstract

Forty-two HSV-2-seropositive women, of whom 22 were HIV-1 seropositive, were followed up weekly for 3 weeks for assessment of HIV-1 and HSV-2 genital shedding in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. HSV-2 DNA and HIV-1 RNA were quantitated in cervicovaginal lavages enriched with a cervical swabbing (eCVL) using real-time polymerase chain reaction. HIV-1 RNA shedding was detected in eCVL from 19 of 22 (86.4%) of the HIV-1-seropositive women and HSV-2 DNA was detected in eCVL from 12 of 42 (28.6%) of the women. Compared with the HIV-1-seronegative women, the HIV-1-seropositive women showed more persistent HSV-2 genital shedding and higher HSV-2 DNA loads in eCVL. This study showed that eCVL is a reliable sampling method for detecting both viruses. Three measurement points (at weekly intervals in this study) seem to adequately allow detection of most HIV-1 or HSV-2 genital shedders.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cohort Studies
  • DNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Genitalia, Female / virology*
  • HIV Infections / diagnosis
  • HIV-1 / isolation & purification*
  • Herpes Genitalis / diagnosis
  • Herpesvirus 2, Human / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Therapeutic Irrigation
  • Vaginal Smears / methods*
  • Viral Load
  • Virus Shedding*

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • RNA, Viral