Prevalence and correlates of herpes simplex virus infections among AIDS patients in a county of Shanxi province China

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and its correlates among HIV/AIDS patients in a county of Shanxi. METHODS: All HIV-infected patients in a county in Shanxi province who were receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) were included in this study. Participants were interviewed using standard questionnaires. Serum samples were tested to determine HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections. RESULTS: A total of 195 AIDS patients were recruited and 195 blood samples were collected. Among 195 AIDS patients 189 (96.9%) were farmers; 116 (59.5%) were men while 79 were women; 146 (74.9%) were between 20 - 50 years old; 180 (92.3%) were married. The major routes of HIV transmission were blood/plasma donation or transfusion (176 patients 90.3%). CD(4)(+) T cell counts were between (1 - 1531) x 10(6) cells/L ((323.6 +/- 14.8) x 10(6) cells/L) with 44 (26.5%) patients CD(4)(+) T cell counts less than 200 x 10(6) cells/L. Of which 154 patients (79.0%) had sexual partners. 86.8% (118 patients) consistently used condoms during the past 6 months while for the last sexual act 91.8% (123 patients) used condoms. For anti-HSV-1 status there were about 164 patients (84.1%) were positive and 26 (13.3%) were positive for anti-HSV-2. While 14 (7.2%) were positive for both anti-HSV-1 and anti-HSV-2. Logistic regression analysis indicated that marital status were correlated with HSV-2 infection (OR = 7.41; 95%CI: 2.42 - 22.73; P < 0.01). No socio-demographic and sexual characteristics were identified to be correlated with HSV-1 infection. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of AIDS patients in a rural county of Shanxi province of China were co-infected with HSV-1 and/or HSV-2. Marital status was correlated with HSV-2 infection.