Comparative Study of HSV 2 IgG and IgM Antibodies in PLHA

Background - HSV 2 is the most common distressing genital ulcer among the people in the reproductive age group worldwide. Among PLHA, 60-70 % have HSV 2 co infection with severe presentation and frequent recurrences and 3-4 fold increased HSV 2 viral shedding. Plasma concentration of HIV can be decreased in HIV/HSV 2 co infected patients by giving anti HSV 2 drugs like Valacyclovir. Hence detection of HSV 2 antibodies is an effective tool in screening HSV 2 infection in typical and atypical presentations. Hence this study was taken up. Method- A prospective study was conducted by taking 100 HIV positive samples from the patients who attended ART center and DVL Department in GGH, Guntur and IgG and IgM ELISA was done in the Department of Microbiology, GMC, Guntur. Results-Among 100 HIV positive cases 78 % were HSV 2 positive with females preponderance (56.41 %), 37 % were in 31-40 yrs age group, 42.5 % were labours, symptoms were shown by 25 %. Among symptomatic and asymptomatic cases 20 % were IgM positive.16 of 25 symptomatic cases were showing both IgG and IgM antibodies, 2 were showing only IgM antibodies, rest only IgG positive. Conclusion-This study depicts there was high (78 %) seroprevalence of IgG in HIV positive individuals, of which 56.41 % were females among reproductive age group.25 % were showing symptoms and rest are asymptomatic. Hence screening tests are effective in diagnosis and early treatment of the patients.