Seroprevalence of Evaluation of Immunoglobulins for HSV-1,HSV-2,and CMV Viruses in Latency and Reactivation

Abstract

Background

Herpes simplex viruses belong to the herpesvirus family, which are double-stranded DNA viruses. Type 1 is transmitted through non-sexual contact through childhood, while type 2 is usually transmitted through sexual contact during adulthood. Cytomegalovirus shares many characteristics with other herpes viruses, it is a prevalent opportunistic infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients and is a major cause of viral complications among organ donation recipients.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of immunoglobulin antibodies for HSV-1, HSV-2, and CMV viruses among latency and reactivation cases using ELISA technique.

Methodology

A cross-sectional investigation was performed among 147 (58 males, 89 females) aged 18–60 years who visited AL-Numan Teaching Hospital for routine check-ups from September 2023 to April 2024. Blood samples ( 5 ml) were collected and serum was separated for antibody testing using commercial ELISA kits. Inclusion cases included; adult's patients aged 18–60 years with no active symptoms of viral infection. Exclusion cases included immunocompromised patients and those receiving antiviral therapy. Sample size was computed based on the estimated geographical incidence rates with 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error.

Results

HSV-1 had an alarming 65.3% seroprevalence, with 14.3% exhibiting recent infection/reactivation (IgM+). HSV-2 afflicted 22.4%, with a significant female preponderance (73.5%) and a strong connection with marital status (r = 0.605, p < 0.001). CMV seroprevalence has reached 24.4%. Age, marriage, and smoking were identified as significant risk factors, particularly for sexually transmitted HSV-2.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates an extremely high herpesvirus load in Baghdad: two-thirds had HSV-1, while one-quarter have HSV-2 or CMV. The epidemic-level prevalence of HSV-1 necessitates prompt public health intervention. Strong demographic relationships, particularly the HSV-2 marital correlation, give actionable intervention targets. These findings establish Iraq's first complete herpesvirus baseline, highlighting the critical need for national surveillance infrastructure and tailored prevention initiatives to tackle this significant infectious disease burden.