Harfouche M, Chemaitelly H, Abu-Raddad LJ. Herpes simplex virus type 1 epidemiology in Africa: Systematic review, meta-analyses, and meta-regressions.
J Infect 2019;
79:289-299. [PMID:
31376458 DOI:
10.1016/j.jinf.2019.07.012]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) epidemiology in Africa.
METHODS
This systematic review was conducted per the Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. Findings were reported following the PRISMA guidelines. Research questions were addressed using random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions.
RESULTS
Forty-three overall (and 69 stratified) HSV-1 seroprevalence measures, and 18 and eight proportions of HSV-1 viral detection in genital ulcer disease (GUD) and in genital herpes, respectively, were extracted from 37 reports. Pooled mean seroprevalence was 67.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 54.7-78.5%) in children, and 96.2% (95% CI: 95.0-97.3%) in adults. Across age groups, pooled mean was 44.4% (95% CI: 29.9-59.3%) in ≤5 years-old, 85.6% (95% CI: 81.0-89.6%) in 6-15 years-old, 93.3% (95% CI: 89.2-96.6%) in 16-25 years-old, and 93.8% (95% CI: 84.6-99.4%) in >25 years-old. Age explained 78.8% of seroprevalence variation. Pooled mean proportion of HSV-1 detection was 0.4% (95% CI: 0.0-1.5%) in GUD, and 1.2% (95% CI: 0.0-4.0%) in genital herpes.
CONCLUSIONS
HSV-1 is universally prevalent in Africa, at higher levels than other regions, with no evidence for declines in seroprevalence in recent decades. Nearly every person acquires the infection in childhood through oral-to-oral transmission, before sexual debut. Sexual oral-to-genital and genital-to-genital transmission appear very limited.
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