Tipos viricos del herpes simple asociados a infecciones genitales primarias y recurrentes en Chile

Abstract

In view of the different biological behavior of the two types of herpes simplex virus (HSV-1 and HSV-2) that may cause genital infection, it is important to identify the virus strain carried as a means of prognosticating evolution of the disease. The new methods of viral typing with specific monoclonal antibodies represent a significant advance in identifying and gaining improved knowledge of these viral agents. This article presents the results obtained in typing virus strains isolated from 75 middle-class patients of both sexes who in 1985 and 1986 sought dermatological treatment at the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile for genital lesions which were diagnosed as genital herpes. Approximately 75 percent of the patients were in the 20-39 years age group, with a predominance of females in the 20-39 year subgroup and of males in 30-39 year group. Of the cases studied, 81 percent showed recurrent infection and 19 percent primary infections. Associates with the HSV-1 type was found in 29 percent of primary and in 10 percent of recurring episodes, whereas 90 percent of the cases of recurring herpes and 71 percent of the primary cases were associated with the HSV-2 type. Comparison of the results obtained with data from other countries indicates that the epidemiological situation of herpes genital infection in Chile appears to occupy and intermediate point between that of the U.S. and Japan