Serological Evidence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 IgM Antibody among Expectant Mothers Attending a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the common viral infection that causes herpes and for which there is now no known cure. The two subtypes, HSV-1 and HSV-2, are known to induce a wide range of symptoms, from acute to long-term. HSV infections typically do not cause any symptoms, yet they can be fatal to expectant mothers and their unborn children. The purpose of this study is to look into the serological evidence of herpes simplex virus 2 IgM antibodies in expectant mothers in a tertiary healthcare facility in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Study Design: Ninety expectant mothers who visited the antenatal clinic at a tertiary health facility in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, were randomly analyzed as part of a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), in Rivers State, Nigeria from January 2019 to November 2019.

Methods: The HSV-2 IgM antibodies in the collected samples were evaluated using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The method was followed as directed by the manufacturer. The relationship between the infection and sociodemographic variables was evaluated using chi-square analysis.

Results: Of the 90 expectant mothers, two (2.2%) had HSV-2 IgM antibody seropositive, and forty-four (48.1%) had HSV-2 IgM antibody seronegative. There was no significant correlation (p>0.05) found between the sociodemographic characteristics examined and the prevalence of HSV-2 IgM antibodies. Age groups 20–29 years old (4.7%), married (2.2%), pregnant women with tertiary education (2.6%), traders (6.5%), Christians (2.5%), monogamous family type (2.5%), pregnant women in their second trimester (4.5%), nulliparous (3.0%), history of abortion (3.3%), and history of STDs (16.7%) were found to have higher prevalence of HSV-2 IgM antibody.

Conclusions: The 2.2% prevalence of HSV-2 IgM antibodies obtained in this study further confirms the occurrence of primary or recurrent HSV-2 infection in pregnant women. According to the study, there was a substantial correlation between a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the prevalence of HSV-2 IgM. This finding makes it necessary for all expectant mothers to have a serological assessment for HSV antibodies to detect early and treat congenital infections in the fetus as soon as possible. To manage the viral seropositivity observed in expectant mothers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, screening for herpes simplex viruses is advised.