학술논문
Seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 among the migrant workers in Qatar
Document Type
Original Paper
Author
Nasrallah, Gheyath K.; Dargham, Soha R.; Al-Sadeq, Duaa W.; Amanullah, Fathima H.; Shurrab, Farah M.; Nizamuddin, Parveen B.; Chemaitelly, Hiam; Ayoub, Houssein H.; Abdeen, Sami; Abdelkarim, Ashraf; Daraan, Faisal; Ismail, Ahmed; Mostafa, Nahid; Sahl, Mohamed; Suliman, Jinan; Tayar, Elias; Kasem, Hasan Ali; Agsalog, Meynard J. A.; Akkarathodiyil, Bassam K.; Alkhalaf, Ayat A.; Alakshar, Mohamed Morhaf M. H.; Al-Qahtani, Abdulsalam Ali A. H.; Al-Shedifat, Monther H. A.; Ansari, Anas; Ataalla, Ahmad Ali; Chougule, Sandeep; Gopinathan, Abhilash K. K. V.; Poolakundan, Feroz J.; Ranbhise, Sanjay U.; Saefan, Saed M. A.; Thaivalappil, Mohamed M.; Thoyalil, Abubacker S.; Umar, Inayath M.; Al Kuwari, Einas; Coyle, Peter; Jeremijenko, Andrew; Kaleeckal, Anvar Hassan; Abdul Rahim, Hanan F.; Yassine, Hadi M.; Al Thani, Asmaa A.; Chaghoury, Odette; Al Kuwari, Mohamed Ghaith; Farag, Elmoubasher; Bertollini, Roberto; Al Romaihi, Hamad Eid; Al Khal, Abdullatif; Al-Thani, Mohamed H.; Abu-Raddad, Laith J.
Source
Virology Journal. 20(1)
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
1743-422X
Abstract
Background: Limited data exists on herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) infections in migrant populations. This study investigated HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalences and associations among craft and manual workers (CMWs) in Qatar who constitute 60% of Qatar’s population.Methods: A national population-based cross-sectional seroprevalence survey was conducted on the CMW population, all men, between July 26 and September 9, 2020. 2,612 sera were tested for anti-HSV-1 IgG antibodies using HerpeSelect 1 ELISA IgG kits and for anti-HSV-2 IgG antibodies using HerpeSelect 2 ELISA IgG kits (Focus Diagnostics, USA). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify associations with HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections.Results: Serological testing identified 2,171 sera as positive, 403 as negative, and 38 as equivocal for HSV-1 antibodies, and 300 sera as positive, 2,250 as negative, and 62 as equivocal for HSV-2 antibodies. HSV-1 and HSV-2 seroprevalences among CMWs were estimated at 84.2% (95% CI 82.8–85.6%) and 11.4% (95% CI 10.1–12.6%), respectively. HSV-1 infection was associated with nationality, educational attainment, and occupation. HSV-2 infection was associated with age, nationality, and educational attainment.Conclusions: Over 80% of CMWs are infected with HSV-1 and over 10% are infected with HSV-2. The findings highlight the need for sexual health programs to tackle sexually transmitted infections among the CMW population.