Prevalence of genital herpes simplex infection and abnormal vaginal cytology in late pregnancy in asymptomatic patients

Abstract

A study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in 809 asymptomatic, late pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic (ANC) at Ramathibodi Hospital. There was only one case where the cervico-vaginal swab specimen was positive for HSV by cultivation and the biotin-streptavidin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (B-SA ELISA), for detection of viral antigens. This gave a prevalence rate of 0.12%. The anti-HSV IgM in cord blood of the infant born to this mother was negative. The Papanicoulaou (Pap) smear was performed in 554 cases, including the above patient, but none showed evidence of HSV infection. The high prevalence of lower genital tract infection in these subjects was noted in both Pap smear (31.05%) and wet preparation of the cervico-vaginal discharge (46.72%). Thus, examination of the cervico-vaginal discharge during late pregnancy should be of benefit to the patients, in revealing asymptomatic infections of the lower genital tract. © 1989.