Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31687480›Full record

ArticleHeliyon2019

Negative epidemiological association between HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections.

Gheyath K Nasrallah, Soha R Dargham, Laith J Abu-Raddad

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Heliyon, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Gheyath K NasrallahDepartment of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
Soha R DarghamInfectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar.
Laith J Abu-RaddadInfectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Qatar Foundation - Education City, Doha, Qatar.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesExisting evidence on an epidemiological association between herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and type 2 infections remains conflicting and inconclusive. Using a multi-national database of HSV-1/2 serological testing, we aimed to assess the existence of an association between both infections. DESIGN SETTING AND

participantsAn HSV-1/2 cross-sectional serological testing database was assembled by merging databases of seroprevalence studies on men blood donors residing currently in Qatar, but from different countries. Specimens were tested for anti-HSV-1 IgG antibodies using HerpeSelect® 1 ELISA, and for anti-HSV-2 IgG antibodies following a two-test algorithm: HerpeSelect® 2 ELISA to test the sera, and Euroline-WB to confirm positive and equivocal specimens. Logistic regressions were conducted to estimate unadjusted and adjusted infection odds ratios.

resultsSerological testing for HSV-1/2 was performed on 2522 specimens. Sero-positivity for HSV-1 and HSV-2 was identified in 2053 (81.5%) and 87 (3.5%) specimens, respectively. Univariable analyses estimated higher odds of HSV-2 infection with increasing age and increasing country income level, and an unadjusted odds ratio with HSV-1 sero-positivity of 0.71 (95% CI 0.43-1.17; p-value 0.172). Adjusting for age and country income level, the adjusted odds ratio of HSV-2 infection with HSV-1 sero-positivity was 0.51 (95% CI 0.30-0.87; p-value 0.013). Sensitivity analyses confirmed this association.

conclusionsThere is a negative association between HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections, suggestive of a protective effect for HSV-1 sero-positivity against HSV-2 acquisition. This finding supports earlier pooled but inconclusive evidence from prospective studies, yet contrasts with pooled findings of earlier cross-sectional studies.

Indexed as

AsiaEpidemiological associationEpidemiologyHerpesInfectious diseaseInteractionMiddle East and North AfricaPrevalenceSerological testingSexually transmitted infectionVirology

Identifiers

PMID31687480
PMCPMC6820085

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.