Introduction: In recent years studies from various parts of the world have reported a significant increase in the number of genital infections caused by HSV-1, especially among women.
Methods: We report a study of genital infections caused by HSV-1 in our geographic area from 1995 to 2003. Genital samples were inoculated in the Vero cell line and cultures were stained by monoclonal antibodies against HSV-1 and HSV-2.
Results: During the study period, 263 samples were positive for herpesviruses: 146 for HSV-1 (55.5%) and 117 for HSV-2 (44.5%). The 20 HSV-1 isolated in the genital tract represented 7.6% of all the herpesviruses isolated in this study. Of the 146 HSV-1 isolated, 20 (13.7%) were obtained in genital samples, 15 (75%) in women and 5 (25%) in men (p < 0.005). Four men (80%) were homosexual. No patient, male or female, was infected with the HIV and none worked as prostitutes.
Conclusions: The percentage of HSV-1 genital infections increased in the last year of the study (33%), especially among women from the general population. The herpesvirus isolated in these samples should be characterized, since, in general, HSV-1 does not usually develop latency or recurrent infections in this anatomical area.