Incidence and risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus seroconversion in a cohort of Sydney homosexual men

By means of prospective cohort data from the Sydney AIDS Project, we report on 55 homosexual or bisexual men who have become infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), as measured by the development of serum HIV antibodies (seroconversion). We have compared the sexual practices, recreational drug abuse, history of sexually-transmissible diseases, and antecedent immunological findings of the men who seroconverted with those of 588 subjects who persistently remained seronegative in the same time-period. The cumulative incidence rate of HIV infection over the three years of observation was 8.5%. The cumulative incidence rate ranged from less than 1% for the six months before August 1, 1984, to a peak of 5% in the six months before August 1, 1985. Of those subjects for whom we had data for the period of seroconversion, all but two of the subjects who seroconverted admitted to a recognized high-risk sexual practice in the six months before the first visit at which they were found to be seropositive. Univariate analysis found that men who seroconverted were significantly more likely to have had a greater number of recent sexual partners (relative risk per partner, 1.02; P less than 0.001), to have engaged in receptive anal intercourse (incidence rate ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-7.6; P = 0.01) and to have used nitrite inhalant (incidence rate ratio, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.2-5.9; P = 0.02) and amphetamine (incidence rate ratio, 4.8; 95% CI, 2.2-10.5; P less than 0.001) drugs. The men who seroconverted were significantly (incidence rate ratio, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-6.1; P = 0.014) more likely to have antecedent T-suppressor-cell counts of greater than 800 cells/microL. Factors that retained significance in multivariate analysis were the number of recent sexual partners, recent amphetamine abuse and a T-suppressor-cell count of greater than 800 cells/microL.     

The association between genital ulcer disease and acquisition of HIV infection in homosexual men

We analyzed the association of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection and syphilis, the two most common causes of genital ulceration in homosexual men, with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in 200 men enrolled between 1983 and 1986 into a study evaluating the microbial causes of acute proctitis. Infection with HIV was independently associated with a history of syphilis, serologic evidence of syphilis, a history of HSV infection, and antibody to HSV-2. Antibody to HIV was not associated with a history of other genital infections or with antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis or HSV-1. Similar associations were observed in 111 asymptomatic homosexuals seen for HIV screening. Men who presented with primary HSV proctitis had a lower prevalence of HIV antibody than those with preexisting HSV-2 antibody (44% vs 68%); this suggests that HSV-2 infection antedated HIV infection. These data suggest that genital ulcerative diseases are an important risk factor for the acquisition of HIV infection in homosexual men; measures directed at control of these diseases may reduce the transmission of HIV in this population.     

Sexual transmission efficiency of hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus among homosexual men

The relative sexual transmission efficiency of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was investigated by a prospective study of homosexual men in Pittsburgh, Pa, from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. During the 30-month follow-up, 19.8% and 7.8% of the initially seronegative HBV and HIV-1 groups were estimated to seroconvert to HBV and HIV-1, respectively. The significantly higher cumulative HBV seroconversion rate occurred despite a much lower prevalence of hepatitis B carriers (7% were hepatitis B surface antigen positive) compared with HIV-1 carriers (22% were HIV-1 antibody positive). The sexual exposure profile of HBV and HIV-1 seroconverters was similar during the 6 months prior to seroconversion, supporting the link between anal intercourse and acquisition of either infection. However, insertive, not receptive, anal intercourse was the major risk factor identified for HBV seroconversion, suggesting that transurethral exposure is an important mode of transmission. These data suggest that HBV is transmitted 8.6-fold more efficiently than HIV-1 among homosexual men studied and underscore the benefits of both HBV immunization and use of condoms during intercourse to prevent HBV infection.     

Recombinant glycoprotein vaccine for the prevention of genital HSV-2 infection: two randomized controlled trials. Chiron HSV Vaccine Study Group.

CONTEXT: In the last 3 decades, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection seroprevalence and neonatal herpes have increased substantially. An effective vaccine for the prevention of genital herpes could help control this epidemic. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a vaccine for prevention of HSV-2 infection. DESIGN: Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trials of a recombinant subunit vaccine containing 30 microg each of 2 major HSV-2 surface glycoproteins (gB2 and gD2) against which neutralizing antibodies are directed, administered at months 0, 1, and 6. Control subjects were given a citrate buffer vehicle. Participants were followed up for 1 year after the third immunization. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We enrolled 2393 persons from December 10, 1993, to April 4, 1995, who were HSV-2 and human immunodeficiency virus seronegative. One trial with 18 centers enrolled 531 HSV-2-seronegative partners of HSV-2-infected persons; the other, with 22 centers, enrolled 1862 persons attending sexually transmitted disease clinics. A total of 2268 (94.8%) met inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis with 1135 randomized to placebo and 2012 to vaccine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Time to acquisition of HSV-2 infection, defined by seroconversion or isolation of HSV-2 in culture during the study period by randomization group. RESULTS: Time-to-event curves indicated a 50% lower acquisition rate among vaccine vs placebo recipients during the initial 5 months of the trial; however, overall vaccine efficacy was 9% (95% confidence interval, -29% to 36%). Acquisition rates of HSV-2 were 4.6 and 4.2 per 100 patient-years in the placebo and vaccine recipients, respectively (P =.58). Follow-up of vaccine recipients acquiring HSV-2 infection showed vaccination had no significant influence on duration of clinical first genital HSV-2 episodes (vaccine, median of 7.1 days; placebo, 6.5 days; P>.10) or subsequent frequency of reactivation (median monthly recurrence rate with vaccine, 0.2; with placebo, 0.3; P>.10). The vaccine induced high levels of HSV-2-specific neutralizing antibodies in vaccinated persons who did and did not develop genital herpes. CONCLUSIONS: Efficient and sustained protection from sexual acquisition of HSV-2 infection will require more than high titers of specific neutralizing antibodies. Protection against sexually transmitted viruses involving exposure over a prolonged period will require a higher degree of vaccine efficacy than that achieved in this study.     

The Vancouver Lymphadenopathy-AIDS Study: 6. HIV seroconversion in a cohort of homosexual men.

In an ongoing prospective study of homosexual men conducted since November 1982 in Vancouver, we identified 345 men who did not have antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at the time of enrolment and for whom results of follow-up serologic testing were available. A total of 66 cases of seroconversion were documented among the 345 men between November 1982 and October 1985. Methods of survival data analysis that take into account the varying durations of follow-up were used to study the epidemiologic features of seroconversion in this group. The probability of seroconversion during the entire observation period was 23.1%. The seroconversion rates remained stable, at 10.5% and 10.0% during the last 2 years of the observation period. Cox regression analysis revealed the following variables to be independently associated with risk of seroconversion: frequent receptive anal intercourse, elevated number of male sexual partners in the year before enrolment, use of illicit drugs, a history of gonorrhea and age less than 30 years in November 1982. Multivariate analysis failed to reveal any role of oral sexual activity in the transmission of HIV. Oral ingestion of semen was not associated with seroconversion in either univariate or multivariate analysis. The observation that younger men were more likely to seroconvert suggests that young homosexual men were less likely than older men to modify their sexual behaviour.     

Risk of human immunodeficiency virus transmission from heterosexual adults with transfusion-associated infections

The risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission was studied by interviewing and testing the serum of heterosexual contacts and casual family contacts of adults with transfusion-associated HIV infections. Two (8%) of 25 husbands and ten (18%) of 55 wives who had had sexual contact with infected spouses were seropositive for HIV. Compared with seronegative wives, the seropositive wives were older (median ages, 54 and 62 years; P = .08) and actually reported somewhat fewer sexual contacts with their infected husbands (means, 156 and 82; P greater than .1). There was no difference in the types of sexual contact or methods of contraception of the seropositive and seronegative spouses. There was no evidence of HIV transmission to the 63 other family members. Although most husbands and wives remained uninfected despite repeated sexual contact without protection, some acquired infection after only a few contacts. This is consistent with an as yet unexplained biologic variation in transmissibility or susceptibility.     

Cytomegalovirus infection among employees of a children's hospital. No evidence for increased risk associated with patient care

Employees of a children's hospital were studied to determine the prevalence of antibody to cytomegalovirus (CMV) and the incidence of CMV infection between 1984 and 1988 in relation to patient contact. At enrollment, 783 (63%) of 1250 employees had antibody to CMV. By logistic regression analysis, age greater than 30 years, black race, fewer than 16 years of education, employment for more than 1 year, female sex, and being married were each associated with seropositivity at enrollment. Three hundred workers who were seronegative initially were followed up; 13 seroconverted over a median follow-up interval of 1.96 years, 2.2% per year. Administrative, patient-care, laboratory, and support personnel were included among seroconverters. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of CMV infection when employees were grouped by job type, number of hours per week of patient contact, or nursing unit. The incidence of CMV among employees of a children's hospital was similar to the rate expected for the general population. Risk of CMV infection was not increased by patient contact in this setting.     

Cytomegalovirus is not an occupational risk for nurses in renal transplant and neonatal units. Results of a prospective surveillance study

The risk of inpatient-to-nurse transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV) was assessed in a five-year prospective seroepidemiologic study. We enrolled 263 renal transplant/hemodialysis nurses, 204 neonatal intensive care nurses, 225 student nurses, and 251 blood donor controls. Prevalence of CMV antibody in these 943 subjects was 33.7% and did not differ significantly among the four study groups. Sixteen subjects experienced primary CMV infections. The yearly seroconversion rate, calculated from age-related seroprevalence data, was 1.9%. The rate of seroconversion during the study, established by observing 519 seronegative subjects for 10 420 person-months, was 1.84% per year and did not differ significantly among the study groups. The proportions of patients with CMV infection (1.1% to 11.9%) and disease (0.5% to 3.4%) on study wards were not related to seroconversion in the nurses. The slow rate of acquisition of CMV in susceptible adults suggests that transmission requires prolonged, intimate contact. Nurses and nursing students who practice good personal hygiene are no more likely to acquire CMV than their peers in the community.     

The Vancouver Lymphadenopathy-AIDS Study: 7. Clinical and laboratory features of 87 cases of primary HIV infection.

In an ongoing prospective study of homosexual men conducted in Vancouver since November 1982, 87 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroconversion have been documented to date. Comparison of laboratory results obtained a mean of 4.9 months before and 5.4 months after the estimated date of seroconversion revealed that a significant increase in the serum IgG level (from 1149 to 1335 mg/dl on average) and in C1q binding (from 8.8% to 14.2% on average) was associated with early HIV infection (p less than 0.001). A marginally significant decrease in the ratio of helper to suppressor (CD4 to CD8) cells (from 1.55 to 1.29 on average) was also noted (p = 0.025). A marked decrease in absolute number of CD4 cells was not seen with seroconversion, which suggests that profound loss of these cells may be a long-term effect of HIV infection. The occurrence of symptoms (including fatigue, fever, night sweats, unintentional weight loss, diarrhea, joint pains, cough unrelated to smoking, shortness of breath, oral thrush, herpes zoster and rash) did not increase with seroconversion. This finding suggests that most cases of HIV seroconversion may be asymptomatic or associated with relatively minor symptoms. On the other hand, generalized lymphadenopathy was found to develop after HIV seroconversion in about 50% of cases.     

Changes in T-lymphocyte subsets in intravenous drug users with HIV-1 infection.

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate changes in T-cell subsets in prevalent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) seronegative and seropositive intravenous drug users (IVDUs) and in HIV-1 seropositive IVDUs with known time of seroconversion. DESIGN--Cohort study with a median 18-month follow-up. SETTING--Community-based clinic established to study the natural history of HIV infection in IVDUs. SUBJECTS--Eight hundred fifty-nine self-referred IVDUs aged 18 through 49 years who injected drugs within the last 10 years and who did not have an AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome)--defining illness; 152 were seronegative for HIV-1, 621 were seropositive, and 86 seroconverted during the study. OUTCOME MEASURES--Proportions and absolute numbers of lymphocytes and CD3, CD4, and CD8 T cells as determined at 6-month intervals by flow cytometry and complete blood cell counts with automated differential. RESULTS--Median numbers of CD4 lymphocytes at enrollment were 1061/microL (1.06 x 10(9)/L) for seronegative IVDUs, 508/microL for seropositive IVDUs, and 733/microL for those who seroconverted (enrolled a median of 4.5 months after seroconversion); the corresponding figures for CD8 lymphocytes were 628, 894, and 889/microL, respectively. Median rates of decline in absolute numbers and percentages of CD4 lymphocytes per 6 months were 7.6/microL (0.0%) for seropositive IVDUs and 55.1/microL (1.9%) for IVDUs who seroconverted (median follow-up after seroconversion was 12 months). Multivariate regression analysis that incorporated the within-individual correlation of the CD4 lymphocyte counts showed no significant change in these cells over time and no change due to use of drugs. CONCLUSION--Our data suggest that progression of HIV-1 infection in IVDUs, as reflected in decline of CD4 cell counts, is no more rapid than that reported for other risk groups.     

Non-A, non-B hepatitis and antibody to hepatitis C virus

Stored serum samples from the Transfusion-transmitted Viruses Study in the 1970s were tested for the presence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Single specimens from five control subjects who did not receive transfusions tested negative for anti-HCV. Of four control subjects who did not receive transfusions and who developed non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis after hospitalization, three remained anti-HCV negative; the fourth person with postoperative NANB hepatitis tested anti-HCV positive before the operation. Five transfusion recipients with posttransfusion hepatitis B virus infection remained seronegative; a sixth with NANB hepatitis as well as hepatitis B virus infection had seroconversion for anti-HCV. Five of nine transfusion recipients with NANB hepatitis had anti-HCV seroconversion. These results show that present anti-HCV testing demonstrates an etiologic basis for approximately half of the cases of transfusion-associated NANB hepatitis, particularly those that develop chronicity. Although cases of NANB hepatitis without seroconversion may be explained otherwise, they may be caused by another, presently unidentified, virus.     

HIV antigen and antibody detection: variable responses to infection in the Edinburgh haemophiliac cohort

Sequential serum samples from 18 haemophiliac patients exposed simultaneously to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV 1) in early 1984 were tested retrospectively for serological markers of infection. Assay for total antibodies to HIV established that the time to seroconversion might be as long as 110 days after exposure to contaminated factor VIII; serum samples were also tested by Western blotting, by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for specific antibodies to envelope and core proteins, and for p24 antigen by two assay systems during the two years after infection. The studies showed that five of the 12 patients for whom serum samples obtained between exposure and seroconversion were available had transient p24 antigenaemia. Although amounts of total antibody to HIV and of antibodies to envelope proteins rose continuously during the two years of the study, amounts of antibody to the core protein were variable and tended to decline in patients who became symptomatic. Two patients had persistent p24 antigenaemia that began four months after seroconversion; these patients remained asymptomatic. One patient who developed the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) had transient antigenaemia at the time of seroconversion but failed to show any antigen for the rest of the study; progression to AIDS was accompanied by an increase in antibodies to envelope proteins. Much of the variability in the course of infection with HIV must represent the differences in the susceptibility of the patients to infection.     

Sexual behavior and herpes simplex virus 2 infection in college students

BACKGROUND: Given the relevance of HSV-2 infection in youth, the aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HSV-2 in college students in Cuernavaca, Mexico, as well as the sociodemographic and sexual behavioral characteristics associated with this infection. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out using convenience sampling with consenting students of both genders. Students answered a questionnaire and provided a blood sample to detect antibodies to HSV-2 by Western blot. To establish the magnitude of the association between the prevalence of HSV-2 infection and the selected risk factors, we estimated prevalence odds ratios by performing logistic analyses of these results RESULTS: Overall seroprevalence of HSV-2 was 5.9% (20/340; CI(95%) 3.7-8.9), 7.0% (14/200; CI(95%) 3.9-11.5) for women and 4.3% (6/140; CI(95%) 1.6-9.1) for men. HSV-2 infection was independently associated with female sex (POR=5.3, CI(95%) 1.4-19.7), age (26 years and over, POR=4.7, CI(95%) 1.0-22.2), number of sexual partners over the last year (two or more partners POR=4.1, CI(95%) 1.2-14.2), a history of genital ulcers (POR=6.1, CI(95%) 1.9-19.8), and having been paid for sex (POR=21.4, CI(95%) 1.0-447.5). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of HSV-2 infection among these students was lower than in other Mexican populations who have high-risk sexual behavior. However, there was a subgroup of participants identified as having high-risk sexual behavior. These individuals could, therefore, be prone to acquiring and transmitting HSV-2 infection and represent the target group for whom preventive interventions against HSV-2 and other STIs might be developed.     

男男性接触者艾滋病感染危险因素调查

目的 了解深圳市男男性接触者的艾滋病高危行为厦相关情况。为实施有效的干预措施和制定预防控制对策提供信息和依据。方法 采用匿名问卷形式进行横断面调查和血标本采集。结果 （1）调查对象以青壮年为主，多数人对自己的患病机会认识不足，在安全套使用上存在看认识和行为分离的现象；广泛存在双性性行为和多性件现象。持续使用安全套比例低，肛交行为普遍。（2）梅毒感染率为12．3％；HIV感染率为1．75％。结论 深圳的MSM已经具备了艾滋病流行的条件，应全面深入进行行为干预。以阻断AIDS的二代传播。     

Venereal causes of cytomegalovirus mononucleosis.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) mononucleosis developed in two men after sexual contact with a woman who had had a similar but medically unverified illness several months before. The CMV was cultured from the woman's urine and cervix. Evidence of recent infection with CMV was also found in a new sexual contact of one of the men. However, roommates of the infected patients remained well, and serologic evidence of CMV infection failed to develop. This small outbreak suggests that CMV may be acquired as a venereal infection that sometimes progresses to the mononucleosis syndrome.     

邯郸市男男性行为者HIV感染状况及影响因素研究

目的了解邯郸市男男性行为者(men who have sex with men,MSM)艾滋病病毒(HIV)感染状况及其影响因素,为MSM人群行为干预工作提供依据。方法于2012年2～5月采用同伴推动(RDS)法,对MSM进行问卷调查,主要内容包括社会人口学特征、艾滋病知识知晓水平、性伴数量、性行为特征和接受干预服务情况,并抽取其静脉血检测HIV及梅毒。对影响HIV感染的相关因素进行χ2检验和logistic回归分析。结果调查了446名MSM,艾滋病知识知晓率达到91.9%。最近6个月,83.86%的调查对象有同性肛交性行为,与男性发生肛交性行为时每次都使用安全套的比例为57.62%。7.17%有同性商业性行为。30.72%有异性性行为,每次都使用安全套的比例为33.86%。HIV感染率为4.93%,梅毒感染率为10.76%,7人同时检出HIV和梅毒。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,文化程度在初中及以下、最近6个月与男性发生肛交性行为时未坚持使用安全套、多性伴、梅毒感染、未接受过艾滋病干预服务者是感染HIV的危险因素。结论邯郸市MSM人群危险性行为普遍存在,安全套使用率低,HIV感染率较高,应采取积极有效的宣传教育方式和行为干预活动控制HIV的传播。     

合肥市青年男男性行为者梅毒和HIV感染状况分析

目的了解合肥市青年男男性行为者(MSM)梅毒和HIV感染状况以及相关的因素,为对该人群进行梅毒与HIV预防干预提供依据。方法采用应答者驱动招募、关键知情人介绍及在MSM网站上发布广告三种方法招募年轻的男男性行为者,进行匿名问卷调查与HIV和梅毒血清学检测。结果202名调查对象平均年龄为20.7岁,大学及以上学历占66.9%,在校学生为62.4%,63.4%的人自认为是同性性取向,26.7%的人自认为是双性性取向。HIV感染率为1.0%,RPR阳性率为7.0%,TPPA阳性率为13.1%。单因素2检验表明,曾进行过HIV检测、一生中肛交同性性伴4个以上与梅毒感染相关,2值分别为10.944与7.696(均P<0.01)。结论年轻的男男性行为者中梅毒感染情况严重,HIV在该人群中流行条件已经具备,急需在该人群中开展性病艾滋病的高危行为干预,尤其要加强大、中学校学生性病艾滋病知识宣传和健康教育。     

Acute HIV infection presenting with painful swallowing and esophageal ulcers

We describe an acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in 16 homosexual men who presented with painful swallowing (odynophagia). Eleven men had a maculopapular rash and 3 had palatal ulcers. At esophagogastroduodenoscopy (endoscopy), multiple discrete esophageal ulcers measuring 0.3 to 1.5 cm in diameter were observed. Electron microscopy of biopsy specimens taken from the ulcer margins in 8 men revealed viral particles 120 to 160 nm in diameter whose morphologic characteristics were those of retroviruses. Human immunodeficiency virus seroconversion was documented in 15 men by Western blot analysis. In 3 men, HIV-1 was isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, in 2 men HIV-1 was isolated from peripheral blood monocytes, and in 1 man HIV-1 was isolated from tissue taken from the margins of the esophageal ulcers. These observations extend our knowledge of the clinical spectrum of acute HIV infection syndromes and suggest that cells in the esophagus are a target for HIV-1 infection.     

Influence of human immunodeficiency virus antibody testing on sexual behaviour in a "high-risk" population from a "low-risk" city

A survey was undertaken of homosexual and bisexual men in Brisbane to establish whether knowledge of their human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-antibody status had influenced any sexual behaviour that was likely to spread HIV type 1 (HIV-1). Of the 318 respondents, 123 respondents knew their HIV serological status, and 13 of these were HIV seropositive. Of the 195 respondents who previously had not been tested, 10 individuals proved to be HIV seropositive. Eighty-two per cent of subjects stated that they had reduced their sexual activity because of their awareness of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); this reduction was equally common among those who had or had not previously had their HIV serological status checked. Anal intercourse was practised most frequently by those subjects who were HIV seropositive and were not aware of it; nevertheless, unprotected anal intercourse was common among subjects who knew their HIV serological status, including those who knew that they were HIV seropositive. Eighty-nine of 208 subjects who were practising anal intercourse had never used a condom. Usage of a condom was marginally more common among those subjects who previously had been tested for the presence of HIV antibodies (P = 0.06), and this was particularly so for those subjects who knew that they were HIV seropositive (P less than 0.01). Condom usage was no more common among those subjects who knew that they were HIV seronegative, when compared with those subjects who did not know their status. These data show that knowledge of a negative HIV-antibody test-result has no substantial association with safer sexual behaviour and suggest that whereas targeted information programmes have had some impact on behaviour in high-risk groups in Brisbane, by the end of July 1986, these programmes had not yet resulted in safer sexual practices by the majority of homosexual and bisexual men.     

Prevalence and correlates of herpes simplex infections. The population-based AIDS in Multiethnic Neighborhoods Study.

OBJECTIVE. To examine the extent and correlates of infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) in an inner-city community, we studied the prevalence of antibodies to these viruses and their association with risk behaviors in a representative sample of unmarried white, black, and Hispanic adults living in San Francisco, Calif. DESIGN. Cross-sectional, community-based, random household survey. PARTICIPANTS. In 1988 and 1989, we surveyed 1770 unmarried men and women aged 20 to 44 years from three San Francisco neighborhoods of varying geographic and cultural characteristics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies based on an immunodot assay using type-specific glycoproteins gG-1 and gG-2. RESULTS. Of blood samples from 1212 participants available for testing, 750 (62%) had HSV-1 antibodies and 400 (33%) had HSV-2 antibodies. After controlling for other variables, HSV-1 antibody was significantly correlated (P less than .05) with older age (in heterosexual men, women, and homosexually active men), less education (in heterosexual men and women), and Hispanic (especially those not born in the United States) or black race. HSV-2 antibody was significantly correlated (P less than .05) with female gender, number of lifetime sexual partners and older age (in heterosexual men and women), and low levels of education and black or Hispanic race (in women). Among those with antibody to HSV-2, only 28 (19%) of 149 men and 32 (13%) of 251 women reported a history of genital herpes. However, most men (62%) and women (84%) who reported a history of genital herpes had HSV-2 antibodies. We observed a similar pattern (low sensitivity and moderate specificity) for a history of facial herpes and the presence of HSV-1 antibodies. After controlling for other variables, HSV-2 antibodies were associated with a lower frequency of HSV-1 antibodies among homosexual men infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. CONCLUSIONS. HSV-1 antibodies were found in nearly two thirds of single urban adults and were most common among Hispanics not born in the United States. HSV-2 antibodies were found in one third of this population and were associated with risk behaviors for sexually transmitted diseases. For both facial and genital herpes infections, self-reporting of infection was very insensitive and moderately specific.