Objective:ThisstudyexaminedHerpesSimplexVirus(HSV)subclinicalsheddinginthegenitaltractofpatientswithgenitalherpes(GH)ornon-gonoccalurethritis(NGU).Method:SwabswerecollectedafterexposuretorashandgenitaltractduringGHrelapseorremissiononaweeklybasisforfourtosixweeks.NGUpatientswithnegativechlamydiaandmycoplasmatestswerealsoswabbedforasimilarduration.AllswabsunderwentHSVDNAdetectionwithquantitativePCR.Result:TherewasasignificantdifferenceintherateofasymptomaticHSVsheddinginurinarytractscomparingGHandthecontrolgroupandcomparingNGUandthecontrolgroup(P<0.05).TherateofHSVsheddingwas22%,9.8%and3.3%forGH,NGUandcontrolgroupsrespectively.TherateofHSVsheddingwas21.7%(20/92)forpatientswithactiveGHand23%forthoseinremission.TheHSVpositiveratewassignificantlyhigherinthegroupwithpatientswhohadmorethansixrelapseswithinoneyearcomparedtothegroupofpatientswithlessthansixGHrelapses.Conclusion:ThereisHSVsubclinicalsheddingintheirgenitaltractduringactiveGHandremission.SubclinicalHSVsheddingismorecommoninpatientswithmorethansixGHrelapsesperyearcomparedtoGHpatientswithfewerrelapses.Approximately9.9%ofNGUpatientswithnegativechlamydia,mycoplasmatestingwasfoundtohavesubclinicalHSVinfection.
