Background: Varicella zoster virus (VZV)
infections are common and contribute substantially to
morbidity and
mortality among
HIV -infected
patients . This study was conducted to determine the level of exposure, compare the
gender distribution pattern and correlate with
CD4 count ,
history of
chicken pox and demographics among
HIV patients .
Methodology: Blood samples were collected from 273 randomly selected
HIV -positive
patients (93
males and 180
females ) receiving care and management at the
General Hospital Offa, Kwara
State ,
Nigeria , between September 2019 and March 2020, after obtaining
informed consent . Sera were
separated from the
blood samples and tested for the presence of VZV-specific
IgG antibodies using
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (
ELISA ).
Results: The
seroprevalence rate of VZV in the selected
HIV patients was 76.9% (210/273), which was
similar in both
male (83.9%, 78/93) and
female (73.3%, 132/180)
patients (χ 2=3.265, p=0.071). The
seroprevalence rates of VZV in both
male and
female patients were significantly associated with
marital status ,
occupational status , and
CD4+ cell count (p<0.05), however,
age group was not significantly associated with VZV
seroprevalence in both
male (χ2=8.014, p=0.155) and
female (χ2=4.689, p=0.455)
patients . The
seroprevalence of VZV in
males (32%)
who reported
history of
chicken pox was about twice that of
females (17.4%) (OR=2.235, 95% CI=1.162-4.302, p=0.023).
Conclusion: The level of exposure of
HIV -infected individuals to VZV in Offa,
Nigeria is high and is similarly distributed in both
male and
female genders. However, more
males with VZV exposure reported
history of
chicken pox (acute
infection ) than their
female counterparts.