Asymptomatic Lymphogranuloma Venereum in Men who Have Sex with Men, United Kingdom

Abstract

We investigated prevalence of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) among men who have sex with men who were tested for chlamydia at 12 clinics in the United Kingdom during 10 weeks in 2012. Of 713 men positive for Chlamydia trachomatis, 66 (9%) had LGV serovars; 15 (27%) of 55 for whom data were available were asymptomatic.

Clinical and epidemiological characterisation of lymphogranuloma venereum in southwest Spain, 2013–2015

“…In this study, we described 13 cases of LGV (2.2% of all C. trachomatis infections detected and 7.8% of those detected in MSM), all with the same variant (L2b) described previously in Europe 4–5 8. About 85% were HIV positive higher than previously reported in Spain5 and over a third were asymptomatic similar to a recently published UK study 9…”

Prevalence and characteristics of gastrointestinal infections in men who have sex with men diagnosed with rectal chlamydia infection in the UK: an ‘unlinked anonymous’ cross-sectional study

“…We used a convenience sample of MSM from a Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) case-finding study 8. The LGV study included only MSM who had been consecutively diagnosed with rectal CT at 12 clinics in the UK (in Brighton, Glasgow, London and Manchester) between 24 September 2012 and 7 December 2012, except those who had taken any antibiotics during the previous 6 weeks 8.…”

“…The LGV study included only MSM who had been consecutively diagnosed with rectal CT at 12 clinics in the UK (in Brighton, Glasgow, London and Manchester) between 24 September 2012 and 7 December 2012, except those who had taken any antibiotics during the previous 6 weeks 8. The recruiting clinics serve large MSM populations; they undertake routine testing of MSM for rectal CT (using clinician or self-taken rectal swabs) regardless of symptoms and follow up some cases according to UK guidelines 9.…”

“…The recruiting clinics serve large MSM populations; they undertake routine testing of MSM for rectal CT (using clinician or self-taken rectal swabs) regardless of symptoms and follow up some cases according to UK guidelines 9. Specimens were submitted to the Public Health England (PHE) Reference Laboratory for CT confirmation and LGV typing 8. Residual CT-positive specimens were included in the GII study.…”

“…The proforma covered CT-related or LGV-related symptoms and included a free-text field to record non-specific symptoms (eg, diarrhoea, loose stools) 8. Patients presenting with symptoms at any attendance associated with a single STI care episode (typically 2–4 weeks duration) were defined as symptomatic.…”