Epidemiology of lymphogranuloma venereum in New South Wales, 2006-2015

Damian P Kotevski; Meeyin Lam; Christine E Selvey; David J Templeton; Linda G Donovan; Vicky Sheppeard

doi:10.33321/cdi.2019.43.54

Epidemiology of lymphogranuloma venereum in New South Wales, 2006-2015

Commun Dis Intell (2018). 2019 Nov 18:43. doi: 10.33321/cdi.2019.43.54.

Authors

Damian P Kotevski¹, Meeyin Lam², Christine E Selvey³, David J Templeton⁴, Linda G Donovan⁵, Vicky Sheppeard⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales.
² Bloodborne Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infections, Health Protection NSW, NSW Health, North Sydney, New South Wales.
³ Health Protection NSW, NSW Health, North Sydney, New South Wales.
⁴ Sydney Local Health District, New South Wales; The Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, New South Wales; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales.
⁵ Institute for Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales.
⁶ Communicable Diseases Branch, Health Protection NSW, NSW Health, North Sydney, New South Wales.

PMID: 31738869
DOI: 10.33321/cdi.2019.43.54

Abstract

Aim: To describe the epidemiology of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in New South Wales (NSW) from 2006 to 2015.

Methods: LGV notification data between 2006 and 2015 from New South Wales were analysed to describe time trends in counts and rates by gender, age group and area of residence, as well as anatomical sites of infection. A positivity ratio was calculated using the number of LGV notifications per 100 anorectal chlamydia notifications per year. Data linkage was used to ascertain the proportion of LGV cases that were co-infected with HIV.

Results: There were 208 notifications of LGV in NSW from 2006 to 2015; all were among men, with a median age of 42 years, and half were residents of inner-city Sydney. Annual notifications peaked at 57 (1.6 per 100,000 males) in 2010, declined to 16 (0.4 per 100,000 males) in 2014, and then increased to 34 (0.9 per 100,000 males) in 2015. Just under half (47.4%) of LGV cases were determined to be co-infected with HIV.

Conclusion: The number of LGV notifications each year has not returned to the low levels seen prior to the peak in 2010. Continued public health surveillance is important for the management and control of LGV.

Keywords: Chlamydia trachomatis; New South Wales; epidemiology; gay and bisexual men; lymphogranuloma venereum; sexually transmissible infections; surveillance.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Chlamydia trachomatis / isolation & purification*
Disease Notification
Epidemiological Monitoring*
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Lymphogranuloma Venereum / epidemiology*
Lymphogranuloma Venereum / microbiology
Male
Middle Aged
New South Wales / epidemiology
Rectal Diseases
Sexual and Gender Minorities
Young Adult