The Epidemic of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis C Virus, and Syphilis Infection, and the Correlates of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China

Abstract

SUMMARY:A cross sectional survey was performed to investigate the epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), syphilis, and HIV-1 subtype infections among men who have sex with men (MSM) and to evaluate factors that were correlated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among 657 MSM in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, during 2012Jiangsu, during -2013. Data on socio-demographic parameters and risky behaviors were collected, and blood samples were obtained. In this survey, the prevalence of STIs due to HIV (5.3z), HCV (0.6z), and syphilis (19.2z) were measured. Of 35 HIVinfected MSM, 1 (0.2z) and 17 (2.6z) were co-infected with HCV and syphilis. Among 33 samples with available HIV-1 genomic fragment sequences, 6.1z B, 72.7z CRF01_AE, and 21.2z CRF07_ BC were identified. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age ＞ 30 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.002; 95z confidence interval [CI], 1.144-3.502) and having had STI symptoms in the past year (OR, 11.673; 95z CI, 3.092-44.078) were positively correlated with having an STI, while consistent use of a condom when having sex with male partners (OR, 0.621; 95z CI, 0.408-0.945) was significantly associated with a low STI rate. The worsening epidemic of HIV, HCV, and syphilis infections, and the prevalence of complex subtypes of HIV-1 and other risk factors suggest that effective intervention strategies should be strengthened for MSM in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu.

Trends of recent hepatitis C virus infection among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in Taiwan, 2011–2018

“…The trends of HCV infection among HIV-positive patients, however, remain less investigated in Asia-Pacific region that bears one-fifth of the global HCV burden [1]. While a recent study from Jiangsu, China did not reveal an increasing trend of HCV infection among MSM [14], several studies have demonstrated increasing trends of HCV infection among HIVpositive MSM in Hong Kong [15], Tokyo [16], and Taipei [17,18].…”

Molecular epidemiology of acute HCV infection in HIV–positive patients from Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo

“…In the Asia‐Pacific, sexual transmission of HCV has not been commonly reported. Recent studies in different cities in China have not shown increased or increasing HCV incidences among MSM . Needle‐sharing among injection drug users (IDUs) rather than male‐to‐male sex remains the most common cause of HCV spread in China and Vietnam .…”

Prevalence of co-infections with other sexually transmitted infections in patients newly diagnosed with anogenital warts in Guangzhou, China

“…Opportunistic screening for other STIs during medical visits for anogenital warts helps doctors identify common yet asymptomatic co-infecting diseases that would have otherwise been overlooked and under-reported by patients. While opportunistic screening is oftentimes applied for patients from high-risk groups, [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]33,34 expanding this procedure for men and women newly diagnosed with anogenital warts can improve treatment and care for patients in China. This approach enables Chinese doctors to follow international protocols of screening non-high-risk populations consistent with other low-and-middle 8,37 as well as highincome 5,9,31,36 countries.…”

“…In reviewing research conducted in China from data collected between 1998 and 2017 on STI co-infections, we find that the majority of studies target MSM, FSWs, HIV-positive, and HIV high-risk populations. 7,13,[21][22][23][24][26][27][28]33,34 However, among all of these studies, only one study dating from 1998 tested for co-infection with genital warts. 26 Among studies of MSM and HIV high-risk populations, the most common set of co-infections examined were HIV with syphilis and HIV with HSV-2, with only a handful of studies broadening the scope of co-infecting illnesses.…”