Lymphogranuloma venereum genovariants in men having sex with men in Italy.

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is an STI caused by From 2016 to 2020, all the anorectal swabs collected from MSM attending the STI Clinic of St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital in Bologna and positive for LGV cases accounted for one-third of all chlamydial rectal infections with a total prevalence of 4.1% (76/1852). Total number of LGV cases per year remained constant. LGV was mainly found in symptomatic patients (>65%), older than 30 years, with a high burden of other STIs (63.7% HIV-positive, 35.5% with concurrent rectal gonorrhoea, 19.7% with early syphilis). A decreasing trend in HIV-LGV co-infection was noticed over time. Three main LGV genovariants were detected (L2f, 46.1%; L2b, 23.0%; L2-L2b/D-Da, 16.9%), together with other known L2b variants (mainly L2bV2 and L2bV4). Two novel L2b In our area, LGV is endemic among MSM with different circulating genovariants. Active surveillance and genotyping programmes are needed to reduce re-establishing of LGV infection.

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Competing interests: None declared.