Prevalence and determinants of HSV-2/syphilis co-infection and HSV-2 mono-infection among HIV-positive men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study in Northeast China

抄録

We aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) mono-infection and HSV-2/syphilis co-infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 545 HIV-positive MSM in Shenyang between February 2009 and October 2014. Participants received physical examinations and serological tests for HSV-2 and syphilis. A multinomial logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with HSV-2/syphilis co-infection and HSV-2 mono-infection. The HSV-2 mono-infection, syphilis mono-infection, and HSV-2/syphilis co-infection prevalence (95% confidence interval) was 48.6% (44.4–52.8%), 34.3% (30.3–38.3%), and 22.9% (19.4–26.5%), respectively. In regression analysis, after controlling within HSV-2/syphilis-seronegative cases, related factors for HSV-2/syphilis co-infection were age (25–50 years vs. ≤24 years, aOR: 4.55; >50 years vs. ≤24 years, aOR: 43.02), having regular female sexual partner(s) in the past 6 months (aOR: 0.43) and age at first MSM experience (>18 years vs ⩽18 years, aOR: 2.59) (all P < 0.05).The high prevalence of HSV-2 infection and HSV-2/syphilis co-infection in HIV-positive MSM indicates high HIV secondary transmission risk. A campaign for detection and treatment of HSV-2 and syphilis is urgently required for HIV-positive MSM in China.