Abstract

To determine prevalence of lymphogranuloma venereum among men who have sex with men in Germany, we conducted a multicenter study during 2009–2010 and found high rates of rectal and pharyngeal infection in men positive for the causative agent, Chlamydia trachomatis. Many infections were asymptomatic. An adjusted C. trachomatis screening policy is justified in Germany. Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted disease caused by infection with Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, genotypes L1–L3. An outbreak of proctitis cases caused by C. trachomatis genotype L2 in men who have sex with men (MSM) became apparent in the Netherlands in 2003; subsequently, awareness of this disease increased throughout Europe (1). In the United Kingdom and the United States, guidelines recommend rectal C. trachomatis screening for MSM (2). In Germany, no screening recommendations for asymptomatic MSM exist, and nationally, no C. trachomatis prevalence data are available. We investigated the prevalence of pharyngeal and rectal C. trachomatis infection and LGV among MSM in Germany.