Exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis infection in individuals who are newly diagnosed with HIV and antiretroviral-naive from Belem, Northern Brazil

This study was funded by Coordenaçã de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Ministry of Education-Brazil–Grant code 001. L.F.A.M. is a CNPq Grantee (#314209/2021-2). Publication of the article was supported by Public Notice PAPQ, PROPESP/FADESP of the Federal University of Pará.Federal University of Pará. Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Virology Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Virology Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Virology Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Virology Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação e Insumos Estratégicos. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Pará. Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Virology Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Virology Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents Post-Graduate Program. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Virology Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacteria worldwide and may increase the risk of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study describes the seroprevalence of C. trachomatis infection among antiretroviral-naïve patients who are newly diagnosed with HIV in the city of Belém, Pará, in the Amazon region of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out between January 2018 and January 2019 in 141 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) who were followed up in a specialized unit of the public health network of Pará. The investigation of IgG antibodies against C. trachomatis was performed by enzyme immunoassay. Sociodemographic and sexual behavior information were obtained through a questionnaire. The prevalence of IgG anti-C. trachomatis antibodies was 64.8% (92/141). The majority of individuals were young, heterosexual, single men who did not use condoms during sexual intercourse and had no history of STIs. No significant differences were found when comparing any clinical or demographic data between groups. Our results demonstrated a high rate of exposure to C. trachomatis in newly diagnosed HIV-infected individuals in the Amazon region of Brazil, and all PLHA should be screened for C. trachomatis to decrease transmission of the bacteria and prevent the clinical manifestations of chronic infection