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    Dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut is associated with reduced risk of HIV, syphilis and genital herpes in men: a cross-sectional study in Papua New Guinea

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    Author
    Vallely, AJ; MacLaren, D; David, M; Toliman, P; Kelly-Hanku, A; Toto, B; Tommbe, R; Kombati, Z; Kaima, P; Browne, K; ...
    Date
    2017-04-03
    Source Title
    Journal of the International AIDS Society
    Publisher
    JOHN WILEY & SONS LTD
    University of Melbourne Author/s
    Nightingale, Claire
    Affiliation
    Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
    Metadata
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    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Citations
    Vallely, A. J., MacLaren, D., David, M., Toliman, P., Kelly-Hanku, A., Toto, B., Tommbe, R., Kombati, Z., Kaima, P., Browne, K., Manineng, C., Simeon, L., Ryan, C., Wand, H., Hill, P., Law, G., Siba, P. M., McBride, W. J. H. & Kaldor, J. M. (2017). Dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut is associated with reduced risk of HIV, syphilis and genital herpes in men: a cross-sectional study in Papua New Guinea. JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIDS SOCIETY, 20 (1), https://doi.org/10.7448/IAS.20.01/21358.
    Access Status
    Open Access
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11343/256474
    DOI
    10.7448/IAS.20.01/21358
    Abstract
    INTRODUCTION: Various forms of penile foreskin cutting are practised in Papua New Guinea. In the context of an ecological association observed between HIV infection and the dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut, we undertook an investigation of this relationship at the individual level. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among men attending voluntary confidential HIV counselling and testing clinics. Following informed consent, participants had a face-to-face interview and an examination to categorize foreskin status. HIV testing was conducted on site and relevant specimens collected for laboratory-based Herpes simplex type-2 (HSV-2), syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) testing. RESULTS: Overall, 1073 men were enrolled: 646 (60.2%) were uncut; 339 (31.6%) had a full dorsal longitudinal cut; 72 (6.7%) a partial dorsal longitudinal cut; and 14 (1.3%) were circumcised. Overall, the prevalence of HIV was 12.3%; HSV-2, 33.6%; active syphilis, 12.1%; CT, 13.4%; NG, 14.1%; and TV 7.6%. Compared with uncut men, men with a full dorsal longitudinal cut were significantly less likely to have HIV (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR] 0.25, 95%CI: 0.12, 0.51); HSV-2 (adjOR 0.60, 95%CI: 0.41, 0.87); or active syphilis (adjOR 0.55, 95%CI: 0.31, 0.96). This apparent protective effect was restricted to men cut prior to sexual debut. There was no difference between cut and uncut men for CT, NG or TV. CONCLUSION: In this large cross-sectional study, men with a dorsal longitudinal foreskin cut were significantly less likely to have HIV, HSV-2 and syphilis compared with uncut men, despite still having a complete (albeit morphologically altered) foreskin. The protective effect of the dorsal cut suggests that the mechanism by which male circumcision works is not simply due to the removal of the inner foreskin and its more easily accessible HIV target cells. Exposure of the penile glans and inner foreskin appear to be key mechanisms by which male circumcision confers protection.Further research in this unique setting will help improve our understanding of the fundamental immunohistologic mechanisms by which male circumcision provides protection, and may lead to new biomedical prevention strategies at the mucosal level.

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