SEXUAL health experts are concerned that rates of syphilis across Oxfordshire have increased tenfold in six years.

They are targeting gay men, who are the most affected by the disease, in a bid to reduce the number of cases.

Syphilis can go unnoticed because there are few symptoms in the early stages of the illness, but it can lead to heart disease and nervous system disease, as well as miscarriage in pregnant women.

In 2000, three people were diagnosed, but in 2005 the number rose to 34, prompting county public health director Dr Jonathan McWilliam to warn in his annual report that rapid action was needed.

Dr Anne Edwards, a consultant in genito-urinary medicine at the Churchill Hospital, Oxford, said: "It's quite concerning that the numbers are increasing. There's a real increase in gay men who practise high-risk behaviour like partner changing.

"Syphilis is highly infectious, and you can even get it from oral sex. There seems to be more high-risk behaviour among gay men now, as HIV is not as feared as it was.

"In the 80s, seeing someone close to you dying of a horrible and untreatable disease had a big influence, but now, with better drugs and treatment, people think it's not such a disaster. There's less anxiety about the consequences of catching HIV, so people have more partners."

Dr Edwards said the GUM clinic, which recently moved from the Radcliffe Infirmary to the Churchill, did blood screening for syphilis as a routine test when patients visited for check-ups.

But she warned that people in high risk groups needed to be aware of the danger of infection and take measures to protect themselves.

She explained: "If you change partners a lot you should always use barrier methods to reduce risk, and people in the higher risk groups should come in for regular check ups.

"Once it's detected, it's easily treated with antibiotics."

The Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) has run a number of campaigns to raise awareness about syphilis among gay men.

Health promotion spokesman Roger Pebody, said: "Syphilis is increasing, mainly in big cities with a large population of gay men.

"Sexual health experts are quite right to be concerned. The key messages are that people at risk, particularly gay men, should be getting tested fairly frequently.

"Syphilis is somewhat off the radar, because we don't hear about people being infected."

Neil Ritchie, landlord of two of Oxford's gay pubs, the Castle Tavern and the Jolly Farmers, both in Paradise Street, said: "I support THT with their education programmes, and they do a lot of work in the pubs meeting customers.

"There are also posters in the pub."