Treponema pallidum detection at asymptomatic oral, anal, and vaginal sites in adults reporting sexual contact with persons with syphilis

Ei T Aung*, Christopher K Fairley, Deborah A Williamson, Francesca Azzato, Janet M Towns, Rebecca Wigan, Eric P F Chow, Marcus Y Chen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We investigated Treponema pallidum PCR positivity at mucosal sites (oral, anal, and vaginal sites) among adults who had sexual contact with a person with syphilis (syphilis contacts). All syphilis contacts had oral rinse and swab samples collected for testing. Men who have sex with men had anal swab and women had vaginal swab samples collected for testing, regardless of the presence of lesions. Of 407 persons tested, 42 (10%) had early syphilis diagnosed; of those, 19 (45%) tested positive by PCR from any anatomic site and had a positive serologic test. T. pallidum was positive from vaginal samples in 3 women, anal samples in 3 men, and oral cavity samples in 2 women and 3 men, without symptoms at those sites. Three women had no prior syphilis serologic test. T. pallidum detection at asymptomatic mucosal sites suggests early syphilis infections, particularly in cases that would conventionally be staged as latent syphilis of unknown duration.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2083-2092
Number of pages10
JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases
Volume29
Issue number10
Early online date13 Sept 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2023

Keywords

  • Male
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Treponema pallidum
  • Syphilis/diagnosis
  • Homosexuality, Male
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities
  • Vagina

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