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Volume 29, Number 10—October 2023
Research

Treponema pallidum Detection at Asymptomatic Oral, Anal, and Vaginal Sites in Adults Reporting Sexual Contact with Persons with Syphilis

Ei T. AungComments to Author , Christopher K. Fairley, Deborah A. Williamson, Francesca Azzato, Janet M. Towns, Rebecca Wigan, Eric P.F. Chow1, and Marcus Y. Chen1
Author affiliations: Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (E.T. Aung, C.K. Fairley, J.M. Towns, R. Wigan, E.P.F. Chow, M.Y. Chen); Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne (E.T. Aung, C.K. Fairley, J.M. Towns, E.P.F. Chow, M.Y. Chen); The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne (D.A. Williamson); Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Melbourne (D.A. Williamson, F. Azzato); Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne (E.P.F. Chow)

Main Article

Table 5

Patients testing positive on Treponema pallidum PCR at mucosal screening sites and lesion sites in retrospective study of patients who visited the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, during November 2018–March 2020

Sites tested by T. pallidum PCR No. tested No. (%) positive by T. pallidum PCR
Mucosal sites* 776 24 (3.0)
Oral cavity† 405 12 (3.0)
No oral symptoms 339 8 (2.4)
Oral symptoms present 66 4 (6.1)
Anal swab 352 9 (2.6)
No anal symptoms 291 4 (1.4)
Anal symptoms present 61 5 (8.2)
Vaginal swab 19 3 (13.6)
No vaginal symptoms 18 3 (16.7)
Vaginal symptoms present
 1
 0
Lesion sites‡ 50 8 (16.0)
Penile swab 23 6 (26.0)
Other sites (perianal: 13) 27 2§ (7.4)

*Oral cavity, anus, and vagina. †Specimens tested from oral cavity were oral swab, oral rinse, or both. Oral swab was positive in 11/352 (3%) samples. Oral rinse was positive in 8/397 (2%) samples. ‡Penis, perianal, labia, mouth ulcer, palms, soles, pubic, right groin, scrotum, and tongue. §Positive PCR from specimens tested at tongue and scrotum.

Main Article

1These senior authors contributed equally to this article.

Page created: August 31, 2023
Page updated: September 20, 2023
Page reviewed: September 20, 2023
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