Neisseria gonorrhoeaeDNA bacterial load in men with symptomatic and asymptomatic gonococcal urethritis.
Previous studies have quantified bacterial loads ofNeisseria gonorrhoeaein the pharynx and rectum of men but not the urethra. We quantified the bacterial load ofN. gonorrhoeaein men with symptomatic and asymptomatic urethral gonorrhoea infections.



Consecutive men diagnosed with urethral gonorrhoea by Aptima Combo 2 testing of urine at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre between March and July 2016 were eligible for the study: symptomatic men with purulent urethral discharge and asymptomatic men with no urethral symptoms. The gonococcal bacterial load in both groups was measured by urethral swab using a standardised collection method and real-time quantitative PCR targeting theopagene.



Twenty men were recruited into the study: 16 had purulent urethral discharge and 4 had asymptomatic urethral gonorrhoea. The median gonococcal bacterial load was significantly higher among symptomatic men (3.7×106copies per swab, IQR 2.5×106-4.7×106) compared with asymptomatic men (2.0×105copies per swab, IQR 2.7×104-4.5×105) (p=0.002).



Gonococcal loads in men with urethral discharge were higher than loads seen with asymptomatic urethral gonorrhoea and loads seen in asymptomatic pharyngeal and rectal gonorrhoea infections in previous studies.
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
David
D
Priest
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Jason J
0000-0001-5784-7403
JJ
Ong
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Eric P F
EPF
Chow
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.|Regional HPV Lab Net Reference laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Sepehr
S
Tabrizi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.|Regional HPV Lab Net Reference laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Sam
S
Phillips
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
Melanie
M
Bissessor
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Christopher K
CK
Fairley
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Catriona S
CS
Bradshaw
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Tim R H
TRH
Read
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.|Regional HPV Lab Net Reference laboratory, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Suzanne
S
Garland
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.|Central Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Marcus
M
Chen
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000652:urine; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014521:Urethra / Q000382:microbiology; D014526:Urethritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000652:urine
D004269:DNA, Bacterial
BACTERIAL INFECTION; GONORRHOEA; MODES OF TRANSMISSION; NEISSERIA GONORRHOEA; URETHRITIS