This study looked at whether chlamydia could be found in saliva and where in particular in the throat chlamydia is found.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) who were diagnosed with throat chlamydia were invited to join the study at their return visit for treatment. A saliva sample and swabs from the tonsillar fossae and posterior oropharynx were collected and tested for chlamydia.
Among MSM with throat chlamydia, nearly three-quarters had chlamydia in their saliva. However, what that means for the spread of chlamydia infection is unknown.
Publications
Bacterial load of Chlamydia trachomatis in the posterior oropharynx tonsillar fossae and saliva among gay and bisexual men with untreated oropharyngeal chlamydia
Phillips TR, Fairley CK, Maddaford K, Danielewski J, Hocking JS, Lee D, Williamson DA, Murray G, Kong F, De Petra V, Bradshaw CS, Chen MY, Wigan R, Snow A, Howden BP, Garland SM, Chow EP
(2020), Journal of Clinical Microbiology,
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01375-19
Neisseria gonorrhoeae DNA bacterial load in men with symptomatic and asymptomatic gonococcal urethritis
Priest D, Ong JJ, Chow EPF, Tabrizi S, Phillips S, Bissessor M, Fairley CK, Bradshaw CS, Read T, Garland S, Chen M
(2017), Sexually Transmitted Infections,