This study looked at how much DNA of gonorrhoea bacteria there was in the throat and saliva of men who have sex with men (MSM) who had not been treated yet.
In 33 men who took part, the amount of DNA in the gonorrhoea bacteria was similar in the throat and saliva.
The findings suggest that in men with throat gonorrhoea, there is enough gonorrhoea bacteria in their saliva that can be transmitted via sexual practices exposed to saliva like oral anal practices (rimming) or when saliva is used as a lubricant for anal sex.
Publications
Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterial DNA load in the pharynges and saliva of men who have sex with men
Chow EPF, Tabrizi SN, Phillips S, Lee DM, Bradshaw CS, Chen MY, Fairley CK
(2016), Journal of Clinical Microbiology,
DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01186-16
Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the pharynx and saliva: implications for gonorrhoea transmission
Chow EPF, Lee D, Tabrizi SN, Phillips S, Snow A, Cook S, Howden BP, Petalotis I, Bradshaw CS, Chen MY, Fairley CK.
(2016), Sexually Transmitted Infections,