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Characterisation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in semen during urethral infection in men.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Isbey, SF; Alcorn, TM; Davis, RH; Haizlip, J; Leone, PA; Cohen, MS
Published in: Genitourin Med
October 1997

OBJECTIVE: To determine the number of Neisseria gonorrhoeae organisms in urine and semen in men with gonococcal urethritis, and to compare selected phenotypic characteristics of organisms harvested from the urethra and semen. DESIGN: Samples from two groups of subjects were examined. Patients with symptomatic urethritis receiving treatment at an STD clinic, as well as six subjects with experimental urethritis. Semen and urine specimens were obtained after the urethral exudate was sampled. RESULTS: Using quantitative cultures, we found an average of 6 x 10(6) gonococci in urine or semen of 17 men with symptomatic urethritis seeking treatment at an STD clinic, and 2 x 10(4) gonococci in secretions of six male subjects with early experimental infection. Gonococcal outer membrane opacity (Opa) proteins and lipo-oligosaccharide (LOS) recovered from urine and semen of these subjects were very similar. CONCLUSIONS: Men with symptomatic gonorrhoea excrete a large number of gonococci in semen which is not affected by the duration of symptoms. The similar phenotype of organisms in urine and semen suggests the bacteria come from the same compartment. These data help to explain the efficiency of gonococcal transmission from men to their partners, and identify an appropriate target for a preventative vaccine or immunotherapy designed to reduce the inoculum in infected patients.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Genitourin Med

DOI

ISSN

0266-4348

Publication Date

October 1997

Volume

73

Issue

5

Start / End Page

378 / 382

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Urethritis
  • Semen
  • Public Health
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Humans
  • Gonorrhea
  • Cohort Studies
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Isbey, S. F., Alcorn, T. M., Davis, R. H., Haizlip, J., Leone, P. A., & Cohen, M. S. (1997). Characterisation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in semen during urethral infection in men. Genitourin Med, 73(5), 378–382. https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.73.5.378
Isbey, S. F., T. M. Alcorn, R. H. Davis, J. Haizlip, P. A. Leone, and M. S. Cohen. “Characterisation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in semen during urethral infection in men.Genitourin Med 73, no. 5 (October 1997): 378–82. https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.73.5.378.
Isbey SF, Alcorn TM, Davis RH, Haizlip J, Leone PA, Cohen MS. Characterisation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in semen during urethral infection in men. Genitourin Med. 1997 Oct;73(5):378–82.
Isbey, S. F., et al. “Characterisation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in semen during urethral infection in men.Genitourin Med, vol. 73, no. 5, Oct. 1997, pp. 378–82. Pubmed, doi:10.1136/sti.73.5.378.
Isbey SF, Alcorn TM, Davis RH, Haizlip J, Leone PA, Cohen MS. Characterisation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in semen during urethral infection in men. Genitourin Med. 1997 Oct;73(5):378–382.

Published In

Genitourin Med

DOI

ISSN

0266-4348

Publication Date

October 1997

Volume

73

Issue

5

Start / End Page

378 / 382

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Urethritis
  • Semen
  • Public Health
  • Neisseria gonorrhoeae
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Humans
  • Gonorrhea
  • Cohort Studies