P07.13 Detection oftreponema pallidumdna from whole blood and earlobe specimens in patients from two sti clinics in lima, peru

Abstract

gonococcal porA pseudogene and multi-copy opa genes. Cycle threshold (Ct) values obtained were used as semi-quantitative measures of gonococcal DNA. Sampling adequacy was assessed using a real-time PCR for human endogenous retrovirus 3 (ERV3). Results 100 MSM with culture positive pharyngeal gonorrhoea were included. Isolation rates by culture from the tonsils and posterior oropharynx were 62% and 52% respectively (p = 0.041). PCR was significantly more sensitive than culture at both the tonsils (84% vs. 62%; p < 0.001) and oropharynx (81% vs. 52%; p < 0.001). Culture positivity was greater with higher gonococcal DNA loads at both the tonsils (p = 0.001) and oropharynx (p < 0.001). At the oropharynx, higher ERV3 DNA load was associated with improved gonococcal detection using culture (p = 0.013) as well as PCR (p = 0.045). At the tonsils, higher ERV3 DNA load was associated with improved gonococcal detection by PCR (p = 0.040). Conclusion Neisseria gonorrhoeae can be cultured from the tonsils as well as the posterior oropharynx with greater isolation rates where gonococcal loads are higher. While PCR is substantially more sensitive than culture at each site, like culture, PCR is dependent on the adequacy of sampling.

Investigation of syphilis immunology and Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum biology to improve clinical management and design a broadly protective vaccine: study protocol

“…This study successfully enrolled, followed quarterly, and retained 77% of a cohort of 401 high-risk men who have sex with men and transgender women over 24 months [23,24]. We strengthened our sexual health laboratory with the capacity to conduct molecular-based Treponema pallidum DNA studies [25][26][27], and created a biospecimen repository of over 3000 serum and clinical specimens. We also conducted evaluations of multiple new commercial point-of-care rapid immunoassays [28][29][30][31][32], created clinical research infrastructure at two sexual health clinics in Lima to recruit, screen, enroll and reliably assess and retain participants, and conducted epidemiologic and clinical/immunological evaluations including positron emission tomography scanning [33,34] and novel serum cytokine analyses [35,36].…”