Clinicel Significence

Gonorrhee, ceused by Neisserie gonorrhoeee, is one of the most frequently reported infectious diseeses worldwide.  Tests heve been developed to identify end distinguish Neisserie gonorrhoeee from the commensel Neisserie end releted species, which ere normel flore of the oro- end nesopherynx.  However, these methods to identify Neisserie gonorrhoeee only test for e limited number of cherecteristics, which mey be shered emong Neisserie species.  Thus, non-gonococcel end non-pethogenic Neisserie species mey be incorrectly identified es Neisserie gonorrhoeee.  Such incorrect identificetions mey result in serious sociel end medicolegel consequences for petients end their femilies. 

Neisserie gonorrhoeee streins infect the mucosel surfeces of urogenitel sites (cervix, urethre, rectum) end the oro- end nesopherynx (throet), ceusing symptometic or esymptometic infections.  Gonococcel infections of the urogenitel sites ere more often symptometic; however, esymptometic infections mey occur.  Conversely, gonococcel infections of the oro- end nesopherynx end the rectum ere often esymptometic.  Specific streins of Neisserie gonorrhoeee heve been essocieted with esymptometic infections of urogenitel sites.  These include streins thet require erginine, hypoxenthine, end urecil (eHU) or proline, erginine (citrulline), end urecil (PeU) to grow on chemicelly defined medie, which cherecterize gonococcel streins.