[Digestive localizations of sexually transmitted diseases in male homosexuals].

The common practice of sexual relations with many different and anonymous partners and the great variety of responsible micro-organisms account for the high incidence, growing complexity and uneasy prevention of sexually transmitted diseases of the digestive tract in male homosexuals. Syphilis, gonorrhoea, papillomas, chancroid, donovanosis, herpes virus or Chlamydia infections are known to be transmitted by anal coitus; amebiasis, giardiasis and shigellosis by oro-anal contact (faecal contamination). Still under discussion, however, are the predominant mode of transmission of Campylobacter jejuni, the true frequency in homosexuals of intestinal anguilluliasis, oxyuriasis and salmonellosis and the anorectal pathogenicity of Neisseria meningitidis, intestinal spirochetes, Mycoplasma homini, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Campylobacter-like organisms. Diagnosis is difficult since these infections are polymicrobial as a rule and often clinically asymptomatic or atypical and may be further modified by features of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, traumatic lesions or anorectal tumours. Microbiological examination is an essential prerequisite to rational treatment.