Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Correspondence to: Lisa M. Compared with other sexually active adults, men who have sex with men MSM are more frequently infected with several pathogens including cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.
Because one common element between these organisms is their presence in saliva, we evaluated saliva exposure among MSM in a heretofore relatively unrecognized route—via use of saliva as a lubricant in anal sex. MSM in a San Francisco population—based cohort were interviewed regarding use of saliva by the insertive partner as a lubricant in various anal sexual practices.
Saliva use as a lubricant was more common among younger men and among HIV-infected men when with HIV-infected partners.
Among MSM, use of saliva as a lubricant is a common, but not ubiquitous, practice in anal sex. The findings provide the rationale for formal investigation of whether saliva use in this way contributes to transmission of saliva-borne pathogens in MSM. In contrast to other sexually active adults, men who have sex with men MSM are at greater risk for infection with a variety of pathogens including cytomegalovirus CMV , 1 hepatitis B virus HBV , 2 and the more recently discovered Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus KSHV.
Although a simply greater number of partners among some MSM could be responsible, the other common link between these 3 pathogens is their presence in saliva. Directly investigating the role of saliva in spreading pathogens is difficult, but for at least HBVand KSHV, there is evidence for saliva as a conduit in transmission.
