Syphilis serology in patients with primary syphilis and non-treponemal sexually transmitted diseases in southern Africa.
The reactivity of a non-specific reagin (RPR) test and a specific treponemal (FTA-ABS) test were determined in 21 patients with primary syphilis, 430 patients with proven non-treponemal genital ulcerations and 719 patients with acute urethritis presenting at a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases in southern Africa. Excluding those 21 cases of primary syphilis, 358 of 1149 tests performed (31%) were found to be reactive by at least one test. The rate of false positive RPR tests was very low (0.02%). Significantly higher rates of seropositivity were detected in patients with genital ulcerations than in patients with acute urethritis. The highest rates were detected among patients with proven lymphogranuloma venereum (34% RPR positive, FTA-ABS positive; 19% RPR negative, FTA-ABS positive). The geometric mean titres (GMT) of positive RPR tests in non-treponemal infections were found to be lower than in darkfield positive cases of genital ulcer disease.
Sischy
A
A
Department of Microbiology, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
da L'Exposto
F
F
Dangor
Y
Y
Fehler
H G
HG
Radebe
F
F
Walkden
D D
DD
Miller
S D
SD
Ballard
R C
RC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000353:Africa, Southern / Q000453:epidemiology; D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008219:Lymphogranuloma Venereum / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D014456:Ulcer / Q000150:complications; D014526:Urethritis / Q000150:complications
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic