Immunoperoxidase technique for detecting spirochetes in tissue sections: comparison with other methods.
BACKGROUND
With the increasing incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and immunosuppressive therapy, the incidence of syphilis has been increasing. Given the fact that the above conditions may mask or obscure the usual clinical signs and symptoms of syphilis, a means of enhanced detection is essential. AIMS METHODS: The purpose of this study was to determine whether an immunoperoxidase method using an antibody against treponemes would increase the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis in biopsies of patients with secondary syphilis. This was compared to serology and silver stain in cases of known syphilis.


RESULTS
Immunoperoxidase for treponemes was at least as sensitive (9/10) as pathology (9/10), and more sensitive than conventional silver stain (6/10) or serology (7/10).


CONCLUSIONS
In those equivocal cases of secondary syphilis, where confirmation is essential, immunoperoxidase for treponemes may be a useful adjunct.
Phelps
R G
RG
Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
Knispel
J
J
Tu
E S
ES
Cernainu
G
G
Saruk
M
M
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013591:Syphilis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*