title: Molecular typing of Treponema pallidum in South Africa: cross-sectional studies.
abstract: We evaluated a molecular subtyping system for Treponema pallidum for its ability to differentiate between strains obtained from male patients with primary syphilis in South Africa. Of 201 T. pallidum-positive specimens, 161 were typeable, revealing 35 subtypes. The unique subtypes identified in Durban, Cape Town, and Carletonville and the total number of subtypes suggested that the strain population was very diverse and varied geographically.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 303333, USA. Apillay@cdc.gov
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pillay
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ebrahim
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fehler
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Ballard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Sturm
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Morse
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013587:Syphilis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial