title: Prevalence of Treponema pallidum DNA among blood donors with two different serologic tests profiles for syphilis in São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: The presence of Treponema pallidum DNA was assessed by real-time PCR in samples of blood donors with reactive serologic tests for syphilis. Treponema pallidum DNA was detected in two (1·02%) of 197 samples of VDRL>8, EIA+ and FTA-ABS+ donors, and in no sample from 80 VDRL−, EIA+ and FTA-ABS+ donors. Donors VDRL−, EIA+ and FTA-ABS+ lack demonstrable T. pallidum DNA in their blood and are unlike to transmit syphilis. Donors VDRL>8, EIA+ and FTA-ABS+ carry the risk of syphilis infectivity even in concomitance to antibodies detection. Serologic screening for syphilis may still play a role to prevent its transfusion transmission.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Almeida-Neto
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Nishiya
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di-Lorenzo-Oliveira
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Alencar
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Salles
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mendrone-Junior
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Sabino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial