title: Evaluation of a rapid diagnostic test for yaws infection in a community surveillance setting.
abstract: Yaws is a non-venereal treponemal infection caused by Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue. The WHO has launched a worldwide control programme, which aims to eradicate yaws by 2020. The development of a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for serological diagnosis in the isolated communities affected by yaws is a key requirement for the successful implementation of the WHO strategy. We conducted a study to evaluate the utility of the DPP test in screening for yaws, utilizing samples collected as part of a community prevalence survey conducted in the Solomon Islands. 415 serum samples were tested using both traditional syphilis serology (TPPA and quantitative RPR) and the Chembio DPP Syphilis Screen and Confirm RDT. We calculated the sensitivity and specificity of the RDT as compared to gold standard serology. The sensitivity of the RDT against TPPA was 58.5% and the specificity was 97.6%. The sensitivity of the RDT against RPR was 41.7% and the specificity was 95.2%. The sensitivity of the DPP was strongly related to the RPR titre with a sensitivity of 92.0% for an RPR titre of >1/16. Wider access to DPP testing would improve our understanding of worldwide yaws case reporting and the test may play a key role in assessing patients presenting with yaws like lesions in a post-mass drug administration (MDA) setting.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, Mortimer Market, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goncalves
authors.affiliation: Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
authors.forename: Ventis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vahi
authors.affiliation: Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sokana
authors.affiliation: Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
authors.forename: Elliot
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puiahi
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Western Pacific Region Office, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
authors.forename: Zaixing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Honiara, Solomon Islands.
authors.forename: Tenneth
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dalipanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bottomley
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, Mortimer Market, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mabey
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom; Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, Mortimer Market, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anthony W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008542:Melanesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D062486:Public Health Surveillance; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000382:microbiology*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015001:Yaws / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic