title: Seroprevalence of Syphilis among Pregnant Women in the Varna Region (Bulgaria).
abstract: Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease with continuously rising rates among European countries. The vertical (mother to child) transmission is an important way of dissemination, often leading to stillbirth and permanent impairment of the newborn. We present a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 2702 pregnant women tested for syphilis seropositivity. During the study period (2009-2013) non-specific and specific treponemal antibodies were detected in 15 pregnant women (0.56% of sample size with 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28-0.84). Our results showed a lack of correlation between syphilis seropositivity and age, ethnic origin, or pregnancy trimester of the mother. The only factor found to influence syphilis seropositivity was the mother's place of residence - rural inhabitants had significantly higher risk for syphilis infection when compared to urban inhabitants, with a seropositive proportion of 1.08% versus 0.36%, respectively.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsankova
authors.affiliation: Tatina Todorova, PhD, Department of Preclinical and Clinical Sciences Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University Varna, 3, Bregalnica Str. 9000 Varna, Bulgaria; Tatina.Todorova@mu-varna.bg.
authors.forename: Tatina T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Todorova
authors.forename: Tsvetelina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kostadinova
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ivanova
authors.forename: Neli
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ermenlieva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002031:Bulgaria; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013587:Syphilis / Q000097:blood / Q000635:transmission*; D013590:Syphilis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population