BACKGROUND
Syphilis is a multistage disease transmitted primarily through sexual
intercourse. Nowadays, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for
Treponema pallidum has been widely used and is expected to overcome
problems in diagnostic tests for syphilis. The Treponema pallidum PCR is
influenced by type of specimens, PCR methods and target genes. This
study aimed to assess the use of blood and serum in multiplex nested PCR
for Treponema pallidum, targeting the 23S rRNA.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2015 - April 2016.
Sampling was carried out consecutively among patients with clinical features
of secondary syphilis who came to Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)
clinics in Jakarta. All sera were also tested with Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)
and Treponema pallidum Hemagglutination Assay (TPHA) assay, which
was considered as the gold standard for this study. We determined the
sensitivity and specificity of the multiplex nested PCR for Treponema
pallidum using blood and serum.
RESULTS
PCR test was performed on 122 clinical specimens (61 blood and 61 serum).
The positive results of PCR test on blood was 22.95% and serum was
6.56%, while the positive results of serology was 68.85%. The sensitivity
of Treponema pallidum multiplex nested PCR on blood was 30.95% compared
to serum 9.52% (p=0.006). PCR test on blood is able to detect 3.25 times
higher than serum.
CONCLUSION
The use of blood has a higher proportion of positives compared to serum
in Treponema pallidum multiplex nested PCR using 23S rRNA target gene.
Real Time Impact Factor:
Pending
Author Name: Ida Effendi, Yeva Rosana, Andi Yasmon, and Wresti Indriatmi
URL: View PDF
Keywords: Keywords: Secondary
ISSN: 1907-3062
EISSN: 2407-2230
EOI/DOI: doi: 10.18051/UnivMed.2018.v37
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