J 2019

Accuracy of PCR and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis: Both tests are necessary

NODA, Angel A., Islay RODRIGUEZ, Linda GRILLOVÁ, Philipp P. BOSSHARD, Reto LIENHARD et. al.

Basic information

Original name

Accuracy of PCR and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis: Both tests are necessary

Authors

NODA, Angel A. (192 Cuba, guarantor), Islay RODRIGUEZ (192 Cuba), Linda GRILLOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Philipp P. BOSSHARD (756 Switzerland) and Reto LIENHARD (756 Switzerland)

Edition

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STD & AIDS, LONDON, SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD, 2019, 0956-4624

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30303 Infectious Diseases

Country of publisher

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.406

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14110/19:00112504

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

UT WoS

000490799700001

Keywords in English

Syphilis diagnosis; PCR; serology

Tags

Tags

International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 17/1/2020 10:40, Mgr. Tereza Miškechová

Abstract

V originále

Syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, is a rising global public health concern and laboratory diagnostics remain challenging. Especially during early disease, rapid and accurate diagnosis is crucial to ensure patients and their contacts receive timely treatment to eradicate infection and prevent further transmission. In this prospective observational study, we evaluated the performance of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serological testing for the diagnosis of primary syphilis by evaluating anogenital swabs and sera from 178 Cuban patients presenting with ulcers. Three different PCR assays were evaluated targeting polA, tpp47 and 16S rDNA loci. Sera were evaluated with venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) and T. pallidum hemagglutination (TPHA) assays. Assuming both methods were confirmatory, our data showed that PCR and serology did not correlate well (agreement = 52.3%, kappa 0.0512, 95% CI -0.0928-0.1951, p = 0.496). The sensitivities, specificities, positive and negative predictive values of the PCR assays were 76.1%, 100%, 100% and 57.9%, respectively, while the values for serology were 62.5%, 100%, 100% and 45.2%, respectively. The combination of PCR and serology can offer valuable information for the diagnosis of syphilis in patients presenting with anogenital ulceration avoiding further clinical complications and disease transmission.