Abstract
Background: Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum and transmitted via sexual contact, infected discharge and blood as well as vertical transmission. It causes various impacts on women during pregnancy and their newborns which results in various complications. Thus, screening of syphilis is routinely performed during pregnancy. Choosing to perform a specific screening test is based on the prevalence of the disease in the target population which needs adequate information in this regard. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women in Shiraz, South-west of Iran.
 Methods: in this 15 month prospective study, 1100 pregnant women aged between 15 – 42 years, referred to University affiliated hospital in shiraz, Iran were included  Blood samples were obtained from all of our study population for performing RPR test. FTA-ABS serologic test was carried out on positive cases of RPR test.
 Results: 15 suspicious cases with weakly positive RPR test were detected but in all of them FTA-ABS tests were negative.
 Conclusions: The prevalence and incidence of syphilis was low in our area which may be due to variable reasons, such as reduction in the rate of unsafe and unprotected sex, improving knowledge, and adequate health care services. More studies are still needed to decide whether syphilis screening is beneficial in our area and should be considered as a routine test in pregnancy.
Highlights
Transmitted diseases (STDs) have been considered to be among some huge catastrophes involving the human hygiene and health
Since a major proportion of pregnant women may be asymptomatic in their pregnancy period, a structured screening panel should be occupied for syphilis screening and evaluations in these subjects [5]
[5] Sistan and Balouchestan (2002) [7] and Yazd (2006) [6]. These reports indicated that syphilis screening test is beneficial for prevention of any possible complication related to this disease; their studies revealed a low prevalence of syphilis in those areas which makes this screening test non-cost-beneficial as a routine examination for all pregnant women
Summary
Transmitted diseases (STDs) have been considered to be among some huge catastrophes involving the human hygiene and health. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women of Shiraz, south-west of Iran, through RPR and FTA-ABS tests. Syphilis is an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum and transmitted via sexual contact, infected discharge and blood as well as vertical transmission It causes various impacts on women during pregnancy and their newborns which results in various complications. Results: suspicious cases with weakly positive RPR test were detected but in all of them FTA-ABS tests were negative.Conclusions: The prevalence and incidence of syphilis was low in our area which may be due to variable reasons, such as reduction in the rate of unsafe and unprotected sex, improving knowledge, and adequate health care services. More studies are still needed to decide whether syphilis screening is beneficial in our area and should be considered as a routine test in pregnancy [GMJ. 2013;2(3):126-130]
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