Detection of Treponema pallidum with PCR

Abstract

The diagnosis of syphilis is mainly based on clinical manifestations, serological analysis, and dark-field microscopy for detection of Treponema pallidum. With further clarification of the genomic sequence of Treponema pallidum, several PCR methods based on Treponema pallidum-specific gene sequences have been developed during the last 20 years. Classical PCR, nested-PCR, reverse transcription-PCR, multiplex PCR and real-time fluorescent PCR can be used to amplify Treponema pallidum DNA in different types of clinical specimens, including lesion swabs, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, biopsy tissue, amniotic fluid, and so on. The target genes for PCR amplification include tpp47, polA, bmp, tmpA, arp and tpr, with tpp47 and polA as the most common target genes. Key words: Syphilis; Treponema pallidum; Polymerase chain reaction; Gene amplification; Targeted gene