Screening Test For Syphilis Research Articles

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C, hepatitis B, hiv and syphilis among blood donors at a tertiary care hospital in Mogadishu-Somalia in 2020–2022: a retrospective study

BackgroundThe safety of blood donation requires screening for transfusion-transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), syphilis, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in blood donors of Mogadishu Tertiary Care Hospital, Somalia from 2020 to 2022.MethodsThe records of 109,385 blood donors who attended our blood center in Mogadishu-Somalia between 2020 and 2022 were examined retrospectively. Serum samples of donors; HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and syphilisscreening tests were studied using the microparticleEnzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA)(Vitros, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, U.S) method.The distribution of HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HIV and syphilis positivity rates of 109,385 blood donors according to years, gender and age were examined. Kolmogorov Smirnov, Skewness, Kurtosis tests and histogram were used for normality analysis. Chi-squared test (χ2) and Fisher Exact test were used to analyze categorical data. Categorical variables were expressed as frequency (percentage). Analysis of continuous data was performed with the Mann Whitney U test. P < 0.05 value was considered statistically significant.ResultsHBsAg positivity was found in 0.6% of the donors, anti-HCV positivity in 0.01%, anti-HIV positivity in 0.03% and syphilispositivity in 0.3%. The results showed that among the blood donors, the prevalence of syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis Cwas notably low.ConclusionThe prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV, and syphilis among blood donors in Somalia was found to be quite low. Even if our found seroprevalence rates are low, to guarantee the safety of blood for recipients, strict selection of blood donors and thorough screening of donors’ blood using accepted procedures are strongly advised.

Congenital Syphilis Prevention Challenges, Pacific Coast of Colombia, 2018-2022.

High incidences of congenital syphilis have been reported in areas along the Pacific coast of Colombia. In this retrospective study, conducted during 2018-2022 at a public hospital in Buenaventura, Colombia, we analyzed data from 3,378 pregnant women. The opportunity to prevent congenital syphilis was missed in 53.1% of mothers because of the lack of syphilis screening. Characteristics of higher maternal social vulnerability and late access to prenatal care decreased the probability of having >1 syphilis screening test, thereby increasing the probability of having newborns with congenital syphilis. In addition, the opportunity to prevent congenital syphilis was missed in 41.5% of patients with syphilis because of the lack of treatment, which also increased the probability of having newborns with congenital syphilis. We demonstrate the urgent need to improve screening and treatment capabilities for maternal syphilis, particularly among pregnant women who are more socially vulnerable.

Seroconversion in syphilis screening without positive confirmatory tests points at early infection

IntroductionThe chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) is a widely used screening test for syphilis. A CLIA seroconversion in the absence of a positive line immunoassay (LIA) or rapid plasma reagin (RPR) could...

Üçüncü Basamak Bir Hastanenin Transfüzyon Merkezine Başvuran Donörlerde Sifiliz Tarama Sonuçlarının Değerlendirilmesi

Amaç: Kan bankacılığında Treponema pallidum'un neden olduğu sifiliz tanısı halk sağlığı açısından önemlidir. Donörler arasındaki olası vakaların yakalanması ve böylece donör kaybının en aza indirilmesi için en uygun algoritmanın benimsenmesi gerekmektedir. 2003 yılında Dünya Sağlık Örgütü ve 2010 yılında Avrupa Hastalık Önleme ve Kontrol Merkezi, sifiliz taramalarına Treponemal testlerle başlanmasını tavsiye etti. Bu çalışmada, kan bağışçısı adaylarında sifiliz taramasında reaktif Enzime Bağlı İmmünosorbent Test (ELISA) sonuçları ile yapılan doğrulayıcı testlerin sonuçlarının araştırılması amaçlandı.&#x0D; Gereç ve Yöntemler: Retrospektif olarak yapılan bu çalışmada, 2014-2021 yılları arasında Ankara Gülhane Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesinin kan bankasına kan bağışçısı olarak başvuran 69.127 bağışçı incelendi. Sifiliz tarama testinde reaktif çıkan donör adaylarından alınan örnekler, doğrulama testleri için Türkiye Halk Sağlığı Kurumu Mikrobiyoloji Referans Laboratuvarı'na gönderildi. Doğrulama testleri olarak Floresan Treponemal Antikor Emilimi (FTA-ABS) veya Treponema Pallidum Hemaglütinasyon Testi (TPHA) testleri kullanıldı.&#x0D; Bulgular: 128 donörde (%0,18) tekrar tekrar reaktif test sonuçları elde edildi. Doğrulayıcı bir test olarak 32 donöre TPHA uygulandı ve 11 pozitif sonuç (%34,3) elde edildi (Yanlış pozitiflik oranı = %65,7). FTA-ABS, doğrulama testi olarak 96 donörde yapıldı ve 59'unun (%61,4) testi pozitif çıktı (Yanlış pozitiflik oranı = %38,6). ELISA sinyal-kesme oranı beşin üzerinde olan 48 donörden 42'sinde FTA-ABS testi yapıldı ve 41 pozitif ve bir negatif sonuç elde edildi.&#x0D; Sonuçlar: Kan transfüzyonu ile ilişkili Treponema pallidum bulaşması önemli bir istenmeyen olay olduğundan, kan donörlerinin taranması için en uygun testlerin kullanılması gerekmektedir. Bu çalışma, FTA-ABS'nin ELISA-reaktif donörler için doğrulayıcı bir test olarak kullanılmasının, sifiliz tespit doğrulanmasını arttırdığını göstermektedir.

Evaluation of a Treponema IgG ELISA alone and in combination with an IgM ELISA as substitutes for Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) as confirmatory tests in a two-tier diagnostic algorithm for diagnosis of syphilis infection

Abstract Objectives The Treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) has been used for decades for serological diagnostics of syphilis but is no longer available. Therefore, we evaluated the Treponema IgG ELISA (TpG) alone and in combination with the Treponema IgM ELISA (TpG+M, both from Euroimmun) as possible substitutes for TPPA as a confirmatory test in a two-tier syphilis screening algorithm. Furthermore, we investigated whether a TPPA titer of 5,120 which is used as cut-off for therapeutic decision in pregnant women in Germany can be transferred to an appropriate cut-off value of the TpG. Methods All serum samples with reactive syphilis screening test (CLIA, Diasorin) within a 13-months period were included (n=739). In addition to TPPA and rapid plasma reagin test both ELISA tests were done in all samples. Results Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 92.2, 100, 100, and 74.5 % for TpG, and 93.2, 85.4, 96.6, and 74.1 % for TpG+M. By ROC analysis the cut-off of TpG corresponding to a TPPA titer ≥5,120 was calculated to be 54 RU/mL with a sensitivity of 99.6 % and a resulting specificity of 58.6 %. Conclusions TpG appears suitable to substitute TPPA as a confirmatory test for syphilis diagnostics but TpG-negative samples have to be evaluated by further tests like FTA-Abs or immunoblot. Treponema IgM determined in addition to TpG did not improve the test performance compared to the TPPA as a reference standard. Valid prediction of a TPPA titer ≥5,120 from TpG result appears not reasonable.

Evaluation of chemiluminescence immunoassay as a screening test for syphilis on blood donor samples

Background and objectiveGlobal re-emergence of syphilis among blood donors necessitates novel diagnostic and prevention approaches that encourage timely intervention. Thus, the present study was planned to evaluate the efficiency of Chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) as a screening test for syphilis. Material and methodsThis prospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted from October 2021 to September 2022. A total of 344 donors were enrolled by purposive sampling method, including additional 16 donors who were reactive by the Rapid plasma reagin test (RPR) during the study period. Data from three screening tests - RPR test, Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) and CLIA for 360 blood donors were analysed. TPHA was considered the gold standard test. ResultsOf the total 360 samples tested, 21 (5.8 %) were reactive by the RPR test. Of these 21 RPR reactive samples, 19 (90.5 %) were reactive by both TPHA and CLIA, while 2 (9.5 %) RPR reactive samples were non-reactive by both TPHA and CLIA. Of the remaining 339 RPR non-reactive samples, 1 (0.3 %) sample was reactive by both TPHA and CLIA, and 1 (0.3 %) was reactive by CLIA alone. CLIA was found to have sensitivity and specificity of 100 % and 99.7 % and positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of 95.2 % and 100 % respectively, while it was 95 %, 99.4 %, 90 %, and 99.7 %, respectively, with the RPR test. ConclusionCLIA was found to have a higher sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV than the RPR test. Thus, CLIA can be an acceptable alternative for syphilis screening in blood donors.

Transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors in Bejaia, Algeria: ten years retrospective and comparative study

Introduction: Blood transfusion saves millions of lives year around the world; it is the most important life-saving option for blood recipients. However, this act is not without risks as contaminated blood may be the source of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTI). This is a retrospective and comparative study on the prevalence of acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome, viral hepatitis B, C and syphilis in blood donors from Bejaia province (Algeria). Methodology: This study is designed to estimate the risk of TTIs among blood donors and the demographic associated factors. It was carried out in the serology laboratories of Bejaia blood transfusion center and Khalil Amrane university hospital. Data were collected from the archived results of screening tests for HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis, mandatory for all blood donations, from January 2010 to December 2019. The association was considered statistically significant at p &lt; 0.05. Results: Among 140,168 donors from Bejaia province, 78,123 represent the urban population and 62,045 the rural population. Over 10 years, results of serological tests revealed a prevalence of 0.077%, 0.083%, 0.102%, and 0.132%, respectively for HIV, HCV, HBV, and Treponema pallidum. Trends of hepatitis B and syphilis were decreasing; however, hepatitis C was increasing. Conclusions: HIV and syphilis prevalence have been variable, with significant peaks in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Globally, the low rates reported in this study confirm the effectiveness of the preventive policy applied by the health authorities. However, among the rural population, special attention is required to stem any resurgence of hepatitis C and syphilis.

The great masquerader: recurrent ischemic strokes secondary to meningo-vascular syphilis in a 62-year-old patient with stroke risk factors (P12-5.019)

<h3>Objective:</h3> N/A <h3>Background:</h3> Syphilis is a debilitating multisystem disease resulting from infection with the spirochete Treponema pallidum. Even though it is uncommon, it is a great mimic of stroke and is misdiagnosed almost 80% of the time. It commonly involves the middle cerebral artery and basilar or anterior spinal artery territories. 4% of patients with recurrent strokes can have syphilis. We present a patient with a recurrent stroke due to meningo-vascular syphilis (MVS). <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> A 62-year-old male with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and coronary artery disease presented with confusion and word-finding difficulty, and was found to have an acute ischemic stroke in the right basal ganglia (BG). The patient was discharged on dual anti-platelet therapy and statin for secondary stroke prevention. As a part of the stroke workup, he was found to be highly reactive for rapid plasma regain, and the subsequent fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test was reactive with the diagnosis of syphilis. He presented again 3 weeks later with transient facial paralysis. The cerebrospinal fluid was positive for a Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test, indicative of MVS. He received 4 million units of penicillin every 4 hours intravenously for 14 days with improvement in symptoms and no further recurrence of strokes. <h3>Results:</h3> N/A <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Our patient presented with acute ischemic infarct in BG, etiology thought to be small vessel disease in the setting of multiple stroke risk factors. Meningo-vascular syphilis, a subtype of neurosyphilis, can cause recurrent ischemic strokes. While uncommon, neurosyphilis remains prevalent in the United States and is often misdiagnosed because of its heterogenous clinical features. Syphilis screening is usually considered in young patients with a prior documented history of sexually transmitted disease however it is prudent that patients with recurrent strokes might benefit from routine screening tests for syphilis, regardless of age group or the presence of stroke risk factors. <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Waheed has nothing to disclose. Dr. Carranza-Renteria has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yousuf has nothing to disclose.

Diagnostic performance of two rapid tests for syphilis screening in people living with HIV in Cali, Colombia.

There is insufficient evidence supporting the use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for syphilis in people living with HIV (PLWH). We evaluated the diagnostic performance of two commercially available RDTs (Bioline and Determine) in PLWH in Cali, Colombia. A cross-sectional field validation study on consecutive adults with confirmed HIV diagnosis attending three outpatient clinics. Both RDTs were performed on capillary blood (CB), obtained by finger prick, and sera, by venipuncture. A combination of treponemal enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) on serum samples was the reference standard. Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and clinical criteria were added to define active syphilis. Sensitivity and specificity, predictive values and likelihood ratios (LR) of RDTs were estimated with their corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Stratified analyses by sample type, patient characteristics, non-treponemal titers, operator and re-training were performed. 244 PLWH were enrolled, of whom 112 (46%) had positive treponemal reference tests and 26/234 (11.1%) had active syphilis. The sensitivities of Bioline on CB and sera were similar (96.4% vs 94.6%, p = 0.6). In contrast, Determine had a lower sensitivity on CB than sera (87.5% vs 99.1%, p<0.001). Sensitivities were lower in PLWH not receiving ART (Bioline 87.1% and Determine 64.5%, p<0.001) and for one of the operators (Bioline 85% and Determine 60%, p<0.001). Specificities of the RDTs were > 95% in most analyses. Predictive values were 90% or higher. For active syphilis, the RDTs showed a similar performance pattern but with decreased specificities. The studied RDTs have an excellent performance in PLWH to screen for syphilis and potentially for active syphilis, yet Determine performs better on sera than CB. Patient characteristics and potential difficulties operators may face in acquiring enough blood volume from finger pricks should be considered for the implementation and the interpretation of RDTs.

Congenital syphilis in a preterm newborn with gastrointestinal disorders and postnatal growth restriction

BackgroundCongenital syphilis (CS) depends on the placental transmission of Treponema pallidum (TP) spirochetes from an infected mother to fetus during pregnancy. It shows a wide clinical variability with cutaneous and visceral manifestations, including stillbirths, neonatal death, and asymptomatic cases. Preterm infants with CS may have more severe features of disease than the term ones, due to the combined pathogenic effect of both CS and prematurity.Case presentationWe report on a female preterm (32+6 weeks of gestation) newborn showing most of the typical CS manifestations, in addition to gastrointestinal disorders including feeding difficulties, colon stenosis and malabsorption leading to postnatal growth restriction. The mother resulted positive at the syphilis screening test of the first trimester of pregnancy, but she did not undergo any treatment. At birth, our newborn was VDRL positive (antibody titer four times higher compared to the mother), and she was treated with intravenous benzathine benzylpenicillin G for 10 days (50,000 IU/Kg three times per day). Poor tolerance to enteral nutrition (abdominal distension, increased biliary type gastric secretions) was observed. A barium enema X-Ray identified a colon stenosis within the descending tract. However, the poor general conditions due to a concurrent fungal sepsis did not allow to perform any surgical procedure, and a conservative approach with total parenteral nutrition was started. The following evolution was marked by difficulties in enteral feeding including refusal of food and vomiting, to which also contributed the neurological abnormalities related to a perinatal asphyxia, and the affective deprivation for the physical absence of the mother during hospitalization. At 5 months of age, after the introduction of an amino acid-based formula (Neocate LCP Nutricia ®), an improvement of enteral feeding was observed, with no further and significantly decreased episodes of abdominal distension and vomiting respectively, and regular stool emission. A psychological support offered to the family allowed a more stable bond between the mother and her baby, thus providing a significant additional benefit to food tolerance and growth. She was discharged at 5 months of age, and included in a multidisciplinary follow-up. She at present shows global growth delay, and normal development apart from mildly increased tone of lower limbs.ConclusionsOur report highlights less common clinical CS manifestations like gastrointestinal disorders including feeding difficulties, colon stenosis and malabsorption leading to postnatal growth delay. Moreover, it underlines how prematurity may worsen the clinical evolution of such congenital infection, due to the additional pathogenic effect of possible associated diseases and/or conditions like sepsis, hypoxic/ischemic injury, or use of drugs. CS may be observed also in high-income countries, with high rates of antenatal screening and availability of prenatal treatment. A multidisciplinary network must be guaranteed to the affected subjects, to ensure adequate care and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

Prevalence of Syphilis in Pregnancy using a Rapid Treponemal Specific Test in a Low Resource Setting

Background: The rapid treponemal specific test such as immunochromatographic (ICS) test is being recommended as a point of care (POC) test as alternative to the non-specific Treponemal test such as Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) commonly used in most developing countries. Objectives: To determine the yields of the ICS test for syphilis among pregnant women. Method: This was a crosssectional study. One hundred and sixty consecutive pregnant women who satisfied the inclusion criteria were recruited into the study. Blood samples obtained from respondents were tested for the presence of Treponema pallidum antibodies using both, Diaspot®syphilis ultra-rapid test kit and MAST-TPHATM TPHA (Treponema pallidum Haemaglutination Assay) test. Results: Out of the 160 pregnant women studied, 4 (2.5%) were sero-reactive for syphilis using the Treponema pallidum haemmaglutination assay (TPHA) while only 2 (1.25%) were sero-reactive to syphilis using the (immunochromatographic screening) ICS method of screening. The sensitivity of the ICS method in detecting syphilis infection was 50% (95% CI: 6.76% – 93.24%) whereas it was 100% specific for syphilis (95% CI: 97.66% -100%). The Positive Predictive Value of the ICS for syphilis screening was 100% while its Negative Predictive value was 98.73% (95% CI: 96.70% – 99.52%). There was no statistically significant difference in the yield of a positive syphilis serology test result comparing the rapid immunochromatographic screening test with the TPHA (P= 0.479). Conclusion: The rapid immunochromatographic screening test (ICS) for syphilis is highly specific and compares favorably with TPHA test in excluding syphilis infection but has a lower sensitivity.

HIV Surveillance and Research for Migrant Populations: Protocol Integrating Respondent-Driven Sampling, Case Finding, and Medicolegal Services for Venezuelans Living in Colombia.

BackgroundEpidemiologic research among migrant populations is limited by logistical, methodological, and ethical challenges, but it is necessary for informing public health and humanitarian programming.ObjectiveWe describe a methodology to estimate HIV prevalence among Venezuelan migrants in Colombia.MethodsRespondent-driven sampling, a nonprobability sampling method, was selected for attributes of reaching highly networked populations without sampling frames and analytic methods that permit estimation of population parameters. Respondent-driven sampling was modified to permit electronic referral of peers via SMS text messaging and WhatsApp. Participants complete sociobehavioral surveys and rapid HIV and syphilis screening tests with confirmatory testing. HIV treatment is not available for migrants who have entered Colombia through irregular pathways; thus, medicolegal services integrated into posttest counseling provide staff lawyers and legal assistance to participants diagnosed with HIV or syphilis for sustained access to treatment through the national health system. Case finding is integrated into respondent-driven sampling to allow partner referral. This study is implemented by a local community-based organization providing HIV support services and related legal services for Venezuelans in Colombia.ResultsData collection was launched in 4 cities in July and August 2021. As of November 2021, 3105 of the target 6100 participants were enrolled, with enrollment expected to end by February/March 2022.ConclusionsTailored methods that combine community-led efforts with innovations in sampling and linkage to care can aid in advancing health research for migrant and displaced populations. Worldwide trends in displacement and migration underscore the value of improved methods for translation to humanitarian and public health programming.International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/36026

A Rare and Lethal Ostial Left Main Trunk Lesion: A Case Report

Abstract Coronary artery involvement in cardiovascular syphilis is infrequent and often overlooked, especially in patients with latent syphilis. Herein, we present the case of myocardial infarction largely related to cardiovascular syphilis in a 63-year-old man. Invasive coronary angiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan revealed a critical ostial narrowing of the left main trunk, an occlusive right coronary artery, and moderate-to-severe ostial stenosis of multiple major branches of the abdominal aorta. Syphilis screening and confirmatory tests were positive. Cardiovascular syphilis was considered. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed uneventfully, and a coronary stent was implanted in the ostium of the left main coronary artery. However, on day 3 after PCI, the patient died suddenly, likely because of stent thrombosis. In conclusion, severe coronary lesions confined to the ostia suggest rheumatologic large-vessel vasculitis or infectious aortitis.

HIV and syphilis: incidence rate of coinfection and syphilis reinfection in a cohort of newly diagnosed HIV patients.

Syphilis represents a major public health concern disproportionately affecting HIV positive patients and, in many cases, both infections are newly diagnosed at the same time. To date, limited studies are available on syphilis incidence in patients with a new HIV diagnosis. Patients newly diagnosed with HIV in 2010-2018 were included in the study and screening tests for syphilis were performed at baseline and at least once a year. Primary aims were to analyze the incidence rate of HIV-syphilis coinfection and syphilis reinfection. Secondary objective was to identify characteristics independently associated with coinfection and reinfection. Of 500 newly diagnosed HIV patients, 20% presented a concomitant positive syphilis serology. Among them, 54 patients had a serology indicative for an active syphilis requiring therapy, while 46 had a history of prior treatments. The independent factors for syphilis acquisition were: MSM contact (OR=2.64; 95% CI: 1.48-4.72; P<0.001), male gender (OR=2.43; 95% CI: 1.08-5.48; P=0.032), and age (OR=1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05; P=0.005 per year increasing). Presence of syphilis at the time of HIV diagnosis remained fairly stable during the study period (P for trend, P=0.689). We observed 52 syphilis reinfections related to 37 people. Patients with at least one reinfection were all males and 86.5% MSM. Males and MSM with HIV presented high rates of syphilis coinfection and reinfection suggesting persistent high-risk sexual behaviors and the need for appropriate intervention strategies in order to early detect and treat syphilis avoiding life-threatening complications and the spread of the infection in the community.

A case of syphilis with an extremely high RPR titer

It remains unidentified why this patient has an extremely high Rapid Plasma Reagin Titer (RPR) 1: 2048. A false positive result was ruled out by a Treponemal test. To ensure accuracy, repeat tests were requested for both the Non-Treponemal and Treponemal Tests in the same laboratory, and the results came back the same. In the Traditional Algorithm, Positive Nontreponemal Syphilis screening tests are confirmed by Treponemal tests, although the latter is not quantitative. The lack of full sensitivity in the Traditional Algorithm Testing has led the CDC and some other centers to adopt Reverse Sequence Testing. The resurgence of syphilis after 20 years could lead to mutagenic strain thus making it relevant for a need for heightened awareness.

Seropositivity of syphilis among individuals screened in a tertiary hospital in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infections are a serious public health problem. Syphilis, a multistage, curable chronic disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, remains a major health problem worldwide. The disease re-emerged in the era of HIV in many countries despite the accessibility of curative therapy and continuing public health efforts to eliminate it.OBJECTIVE: Analyse the seropositivity for syphilis.DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional.SETTING: Tertiary hospital.PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied individuals who underwent screening tests for syphilis between January 2014 and December 2018. The samples that were positive by both screening and confirmatory tests were considered as confirmed positive for syphilis.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Syphilis positivity identified by chemiluminescence immunoassay, the rapid plasma reagin test, and specific antibodies against Treponema pallidum.SAMPLE SIZE: 11 832.RESULTS: Of the 11 832, 54 (0.45%) were confirmed as seropositive for syphilis. Thirty-three (61.1%) were non-Saudi; 21 (38.9%) were Saudis. Thirty (55.6%) cases were males. Twenty-two (40.74%) were married and 29 (53.70%) were unmarried. Of the 54 diagnosed as syphilis positive, 28 (51.9%) were expatriate workers screened for pre-employment. The percentage of syphilis among Saudis was 0.36%. In an overall chi-square analysis, a P<.0001 indicated a difference among nationalities in the frequency of syphilis. A post-hoc analysis showed that Somalians (P=.004) and Sudanese (P=.005) differed significantly from other nationalities.CONCLUSION: The study showed that syphilis was low among the screened population. More than half of the syphilis positive cases in this study were household employees. Screening for syphilis assists in planning complementary services for target populations and improves syphilis control.LIMITATIONS: Retrospective design. Hospital-based findings may not be representative of the seroprevalence of syphilis in the general population.CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.

Застосування вітчизняного експрес-тесту в діагностиці сифілісу методом RPR

The objective. Study of the effectiveness of the domestic «Non-treponemal rapid test for the diagnosis of syphilis RPR (Express-test RPR)» produced by JSC «BIOLIK» for screening diagnosis of syphilis by RPR. Materials and methods. Diagnostic test system «Non-treponemal rapid test for the diagnosis of syphilis RPR (Express-test RPR)» JSC «BIOLIK»; RPR-Carbon-DAC (DAC-SpectroMed s.r.l.), «DSU-LEWIS-TEST» (set 2) LLC DSU, a collection of control sera, serum of patients undergoing examination for syphilis in the State Institution «IDV of NAMS of Ukraine». Results. A new domestic test-system «Express-test RPR» (JSC «BIOLIK») was developed based on the determination of syphilis-associated reagin antibodies in serum (plasma) samples of human blood. In the presented work, the diagnostic significance of the diagnostic «Express-test RPR» (JSC «BIOLIK») was evaluated in the format of a screening test. In the study, the test-system showed absolute (100%) sensitivity and specificity in relation to seropositive (n = 87) and seronegative (n = 13) control samples, as well as up to 100 samples obtained during the examination of patients with various forms of pathology in which the presence or absence of cardiolipin antibodies to T. Spallidum was established by other RPR tests. Conclusions. It is recommended to use the «RPR non-treponemal rapid test for the diagnosis of syphilis (RPR rapid test)» produced by BIOLIK JSC as a macroscopic non-treponemal rapid screening test for syphilis.

Sifilis u trudnoći

Early syphilis has been increasing in the Republic of Serbia since 2010 and its infectivity for sexual partners lasts for a year from the moment of infection. The exception is pregnant women who, if left untreated, can transmit the infection to the fetus within four years of infection. Syphilis in pregnancy can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight or congenital syphilis. The aim of this paper is to present the clinical manifestations, laboratory diagnostics and therapy of syphilis in pregnancy, as well as to sensitize medical workers to this disease and the introduction of mandatory serological screening tests for syphilis in all pregnant women.

Seroprevalence of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donors at tertiary care hospital in southern Telangana- A 3 year cross sectional study

Introduction: Transfusion of blood and blood products is lifesaving in clinical situations but sometimes it is also a potential source of infection to patients who receive it. Screening for TTIs (Transfusion Transmissible Infections) have a significant role in in preventing morbidity and mortality of patients receiving blood from blood banks. Aims and Objective: To determine seroprevalence of transfusion transmissible infections among blood group donors in Khammam district of Telangana. Materials and Methods: A Retrospective cross sectional study was carried out on all donors in blood bank of a tertiary care hospital at Mamata Medical college, Khammam for three years. Screening tests for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), HBV (Hepatitis B Virus), HCV (Hepatitis C Virus), Malaria and Syphilis included Rapid and ELISA test kits. Results: Among 5757 donors, 5674 (98.5%) were male and 93(1.5%) were female donors. Overall seroprevalence in a 3 years study showed positivity of 0.42% in HBV, 0.01% in HCV, 0.07% in HIV. More of younger age group donors of 20-25 years were seropositive in HIV, whereas for HBV it was 26-30 years age group. O+ve was the commonest blood group observed showing seropositivity in all three. None of the patients were positive for syphilis or malaria in 3 years study period. Conclusion: We conclude that seroprevalence of HBV was significantly higher than other infections in our area. Seropositivity for Syphilis and Malaria was not seen in our area. Keywords: Transfusion transmissible infections (TTI), Seroprevalence, HIV, HBV, HCV.

Cutaneous Rosai \u2013 Dorfman disease in a patient with late syphilis and cervical cancer \u2013 case report and a review of literature

BackgroundCutaneous Rosai – Dorfman disease (CRDD) is extremely rare variant of idiopathic histiocytic proliferative disorder, which may manifest as a non-specific macules, papules, plaques or nodules ranging in size and colour from yellow – red to red -brown.Case presentationA 52-year-old female presented with three gradually enlarging, reddish - brown nodules on the right upper extremity lasting six months. The patients denied fever, weight loss, malaise. Clinical examination and imaging tests showed no sign of lymphadenopathy. A biopsy specimen of a nodule showed a dense dermal polymorphic infiltrate with numerous histiocytes exhibiting emperipolesis phenomenon. Immunohistochemical staining of the histiocytes showed S-100 protein (+), CD68(+), but CD1a (-). Aforementioned findings were consistent with CRDD characteristics. Additionally, a routine serological screening and confirmatory serological tests for syphilis were positive. Syphilis of unknown duration was diagnosed. The IgG antibodies titre against Chlamydia trachomatis was elevated. An isolated sensory impairment over the right trigeminal nerve was found on neurological consultation. Comprehensive gynaecological assessment was carried out because of patient’s complaints of bleeding after sexual intercourse and led to diagnosis of cervical cancer. The initial therapy with methotrexate was discontinued after three months due to neutropenia. Further therapy with dapson was ineffective, therefore complete surgical excision was recommended.ConclusionsCRDD is a rare, benign condition especially difficult to diagnose due to lack of general symptoms and lymphadenopathy. Histopathologic examination with immunohistochemical staining, exhibiting characteristic and reproducible findings play a key role in establishing an accurate diagnosis. In the presented case activated histiocytes demonstrated in a lesional skin might be a response to immune dysregulation related to chronic, untreated sexually transmitted infections and cancer.