Treponema Pallidum Research Articles

Detection and Characteristics of Hepatitis C Virus Infection among Blood Donors in Qingyang City

To deeply understand the epidemic status of hepatitis C virus (HCV) among blood donors in Qingyang City, and prevent the risk of transmission of HCV via blood. To compare the application of nucleic acid and enzyme immunoassay adopted in HCV screening of volunteer blood donors in Qingyang City. The characteristics of positive population and the status of co-infection were studied. From 2015 to 2020, the positive rate of HCV detection among blood donors in Qingyang City was 3.2‰. Among the HCV positive co-infections, treponema pallidum (TP) accounted for the largest proportion, followed by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBsAg. Blood donation was mainly based on individual voluntariness, and the main age group was 26-45 years old. The distribution of blood type showed that 31.08% for type B, 28.31% for type O, 27.38% for type A and 13.23% for type AB, the population of type AB was lower than that of type B and type O. The distribution of sex showed that male was more than female. The marital status was concentrated in married population. The regional distribution was concentrated in Xifeng District. Qingcheng County was higher than Huachi County and other places, while Ning County, Heshui County, Zhenyuan County and Huan County were close. The occupation was dominated by unemployed. Their nationalities were all Han. The overall awareness rate of HCV knowledge in young volunteers was 67.2%. There are more HCV infected people with TP infection in voluntary blood donors, and the cognitive level of HCV knowledge in young volunteers needs to be improved.

Comparison of 17 serological treponemal and nontreponemal assays for syphilis: A retrospective cohort study

ObjectivesRapid plasma reagin (RPR) and Treponema pallidum (TP) antibody test kits are often used to diagnose syphilis, although the relationship between their measured values is unclear. We aimed to reveal the relevance of these kits’ results. Design and methodsIn all, 143 sera from 110 patients were tested using 12 TP kits and 5 RPR kits and the results compared. ResultsThe specificity and sensitivity of RPR kits were 81–96% and 95–100%, respectively. The correlation coefficients (0.849–0.934) considerably differed between the manual RPR card test and latex agglutination (LA) assay kits. The following sensitivities were obtained: 82–91% for TP fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption assay (FTA-ABS), TP hemagglutination assay (HA), and TP particle agglutination assay (PA); 94–95% for TP LAs; and 92–100% for chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA), chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA), and immunochromatography assay (IC). Correlation coefficients between TP kits were 0.753–0.974, and the measured values varied. Changes in RPR and quantifiable TP kits were the same for patients with reinfected syphilis and with syphilis under treatment. ConclusionsRPR tests had lower specificity than TP antibody tests. RPR card test and RPR LAs had similar specificity and sensitivity, but their measured values were different. RPR should be measured using automatic RPR LA without setting the upper limit of the reported value. RPR LA should also be standardized. The sensitivity of TP antibody was better in CLIA, CLEIA, and IC than in FTA-ABS, HA, PA, and LA. Therefore, TP antibody kits should be standardized and quantified.

Prevalence of Treponema Pallidum Antibody among Volunteer Blood Donors in China.

Background Infection with syphilis is still a major public health problem. The precise data for syphilis seroprevalence in the populations will help to develop a strategy for prevention and treatment of it. However, the data for syphilis prevalence in continuous years among volunteer blood donors in China is rare. Methods A retrospective study for Treponema pallidum (TP) antibody in blood donors was conducted from January 2010 to December 2019 at the Blood Center of Zhejiang Province, China. TP antibody was detected with two different reagents using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the only sample which was reactive in the two reagents was defined as seropositive. Results A total of 992,646 volunteer blood donors were analyzed and the positive rate of TP antibody in the blood donors was 0.43%. From 2010 to 2019, the positive rates of TP antibody were 0.53%, 0.51%, 0.51%, 0.43%, 0.36%, 0.18%, 0.11%, 0.12%, 0.11%, and 0.10%, respectively. The positive rates of TP antibody were significantly different among blood donor age group (p < 0.001), with the highest positive rate in 45–54-years-old group (0.93%). The positive rates of TP antibody in male and female blood donors were 0.44% and 0.41%, respectively. The positive rate was 0.57% among the first-time blood donors, which was significantly higher than that of the repeat blood donors (0.17%). The positive rate of TP antibody in blood donors decreased gradually with the increase of educational level. Conclusion The syphilis seroprevalence is low in the blood donors of the Hangzhou area, and the positive rate of blood donors is associated with age, educational level, and times of blood donation. Increasing the number of repeat blood donations is helpful to improve blood safety.

CARDIOVASCULAR RISK AND HIV INFECTION IN PATIENTS AGED 50 YEARS AND OLDER AT THE AHALA DISTRICT MEDICAL CENTER, CAMEROON

Aim and objectives: Older people living with HIV (P50+) are living longer and longer and are therefore prone to age-related comorbidities. The objective of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular risk of P50+ followed in an HIV care unit in Cameroon.&#x0D; Methods: Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) were assessed through clinical examination and the following paraclinical exams fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, creatinine level with calculation of glomerular filtration rate according to the Cockcroft and Gault formula and resting electrocardiogram.&#x0D; Results: The proportion of P50+ was 13.9% and 80 patients were included in the study. The following prevalence of CVRF were found sedentary lifestyle (77.5%), chronic smoking (5%). Fifteen percent reported having hypertension and 25% of the P50+ had high blood pressure during physical examination. Similarly, 2.5% of the patients reported diabetes and 7.5% of the P50+ had high blood sugar levels. The examinations performed revealed 2.5% of LDL-cholesterol dyslipidemia, 23.1% of glomerular filtration rate abnormalities, 5.7% of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and 22.9% of electrocardiographic signs of myocardial ischemia. The study of the interdependence between CVRF and the characteristics of the population revealed a relationship of dependence between physical activity and age (p=0.002), diabetes and age (p=0.004), diabetes and duration of HIV (p=0.007), LVH and duration of HIV (p=0.001).&#x0D; Conclusion: Cardiovascular risk is high in P50+ which could make them vulnerable to cardiovascular events. It is therefore necessary or even essential that cardiovascular risk assessment be integrated into the continuum of care of PLWH in general and P50+ particularly in HIV care units.&#x0D; &#x0D; Peer Review History: &#x0D; Received: 29 April 2022; Revised: 8 June; Accepted: 28 June, Available online: 15 July 2022&#x0D; Academic Editor: Dr. A.A. Mgbahurike, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, amaka_mgbahurike@yahoo.com&#x0D; UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. &#x0D; Received file: Reviewer's Comments:&#x0D; Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10&#x0D; Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10&#x0D; Reviewers:&#x0D; Dr. Peter Juma Ochieng, Biotech Research Center (BRC), Obuda University, Hungary, peter26juma@gmail.com&#x0D; Dr. Esther Marguerite Chase DJANGA, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Department of Public Health. University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. e.djanga@yahoo.com&#x0D; Similar Articles: &#x0D; SERO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF HEPATITIS B, C, HIV AND TREPONEMA PALLIDUM AMONG BLOOD DONORS IN HODEIDA CITY- YEMEN

A systematic review of the prevalence of selected sexually transmitted infections in young people in Latin America.

ABSTRACTObjective.To estimate the burden of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Treponema pallidum (TP), and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections among people aged 10 to 25 in Latin America and the Caribbean.Methods.The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and LILACS databases were searched, as well as documents from regional organizations or national health Institutions. Population-based studies that reported prevalence or incidence of CT, NG, TP, and HPV detected through confirmatory tests in adolescents and young people were included. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Pooled estimators were calculated in cases where heterogeneity was <70%; when not feasible, prevalence ranges were reported.Results.Out of a total of 3 583 references, 15 prevalence studies complied with the inclusion criteria. Due to substantial heterogeneity (>70%), it was not possible to pool frequency estimators. Among the general population, the prevalence of CT infection ranged between 2.1% and 30.1% (9 studies, 5 670 participants); for NG, prevalence ranged between 0% and 2.9% (8 studies, 5 855 participants); for TP, prevalence varied between 0% and 0.7% (3 studies, 11 208 participants), and for HPV infection, prevalence ranged between 25.1% and 55.6% (8 studies, 3 831 participants).Conclusions.Reliable, population-based data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in adolescents and youth in Latin America and the Caribbean are limited. Additional studies are needed to better understand the burden of STIs in this population. However, given the substantial prevalence of STIs detected, countries need public health policies for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of STIs in young people.

Seroprevalence of Transfusion Transmissible Infections and Associated Risk Factors in Hospitalized Patients before Transfusion in Jinling Hospital Nanjing University: A Three-Year Retrospective Study.

Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and treponema pallidum (TP), must be detected before blood transfusion. However, few studies have been conducted on the prevalence and accuracy of positive results in hospitalized patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the real seroprevalence of TTIs among patients before blood transfusion and analyze the characteristics of false-positive results in Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, China. TTI results were collected from medical records and analyzed retrospectively. Additionally, we also used confirmatory assays to verify the accuracy of positive results. The overall prevalence of TTI was 8.96%, which was related to gender and age. The real positive rates were 86.67% (HBV), 35.09% (HCV), 20.75% (HIV), and 100% (TP). Our results also showed that high-speed centrifugation can reduce the false-positive rate of HBsAg. In summary, the results demonstrated that the positive rates of TTIs in hospitalized patients are higher than those in the general population. We also confirmed the existence of false-positive results in serological screening for TTIs. The method of processing specimens through high-speed centrifugation could reduce the false-positive results of detecting antigens effectively.

Patterns of Sexually Transmitted Co-infections and Associated Factors Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Cross-Sectional Study in Shenyang, China.

BackgroundMen who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We sought to describe patterns of sexually transmitted co-infections and explore factors associated with increased acquisition of STIs among MSM.MethodsWe enrolled MSM in Shenyang, China, between July and December 2020 to test for four STIs, including human papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and Treponema pallidum (TP). Data regarding demographic and behavioral characteristics of participants were collected through a self-administered digital questionnaire. We adopted the ordinal logistic regression model to identify factors associated with acquiring more STIs.ResultsOverall, 177 participants with completed test results for all four STIs were analyzed. These participants had a median age of 29.0 (interquartile range: 23.0–38.0) years. The prevalence of STI co-infections was 23.7% [42/177; 95% confidence interval (CI), 17.8%−30.8%], among which HPV/CT (47.1%) and HPV/CT/NG (50.0%) co-infection were the predominant types among participants with dual and multiple infections, respectively. Participants who had a higher educational background [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.46; 95% CI, 0.24–0.85; P = 0.014] and had a history of STIs (aOR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.24–5.18; P = 0.011) were positively associated with acquiring more STIs.ConclusionsMSM in Shenyang suffer a substantial burden of sexually transmitted co-infections. An optimized multi-STI integration strategy targeting prevention, surveillance, screening, and treatment is warranted to reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted co-infections, especially in less-educated MSM.

Specific detection of Treponema pallidum in clinical samples: validation of a qPCR assay combining two genomic targets

ObjectivesWe evaluated a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for detection of the Treponema pallidum (TP) genome in clinical samples through simultaneous detection of two genomic targets.MethodsWe performed qPCR with TaqMan technology...

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis was associated with no impact on sexually transmitted infection prevalence in a high-prevalence population of predominantly men who have sex with men, Germany, 2018 to 2019.

IntroductionDespite increased use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Germany, HIV infection rates are not declining and little is known about how this prevention method affects the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM).AimWe studied, in a large multicentre cohort, STI point prevalence, co-infection rates, anatomical location and influence of PrEP.MethodsThe BRAHMS study was a prospective cohort study conducted at 10 sites in seven major German cities that enrolled MSM reporting increased sexual risk behaviour. At screening visits, MSM were tested for Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Treponema pallidum (TP), and given a behavioural questionnaire. With binomial regression, we estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of PrEP and STI.ResultsWe screened 1,043 MSM in 2018 and 2019, with 53.0% currently using PrEP. At screening, 370 participants (35.5%) had an STI. The most common pathogen was MG in 198 (19.0%) participants, followed by CT (n = 133; 12.8%), NG (n = 105; 10.1%) and TP (n = 37; 3.5%). Among the 370 participants with at least one STI, 14.6% (n = 54) reported STI-related symptoms. Infection prevalence was highest at anorectal site (13.4% MG, 6.5% NG, 10.2% CT). PrEP use was not statistically significant in adjusted models for STI (PR: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.91–1.32), NG/CT, only NG or only CT.ConclusionsPrevalence of asymptomatic STI was high, and PrEP use did not influence STI prevalence in MSM eligible for PrEP according to national guidelines.

YTHDF1 Negatively Regulates Treponema pallidum-Induced Inflammation in THP-1 Macrophages by Promoting SOCS3 Translation in an m6A-Dependent Manner.

BackgroundPrevious studies have confirmed that the bacterium Treponema pallidum (TP) or its proteins provide signals to macrophages that induce an inflammatory response; however, little is known about the negative regulation of this macrophage-mediated inflammatory response during syphilis infection or the underlying mechanism. Recent evidence suggests the role of the RNA modification, N6-adenosine methylation (m6A), in regulating the inflammatory response and pathogen-host cell interactions. Therefore, we hypothesized that m6A plays a role in the regulation of the inflammatory response in macrophages exposed to TP.MethodsWe first assessed m6A levels in TP-infected macrophages differentiated from the human monocyte cell line THP-1. The binding and interaction between the m6A “writer” methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) or the m6A “reader” YT521-B homology (YTH) domain-containing protein YTHDF1 and the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), as a major regulator of the inflammatory response, were explored in differentiated TP-infected THP-1 cells as well as in secondary syphilitic lesions from patients. The mechanisms by which YTHDF1 and SOCS3 regulate the inflammatory response in macrophages were assessed.Results and ConclusionAfter macrophages were stimulated by TP, YTHDF1 was upregulated in the cells. YTHDF1 was also upregulated in the syphilitic lesions compared to adjacent tissue in patients. YTHDF1 recognizes and binds to the m6A methylation site of SOCS3 mRNA, consequently promoting its translation, thereby inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, and reducing the secretion of inflammatory factors, which results in anti-inflammatory regulation. This study provides the first demonstration of the role of m6A methylation in the pathological process of syphilis and further offers new insight into the pathogenesis of TP infection.

Comparison of syndromic versus laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Treponema pallidum, infections at the selected health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

BackgroundSexually transmitted infections (STIs) are major infectious diseases worldwide. Around one million people get STIs every day and among them a high burden of the diseases seen in Sub-Saharan African countries. In most developing countries, including Ethiopia, STIs are diagnosed only using syndromic methods, although there seems to be no consensus between syndromic and laboratory-based research.ObjectiveTo compare the effectiveness of a syndromic versus laboratory-based approach in the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections, especially Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Treponema pallidum (TP), infections among those attending a public health center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Methodsa cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2019 to March 2020, at selected health centers STIs clinics in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 325 study participants were involved. From each participant after having socio-demographic data, additional blood, urethral and vaginal discharge was collected. Then serological, Gram stain, culture, and biochemical tests were performed. SPSS version 23 was used to enter and analyze data. All relevant bodies provided ethical approval, and each study participant gave written informed consent.ResultsAmong the total participants 167 (51.4%) were males; 177 (54.5%) between ages of 26 and 35; and 178(54.8%) single. Of the total 325 NG, and 125 TP syndromic managed suspected cases, only 163 (50%) and 38 (30.4%) were laboratory- confirmed positive cases respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference between NG and TP syndromic versus laboratory diagnostic confirmed cases (P-value > 0.005).ConclusionThe present study indicated that even if, there were no statistical differences between syndromic versus Laboratory diagnosis confirmed NG and TP cases, more than half of syndromic cases could not be confirmed by laboratory diagnosed tests. Thus, to strengthen the present findings, further large-scale studies are recommended.

LAMP4yaws: Treponema pallidum, Haemophilus ducreyi loop mediated isothermal amplification − protocol for a cross-sectional, observational, diagnostic accuracy study

IntroductionYaws, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue, is a neglected tropical disease targeted for eradication by 2030. Improved diagnostics will be essential to meet this goal. Diagnosis of...

Laboratory evaluation of two point-of-care test kits for the identification of infectious syphilis.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that can have atypical clinical presentations. Conventional laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis are not rapid enough to affect clinical decision on treatment and contact tracing. Rapid point-of-care tests (POCT) can be useful for control of infectious diseases; however, no POCT for syphilis detection is currently available in Canada. The aim of this study is to evaluate two POCTs (RevealTM Rapid TP (Treponema pallidum) Antibody test and DPP® Syphilis Screen and Confirm test) for detection of infectious syphilis. One hundred serum samples with known syphilis serological status, based on treponemal and non-treponemal test results, were analysed in the laboratory with two POCTs by two independent operators in a blind fashion. Results were analysed to evaluate their ability to detect infectious syphilis. The Reveal Rapid TP Antibody POCT showed an overall sensitivity of 95.0% and a specificity of 83.3%, while the DPP Syphilis Screen and Confirm POCT showed a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 98.3%. Both POCTs gave a sensitivity of 100% on active syphilis samples with Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) titres of greater than 1:4, but their sensitivities decreased for samples with low VDRL titres. Both POCTs gave weakly or very weakly reactive results on 11.3%-25.0% of the treponemal antibody positive samples. This laboratory evaluation has shown promising results for both POCTs to detect infectious syphilis. Further evaluations in the field would be required to confirm this preliminary finding.

PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS, HEPATITIS B VIRUS, AND HEPATITIS C VIRUS, AMONG PATIENTS WITH HEPATIC JAUNDICE IN SANA’A CITY, YEMEN: A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY

Background: Hepatic jaundice results from abnormal metabolism of bilirubin in the liver. The main hepatic jaundice causes are severe damage to hepatocytes due to autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, drugs/ medication induced, or, less commonly, hereditary genetic diseases.&#x0D; Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B Virus (HBV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), in patients with hepatic jaundice as causes of acute viral hepatitis (AVH) in Sana'a city, Yemen.&#x0D; Subjects and Methods: Data of patients with hepatic jaundice tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, total anti-HCV antibody, and anti-HAV immunoglobulin M (IgM) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were collected from Class I Viral Diagnostic Laboratories in Sana'a for 3 years. Then the statistical analysis of the data was used where the descriptive analysis was calculated: frequency and percentage, as well as the association of infection with sex and age group by means of detection odds ratio, 95% CI and X2 more than 3.9 and P&lt;0.05 were considered statistically significant.&#x0D; Results: The study included 644 males (43.8%) and 826 females (56.2%), while most patients were less than 21 years old. The rate of Hepatitis viruses positive was 27.6% positive. Hepatitis A virus infection was the most common virus diagnosed accounting for 259 cases (17.6% of the total), while HBV was less common with 104 (7.1%) and HCV only 42 cases (2.9%). The highest incidence of hepatitis B was in 11-20 years patients (18.2%), with an associated OR 9.3 (p &lt; 0.0001). The highest incidence of hepatitis C was in 31-40 years patients (7.3%), with an associated OR 3.3 (p&lt;0.0001).&#x0D; Conclusion: Alarmingly changing the epidemiology and dynamics of hepatitis A-C viruses in Yemen, a detailed study is required to understand the definite disease problem caused by these viruses. It is noticeable in this study the high prevalence of hepatitis A virus and hepatitis B virus in the Yemeni population with hepatic jaundice. Also, to our knowledge, this study is the first to report epidemiological transformation of hepatitis A virus in Sana'a, Yemen.&#x0D; &#x0D; Peer Review History: &#x0D; Received: 13 November 2021; Revised: 11 December; Accepted: 30 December, Available online: 15 January 2022&#x0D; Academic Editor: Dr. Nuray Arı, Ankara University, Turkiye, ari@ankara.edu.tr&#x0D; UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. &#x0D; Received file: Reviewer's Comments:&#x0D; Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.5/10&#x0D; Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10&#x0D; Reviewers:&#x0D; Dr. Gulam Mohammed Husain,, National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders, Hyderabad, India, gmhusain@gmail.com&#x0D; Dr. Salfarina Ramli, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 42300 Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. salfarina2892@uitm.edu.my &#x0D; Similar Articles:&#x0D; PREVALENCE OF DIFFERENT HEPATITIS B VIRUS GENOTYPES AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED AMONG SELECTED YEMENI PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS B INFECTION &#x0D; SERO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF HEPATITIS B, C, HIV AND TREPONEMA PALLIDUM AMONG BLOOD DONORS IN HODEIDA CITY- YEMEN &#x0D; EXPLOSION OF HEPATITIS B AND C VIRUSES AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS AS A RESULT OF HEMODIALYSIS CRISIS IN YEMEN

HCV and Treponema pallidum infection status in HIV/AIDS cases in Yunnan province, January-June, 2020

Objective: To understand the infection status of HCV and Treponema pallidum (TP) in HIV/AIDS cases in Yunnan province,and identify the risk factors. Methods: Between January 1 and June 30 in 2020,a cross-sectional survey was conducted in Yunnan. Two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to detect anti-HCV, the positive results of both two kits indicated HCV infection. ELISA and syphilis toluidine red untreated serum test were applied to identify TP infection. Both Excel 2016 and SPSS 22.0 software were used for statistical analysis, and logistic regression model was conducted to identify the relevant factors of HCV and TP infection. Results: A total of 5 922 HIV/AIDS cases were included in this study, the infection rates of HCV and TP were 6.5% (383/5 922) and 5.8% (344/5 922) respectively. The co-infection rate of HCV and TP was 0.4% (22/5 922). The risk for HCV infection in HIV/AIDS cases was higher in younger age groups compared with age group ≥50 years (15-19:aOR=3.53;20-29:aOR=3.02;30-39:aOR=2.91;40-49:aOR=3.61), in males than in females (aOR=2.31), in the married and unmarried than in the divorced or widowed (married:aOR=1.61;unmarried:aOR=1.63), in other ethnic groups than in Han ethnic group (aOR=1.70), in people with lower education level than in people with education level of college and above (primary school degree and below:aOR=4.69;middle school:aOR=3.96), in people living in the central and western Yunnan than in people living in eastern Yunnan (central Yunnan:aOR=2.46; western Yunnan:aOR=7.08), in injection drug users than in MSM (aOR=131.08). The risk of TP infection in HIV/AIDS cases was higher in people with education level of college and primary school than in middle school degree (primary school and below:aOR=1.73;college and above:aOR=1.77), in people with other occupations than in farmers (aOR=1.39), in people living in eastern Yunnan than in people living in western Yunnan (aOR=1.75); in MSM than in people with heterosex (aOR=9.75). Conclusions: A certain proportion of HIV/AIDS cases reported between January and June in 2020 in Yunnan were co-infected with HCV and TP, many factors were associated with the co-infection. It is suggested to strengthen HCV and TP tests in HIV/AIDS cases and conduct active treatment of the co-infection.

A 2021 Update on Syphilis: Taking Stock from Pathogenesis to Vaccines.

In 2021 the scientific community’s efforts have been focused on solving the back-breaking challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, but sexually transmitted infections (STI) are still one of the most common global health problems. Syphilis is a systemic disease caused by the spirochaete Treponema pallidum (TP) and is one of the oldest known diseases. Its incidence has increased in the last few years and syphilis still remains a contemporary plague that continues to afflict millions of people worldwide. Despite research improvements, syphilis pathogenesis is not completely clear; clinical presentation is very heterogeneous and the diagnosis can sometimes be difficult. Furthermore, few therapeutic options are available, and a vaccine has not been found yet. In this review, we describe the most recent evidence concerning the clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment and vaccine prospectives for this disease.

Clinical and laboratory features of 244 men with primary syphilis: a 5-year single-centre retrospective study

BackgroundSyphilis incidence has exponentially increased in recent decades, particularly among men who have sex with men (MSM). Primary syphilis is characterised by a chancre appearing at the site of Treponema...

Risk of HIV Acquisition Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Infected With Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) who have bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are at increased risk for HIV infection. We enhanced and updated past summary risk estimates. We systematically reviewed (PROSPERO No. CRD42018084299) peer-reviewed studies assessing the risk of HIV infection among MSM attributable to Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Treponema pallidum (TP), and/or Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). We searched 3 databases through December 2017. We excluded studies with self-reported data or simultaneous STI and HIV assessment. We conducted dual screening and data extraction, meta-analytically pooled risk ratios (RRs), and assessed potential risk of bias. We included 26 studies yielding 39 RR (k) for HIV acquisition due to one of TP, NG, or CT. We did not identify eligible data for MG or TV, or for HIV transmission. HIV acquisition risk increased among MSM infected with TP (k = 21; RR, 2.68, 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00-3.58), NG (k = 11; RR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.56-3.61), and CT (k = 7; RR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.59-2.48). Subanalysis RRs for all 3 pathogens were ≥1.66 and remained statistically significant across geography and methodological characteristics. Pooled RR increased for data with the lowest risk of bias for NG (k = 3; RR, 5.49; 95% CI, 1.11-27.05) and TP (k = 4; RR, 4.32; 95% CI, 2.20-8.51). We observed mostly moderate to high heterogeneity and moderate to high risk of bias. Men who have sex with men infected with TP, NG, or CT have twice or greater risk of HIV acquisition, although uncertainties exist because of data heterogeneity and risk of bias.

Azithromycin resistance in Treponema pallidum in Reunion Island: A cross-sectional study

ObjectiveSince the beginning of the 21st century, Reunion Island has experienced a syphilis epidemic. Infected patients are mostly heterosexual, with a high proportion of women, suggesting that congenital syphilis is present on the island. To determine whether azithromycin can be used for mass treatment of syphilis on Reunion Island, we assessed the prevalence of macrolide resistance in Treponema pallidum (TP). MethodsThis monocentric cross-sectional study was conducted at the Reunion Island University Hospital. Samples were collected from lesions suggestive of primary or secondary syphilis. Samples positive for TP by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were sent to the French National Reference Centre (NRC) for further analysis. Nested PCR-tpp47 was performed on these samples for detection of TP-DNA; 23s rRNA was amplified by PCR in confirmed positive samples. The Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) technique was performed on samples with amplified 23s rRNA for detection of the A2058G mutation. ResultsA total of 129 samples were collected from 119 patients. Of these, 18 tested positive for TP using multiplex PCR and were sent to the NRC. Fifteen (83.3%) of the 18 samples were confirmed positive by nested PCR-tpp47, and 23s rRNA was amplified in only 7 (38.9%) samples. Azithromycin resistance was detected in all TP strains with amplified 23s rRNA. ConclusionAmplification of 23s rRNA was successful in only 7 TP strains, all of which displayed resistance to macrolides. Keeping in mind the small sample size of our study, this suggests that azithromycin should not be used for mass treatment of syphilis in Reunion Island.

Perfil epidemiológico das gestantes com sífilis no Rio de Janeiro

Objetivo: Descrever o perfil epidemiológico das gestantes diagnosticadas com sífilis no município do Rio de Janeiro (2009–2018). Metodologia: Estudo epidemiológico, descritivo e retrospectivo transversal, realizado na Plataforma on-line do Ministério da Saúde, Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS). Os dados referentes a sífilis em gestante do município do Rio de Janeiro advêm da série histórica 2009–2018 e foram analisadas as variáveis: faixa etária, raça e escolaridade. Para organização dos dados foi utilizado o Microsoft® Excel. Resultados: Observou-se um crescente constante nas taxas de detecção de sífilis em gestante, o que atribui não somente a multiplicação do número de casos, mas também ao aumento nos registros da vigilância epidemiológica. Evidenciou-se que mulheres pardas com baixo grau de escolaridade estão mais susceptíveis a contaminação pelo Treponema pallidum. Conclusão: A taxa de detecção vem aumentando progressivamente a cada ano, tornando necessária a adoção de medidas de educação em saúde e garantia adequada da assistência no que tange a testagem e tratamento da sífilis, visando a redução dos casos notificáveis e consequentemente a contaminação de gestantes e transmissão vertical.