PCR-detection rates of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum in swab samples from the Czech Republic (2004–2022): Combined RPR, IgM, and PCR tests efficiently detect active syphilis
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F65269705%3A_____%2F25%3A00081604" target="_blank" >RIV/65269705:_____/25:00081604 - isvavai.cz</a>
Alternative codes found
RIV/00216224:14110/25:00140629 RIV/00216208:11110/25:10492721 RIV/00216208:11130/25:10492721 RIV/00064211:_____/25:W0000062 and 3 more
Result on the web
<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1438422125000037" target="_blank" >https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1438422125000037</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151647" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151647</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
PCR-detection rates of T. pallidum ssp. pallidum in swab samples from the Czech Republic (2004–2022): Combined RPR, IgM, and PCR tests efficiently detect active syphilis
Original language description
Syphilis is a multistage sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA). This study analyzed clinical samples collected from patients with a diagnosed syphilis infection from 2004-2022, isolated in the Czech Republic. Mucocutaneous swab samples (n = 543) from 543 patients were analyzed, and from these samples, 80.11 % (n = 435) were PCR positive, and 19.89 % (n = 108) were PCR negative for TPA DNA. Swabs were more often positive when collected from syphilis patients in the primary and secondary stages, compared to the latent or unknown stage. There was no significant difference in PCR positivity between the primary and secondary stages (p = 0.099). In IgM-positive patients, a statistically significant association with PCR-positivity was found in samples from seropositive (p = 0.033) and serodiscrepant (RPR negative) patients (p = 0.0006). When assessing our laboratory-defined cases of syphilis, the RPR, IgM, and PCR tests were similarly effective (within the range of 80.1-86.1 %). However, parallel testing with these methods was even more effective, i.e., RPR + PCR was 96.1 % effective and RPR + IgM + PCR was 97.8 % effective. A combination of RPR + PCR, or a combination of all three tests (RPR, IgM, and PCR) can therefore be used to reliably detect active syphilis cases, including reinfections. Our findings show that the reverse algorithm for detecting syphilis could be substantially improved by adding IgM and PCR testing.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10607 - Virology
Result continuities
Project
<a href="/en/project/LX22NPO5103" target="_blank" >LX22NPO5103: National Institute of Virology and Bacteriology</a><br>
Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
International Journal of Medical Microbiology
ISSN
1438-4221
e-ISSN
1618-0607
Volume of the periodical
318
Issue of the periodical within the volume
MAR 2025
Country of publishing house
DE - GERMANY
Number of pages
7
Pages from-to
151647
UT code for WoS article
001424526900001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85217009770