Timely Diagnosis of Incubating Syphilis Infections Using Treponema pallidum Transcription-Mediated Amplification Assay. 2023

Helene C A Zondag, and Alje P van Dam, and Jeffrey Bosch, and Damon Getman, and Ashley Nenninger, and Henry J C de Vries, and Sylvia M Bruisten
Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Laboratory, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND Syphilis is a complex, multistage, sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (TP). New diagnostic tools are needed to minimize transmission. In this study, we aimed to assess the additional value of an investigational transcription-mediated amplification test for TP (TP-TMA) for routine diagnostics. METHODS Between September 2021 and August 2022, visits by all participants of the national preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program at the sexual health center (SHC) in Amsterdam were included. Anal, pharyngeal, vaginal, and urine samples collected for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae screening were additionally tested with the TP-TMA assay based on detection of 23S rRNA of TP. RESULTS In total, 9974 SHC visits by 3283 participants were included. There were 191 infectious syphilis cases diagnosed: 26 (14%) primary syphilis, 54 (29%) secondary syphilis, and 111 (58%) early latent syphilis. In 79 of the 191 (41%) syphilis cases, at least 1 sample was TP-TMA-positive. For 16 participants, the positive TP-TMA result was not concordant with routine diagnostics. Of those, 2 participants were treated for syphilis within a week before the visit. Eight participants were treated for a syphilis notification at the visit or for another STI. Five participants were diagnosed with syphilis at the following visit, and 1 participant was lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS By adding the TP-TMA assay to routine diagnostics, we identified 14 of 191 (7%) additional syphilis infections among participants of the national PrEP program. The TP-TMA assay is a useful diagnostic tool to increase syphilis case finding and thus limit the transmission of syphilis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009344 Neisseria gonorrhoeae A species of gram-negative, aerobic bacteria primarily found in purulent venereal discharges. It is the causative agent of GONORRHEA. Diplococcus gonorrhoeae,Gonococcus,Gonococcus neisseri,Merismopedia gonorrhoeae,Micrococcus der gonorrhoe,Micrococcus gonococcus,Micrococcus gonorrhoeae
D002692 Chlamydia trachomatis Type species of CHLAMYDIA causing a variety of ocular and urogenital diseases.
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012749 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Diseases due to or propagated by sexual contact. Venereal Diseases,STDs,STIs,Sexually Transmitted Infections,Disease, Sexually Transmitted,Disease, Venereal,Diseases, Sexually Transmitted,Diseases, Venereal,Infection, Sexually Transmitted,Infections, Sexually Transmitted,STI,Sexually Transmitted Disease,Sexually Transmitted Infection,Transmitted Infection, Sexually,Transmitted Infections, Sexually,Venereal Disease
D013587 Syphilis A contagious venereal disease caused by the spirochete TREPONEMA PALLIDUM. Great Pox
D014210 Treponema pallidum The causative agent of venereal and non-venereal syphilis as well as yaws.

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