• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.344-348
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• 1999

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) for the detection of antibodies to Treponema pallidum(T.pallidum) was developed and evaluated. T.apllidum lysate was immobilized on the surface of microplate wells and horseradish peroxidase labeled human anti-T.pallidum lysate was immobilized on the surface of microplate wells and horseradish peroxidase labeled human anti-T.pallidum was prepared and used as a tracer. The performance of the competitive ELISA was evaluated by using different specimens. The competitive ELISA showed a sensitivity of 100% in a performance panel consisting of serum and plasma with anti-T.pallidum reactivity ranging from negative to strong positive by FTA-ABS test system and 120 plasma samples positive by TPHA. The specificity of the competitive ELISA was 100% in 1,200 plasma samples collected from healthy seronegative blood donors. These results suggest that the competitive ELISA provides an excellent assay method for the detection of antibodies to T.pallidum, and may be particularly useful for serological blood screening of syphilis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.143-146
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• 1998

Syphilis is a systemic communicable disease caused by the motile spirochete, Treponema pallidum, which is only a natural pathogen for human. The distribution and trends of syphilis are influenced by biologic factors, sexual behaviors, biomedical technology, availability of and access to health care, public health efforts, changes in population dynamics, and sociocultural factors. Although sexual contact is the main route of transmission, Treponema pallidum may also be infected through direct contact with syphilitic lesions, blood transfusion, ingestion of menstrual blood or vaginal secretions, or transplacental transmissions. In extremely unusual circumstances, infection by means of contact with a skin lesion and human bite have been reported. We experienced a case of syphilis which is thought to be infected by the abnormal imposition of hands on a child, which caused unnecessary erosive trauma with fingernails.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.85-87
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• 2010

We experienced a rare case of solitary syphilitic osteomyelitis of the skull without any other clinical signs or symptoms of syphilis. A 20-year-old man was referred due to intermittent headache and mild tenderness at the right parietal area of the skull with a palpable coin-sized lesion of softened cortical bone. On radiological studies, the lesion was a radiolucent well enhanced mass (17 mm in diameter). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (52 mm/h) and C-reactive protein (2.24 mg/dL) were elevated on admission. Serum venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) tests were positive. There were no clinical signs or symptoms of syphilis. After treatment with benzathine penicillin, we removed the lesion and performed cranioplasty. The pathologic finding of the skull lesion was fibrous proliferation with lymphoplasmocytic infiltration forming an osteolytic lesion. In addition, a spirochete was identified using the Warthin-starry stain. The polymerase chain reaction study showed a positive band for Treponema pallidum. Solitary osteomyelitis of the skull can be the initial presenting pathological lesion of syphilis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.45-50
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• 2008

Treponema denticola is the best studied oral spirochete and numerous studies have shown that it is strongly associated with periodontitis and expresses several putative virulence factors. In this study, we report on a surface protein of T. denticola, Td92, which is homologous to Tp92 of Treponema pallidum, an agent of syphilis. Immunofluorescence assay and immunogold labeling with anti-Td92 Ab revealed that Td92 had surface-exposed epitopes. And Td92 was capable of binding to fibronectin and KB cells, an oral epithelial cell line. In addition, Td92 could enter the KB cells. These results indicate that Td92 is a fibronectin-binding protein which can bind to and internalize into the host cells, facilitating the virulence of T. denticola.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2014

Neurosyphilis is a rare infection of the brain and spinal cord caused by a spirochete named Treponema pallidum. We describe the magnetic resonance imaging of a 53-year-old man with syphilis who manifested as both meningovascular, and spinal meningomyelitic types, which involved the optic, trigeminal, facial and vestibulocochlear nerves, both middle and left posterior cerebral arteries, thoracic spinal cord and meninges of the lumbar spine. This case report suggests that neurosyphilis should be considered as a possible diagnosis in patients showing complex brain and spinal imaging features. These features include enhancing meningeal lesions with multiple cranial nerve involvement, stenoses in large to medium size cerebral arteries, and intramedullary and meningeal lesions of spine.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.279-282
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• 2019

Neurosyphilis is an infection of the brain or spinal cord that is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilitic myelitis, which involves the spinal cord, is a very rare form of neurosyphilis seen in patients with syphilis. It requires differentiation from other diseases of the spinal cord, including idiopathic transverse myelitis and spinal cord infarction. Herein, we describe the presentation and diagnosis of syphilitic myelitis in a 43-year-old woman, based on a flip-flop sign and candle guttering appearance depicted in magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory tests.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.124-127
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• 2012

Syphilis is an infectious and sexually transmitted chronic disease caused by Treponema pallidum. On the basis of clinical findings, the disease has been divided into a series of overlapping stages, which are used to help guide treatment and follow-up. Persons who have syphilis might seek treatment for signs or symptoms of primary infection, secondary infection and tertiary infection. Latent infections are detected by serologic testing. A presumptive diagnosis of syphilis is possible with the use of two types of serologic tests: nontreponemal tests and treponemal tests assay. The use of only one type of serologic test is insufficient for diagnosis, because each type of test has limitations, including the possibility of false-positive test results in persons without syphilis. KFDA published Koreans guideline of Sexually transmitted infections in 2011. Two hundred samples were tested by RPR card test and Mediace RPR test with simultaneously. The agreement between RPR card test and Mediace RPR test was 95%, the discrepant samples was 5%. The characteristics of 10 discrepant samples was RPR card Positive and Mediace RPR negative nine samples, RPR card negative and Mediace RPR positive one sample. The nine samples were confirmed as FTA-ABS by KFDA guideline of syphilis test algorism, all IgM test was Negative, all IgG test was reactive. So, these cases were past or latent syphilis. The one sample was false-positive reaction.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2018

Syphilis, one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, is caused by the microorganism Treponema pallidum. Syphilis consists of several clinical stages that may include signs in the oral and perioral regions. Syphilis is treated effectively with systemic antimicrobial therapy using antibiotics such as penicillin. This article describes a case where topical antibacterial therapy with doxycycline was effective in treating oral papular lesions associated with primary syphilis in a 24-year-old male. He was immediately referred to a dermatologist, and antibiotic therapy was administered in response to positive diagnostic test results for syphilis. Although oral syphilitic lesions may be resolved by dental professionals using topical treatments, syphilitic infections should be managed in consultation with medical specialists using systemic antibiotic therapy.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.270-276
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• 2022

This study analyzed the epidemiological trends of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) according to age and sex among individuals aged 50 years or older in South Korea from September 2018 to December 2020. We found that the positivity rate for Gardnerella vaginalis was the highest in the study group, followed by the positivity rate for Ureaplasma parvum (UP). Interestingly, the positivity rates for Mycoplasma hominis and UP were higher in female participants than in male participants. The positivity rate for Treponema pallidum was very low in the female participants. During the study period, the positivity rate for herpes simplex virus 2 increased in the female participants, while the positivity rate for Candida increased in the male participants. These results show that the STI positivity rate varies according to age and sex, and a difference was observed in the average age of positive participants according to the type of STIs. We found a clear pattern of infection in the elderly population and according to sex. Our findings are expected to be used as baseline data for future research, education, and prevention of STIs in the elderly population.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2009

Unlike most bacteria, Treponema pallidum subspecies cannot be readily isolated or sustained in cell culture for numerous generations. In korea, two non treponemal tests are currently considered as standard; the VDRL slide test and RPR card test. These tests are based on an antigen composed of an alcoholic solution containing measured amount of cardiolipin, cholesterol, and sufficient purified lecithin to produce reactivity. The nontreponemal reagin tests measure immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG to lipoidal material released from damaged host cells as well as to lipoprotein-like material and possibly by cardiolipin released from the treponemes. The object of the evaluation was to evaluate the performance of the Mediace RPR kit on the automated biochemistry analyzer system as a method for screen method of syphilis as well as to identify BFP possibility. For evaluation of routine screening test, a total 2,380 specimens tested by Mediace RPR from 28th Oct, 2007 to 22th Feb, 2008. For evaluation of BFP possiblility, we measured samples which have potential BFP reaction in Syphilis test such as ANA (anti-nuclear antibody) positive (135 samples), CRP (C-reactive protein) positive (100 samples), RF (Rheumatoid factor) positive (26 samples), and other potential BFP cases (17 samples) including total 278 samples. These samples were tested quantitative test Mediace RPR with Hitachi 7600 P module. For comparison with current manual test, VDRL slide test were performed. Of these 2380 specimens, 2350 were negative, 30 were positive, and one were positive with TPHA. Both methods agreed for 2356 (98.9%) samples. Of the 30 samples showed positive results over 1.0 R.U, 6 samples showed positive results with VDRL test. Of these 6 samples, 1 samples showed positive with TPHA test. The combination of the Automated Biochemistry analyzer and VDRL test for retest can be increase efficiency of syphilis screening test.