Detection of Treponema pallidum (Syphilis) Antibodies among HIV-Infected Individuals and Sexually-active Attendees of Two Health Facilities in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: This study reports on the detection of Treponema pallidum (syphilis) antibodies in HIV infected patients in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Screening for syphilis was carried out to determine the prevalence levels of these infections, as biological markers of risk, modes, and time functions of their transmission.
 Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
 Place and Duration of Study: University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and O.B. Lulu Briggs Medical Centre, University of Port Harcourt, both in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, between August 2012 and July 2015.
 Methods: A total of 100 HIV-infected individuals and 100 sexually-active attendees were recruited for this study. Samples of blood were collected and re-screened for the presence of HIV antibodies using the Determine HIV-1/2 (Alere), HIV ½ Stat-Pak (Chembio), and HIV-1/2/P24/O ELISA kit (Dia.Pro). The same set of samples were screened for Treponema pallidum specific antibodies using the syphilis Ultra Rapid Test Strip (ACON(R), USA) and syphilis rapid strips (Global, USA) following the respective manufacturer's instructions.
 Results: Among the 200 samples, serological reactivity was detected for syphilis in 3(1.5%). The incidence of syphilis was higher in males (2.0%) than in females (1.0%). Age, sex, and locality did not significantly (P>0.05) influence the rate of syphilis.
 Conclusion: This study further confirms the presence of syphilis among the population studied. Routine screening of Syphilis among patients is therefore advocated.

Detection and Prevalence of Syphilis, Hepatitis C Virus andHelicobacter pyloriCo-Infection among Pregnant Women attending Primary Health Centre, Mbodo-Aluu, Rivers State, Nigeria

“…Although syphilis control is still a difficult task (Arando et al, 2019), the overall prevalence in this study is 0.0%. This observation is consistent with the findings of Alubi et al (2023) in Port Harcourt and with Okonko et al (2012a, b, c, 2013) in Ibadan. However, the 0.0% observed in this study is lower than the 1.5% and 6.6% reported previously in Port Harcourt (Adewuyi-Oseni et al, 2019; Okonko et al, 2020a); 1.7% in Uyo (Okonko et al, 2020b) and in Enugu (Chukwurah & Nneli, 2005); the 2.0% and 2.63% prevalence observed in the metropolitan regions of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (Opone et al, 2020).…”

“…This observation is consistent with the findings of Alubi et al (2023) in Port Harcourt and with Okonko et al (2012a, b, c, 2013) in Ibadan. However, the 0.0% observed in this study is lower than the 1.5% and 6.6% reported previously in Port Harcourt (Adewuyi-Oseni et al, 2019; Okonko et al, 2020a); 1.7% in Uyo (Okonko et al, 2020b) and in Enugu (Chukwurah & Nneli, 2005); the 2.0% and 2.63% prevalence observed in the metropolitan regions of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (Opone et al, 2020). Furthermore, the 0.0% syphilis report in this study is less than the 0.8% recorded in Ibadan, Nigeria by Okonko et al (2012b).…”

“…This can occur from the illness spreading through bodily fluids (by kissing saliva). However, the present observation is consistent with Okonko et al (2016) and Innocent-Adiele et al (2023) who reported a higher prevalence of H. pylori among the married in Port Harcourt and Calabar, Nigeria, respectively. Our observation is at even with Mnichil et al (2023) who also reported the highest prevalence in the married groups in Yilmana Densa District, Northwest Ethiopia.…”

“…Additionally, it contradicts the findings of Ahaotu et al (2023a), who found that pregnant women in Port Harcourt between the ages of 20 and 29 had a greater frequency. This result also contradicts findings from studies conducted in Port Harcourt by Okonko and Barine (2023), Okosigha (2014), Okonko et al (2016), andOkoroiwu et al (2022) in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria and Kooffreh-Ada et al ( 2019) in Calabar, Nigeria, which demonstrated that H. pylori infection is rather common between the ages of 40 and 60. These studies also reported lower seropositivity in ages 0-18 and higher prevalence in 19-37.…”

“…According to Husen and Tadesse (2019), research on the prevalence of syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa is incredibly inconsistent and conflicting. In Cameroon (Tagny et al, 2009, 2010), the prevalence of syphilis was estimated to be 9.1%; 7.9% in Ghana (Adjei et al, 2003); in Nigeria, it was estimated to be 19.3% in Abuja (Sule et al, 2010); in Ibadan, it was 0.0%, 0.8%, 1.5% and 0.0%, respectively (Okonko et al, 2012a, b, c, 2013); 1.5% and 6.6% in Port Harcourt (Adewuyi-Oseni et al, 2019; Okonko et al, 2020a); and in Uyo, it was 1.7% (Okonko et al, 2020b).…”