Syphilis and Biologic False Positive Reactors Among Leprosy Patients

Scotti, Angelo

doi:10.1001/archderm.1970.04000030072011

Cited by 13 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Further evidence of substantial differences in sensitivity of various tests has been given by Massawe (1970) and by Ongom et al (1976). Non-specific tests such as the Kahn give BFP reactions, and many disorders cause these reactions (Guthe, 1949;Scotti et al, 1970). Genetic, and hence racial, factors may also affect these reactions (Harvey and Shulman, 1966;Kostant, 1972).…”

Section: Syphilis Serology and Biological False-positive (Bfp) Reactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Venereal syphilis in tropical Africa.

Rampen¹

1978

Sexually Transmitted Infections

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SUMMARY A steady decline in the incidence of positive results to the Kahn test is reported in Malawian patients during the period 1968-75. Other studies have shown that the incidence of early and late syphilis in sub-Saharan Africa has dropped considerably over the past few decades. The number of reported cases of early syphilis in certain urban areas, however, appears to be high. It is suggested that the downward trend in the incidence of syphilis in Africa is related to the increased and often indiscriminate use of penicillin. IntroductionAnnual statistics have shown an apparent increase in the incidence of infectious syphilis in most western countries since about 1955. This increase is sometimes referred to as being 'world-wide', thus indicating that the same trend has also been observed in Africa. Although reliable information on the prevalence of venereal syphilis in African countries is scarce, it is a common assumption that syphilis is highly prevalent in most developing countries (Harris, 1975). The apparent increase in the incidence of infectious syphilis in Africa is attributed to changing environmental patterns, principally accelerated urbanisation and general migration. Moreover, the successful eradication of yaws in the 1950s is said to have made whole populations susceptible to infection with Treponema pallidum.During a three-year stay in Malawi, I noticed that the number of patients with early syphilis seen at the skin clinics in Blantyre was surprisingly low. Only 21 cases were registered over three years, whereas 1200-1600 new dermatological cases were seen each year. A study was (Trowell, 1960).In East Africa several authors had analogous findings. Beecher (1960) analysed the inpatient statistics of Kiambu Hospital, Kenya, from 1939-58. Whereas the number of cases of early syphilis ranged from 1-5 to 10-9 per 1000 admissions during the first half of the period under review, none was recorded in 1958. Reports from Kampala, Uganda, also show that the number of positive cases, using comparable test procedures, decreased considerably between 1966 and 1970 (Foster and Kerchan, 1966;Massawe, 1970). In West Africa Ba et al (1965) studied the epidemiological aspects of syphilis serology of outpatients in Dakar, Senegal, over the period 1956-64; the percentage of positive results showed a steady decline. These observations agree with recent reports from other African countries, indicating a low incidence of positive serological results in patients at prenatal consultations (Osoba and Onifade, 1973;Meheus et al, 1975).In contrast, a very high incidence of syphilis has been reported from a few, predominantly urban, areas. In Kampala venereal diseases, in-364 on 12 May 2018 by guest. Protected by copyright.

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Section: Syphilis Serology and Biological False-positive (Bfp) Reactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Venereal syphilis in tropical Africa.

Rampen¹

1978

Sexually Transmitted Infections

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“…Therefore, recent reports that the RPR card test detects fewer biological false positive reactions than the venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test (Scotti, Mackey, and Trautman, 1970;Gamer and Backhouse, 1972) were disturbing, and raised the possibility that exclusive use of the RPR test might result in lack of detection of this important clue to the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Comparison of these two serological tests in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, other connective tissue diseases, and controls allowed us to answer this question.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of rapid plasma reagin card test and venereal disease research laboratory test in the detection of biological false positive reactions in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Dorwart¹,

Myers²

1974

Sexually Transmitted Infections

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“…Scotti, Mackey, and Trautman (1970) have suggested that the immunofluorescent treponemal reaction seen in leprosy is akin to that found in collagen disorders and may be caused by a common aetiological factor.…”

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confidence: 99%

The significance of the fluorescent treponemal antibody (FTA-ABS) test in collagen disorders and leprosy

Wright

1973

J Clin Pathol

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SYNOPSIS A test is described to distinguish the immunofluorescence seen on T. pallidum in syphilis from that due to antibodies against DNA.The method consists of comparing the results of the fluorescent treponemal antibody (FTA-ABS) test with the staining obtained with T. gondii and T. cruzi using an indirect fluorescent technique. The ability of a particular serum to stain other organisms, in addition to T. pallidum, at a significant titre indicates that the treponemal fluorescence is not specific, and the loss of this staining property when organisms are pretreated with deoxyribonuclease suggests that the common microbial antigen is DNA. The isolated treponemal fluorescence found in syphilis is unaffected by pretreatment of T. pallidum.When 123 sera from patients with collagen disorders were examined, non-specific bacterial fluorescence was observed in six sera, while in 95 sera from patients with lepromatous leprosy, a positive FTA-ABS reaction was obtained in 14. There was no accompanying immunofluorescence on other protozoa. Therefore the antibody reacting in the FTA-ABS test in leprosy is likely to be treponemal in origin. A mitochondrial antibody was found in seven out of the 15 sera from patients with lepromatous leprosy.Positive fluorescent treponemal antibody tests may rarely occur in diseases other than syphilis, in particular, in collagen disorders (Kraus, Haserick, and Lantz, 1970). Scotti, Mackey, and Trautman (1970) have suggested that the immunofluorescent treponemal reaction seen in leprosy is akin to that found in collagen disorders and may be caused by a common aetiological factor. Origin of Test SeraTwo hundred and seventy-eight sera were studied;

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Syphilis and Biologic False Positive Reactors Among Leprosy Patients

Cited by 13 publications

References 11 publications

Venereal syphilis in tropical Africa.

Venereal syphilis in tropical Africa.

Comparison of rapid plasma reagin card test and venereal disease research laboratory test in the detection of biological false positive reactions in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The significance of the fluorescent treponemal antibody (FTA-ABS) test in collagen disorders and leprosy

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