Molecular Typing of Treponema pallidum in Denmark: A Nationwide Study of Syphilis

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

  • Kirsten Salado-Rasmussen
  • Susan Cowan
  • Gerstoft, Jan
  • thg519, thg519
  • Steen Hoffmann
  • Troels Bygum Knudsen
  • Terese Lea Katzenstein
  • Jørgen Skov Jensen

The aim of this nationwide study is to determine the strain type diversity among patients diagnosed with syphilis by PCR during a 4-year period in Denmark. Epidemiological data, including HIV status, for all patients were obtained from the Danish national syphilis registration system. Molecular strain typing was based on characterization of 3 variable treponemal genes, arp, tpr and tp0548. A total of 278 specimens from 269 patients were included. Among the fully typeable specimens (n = 197), 22 strain types were identified, with 1 type, 14d/g, accounting for 54%. The majority (93%) of the patients reported acquiring syphilis in Denmark. Among patients with concurrent HIV, 9 full strain types were identified and no difference in strain type was found by HIV status (p = 0.197). In conclusion, the majority of patients were infected in Denmark and the HIV-infected syphilis patients were diagnosed with a wide spectrum of different strain types of Treponema pallidum.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftActa Dermatovenereologica
Vol/bind96
Sider (fra-til)202-206
Antal sider5
ISSN0001-5555
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2016

ID: 161420321