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

Authors

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

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-2190

Abstract

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.

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Published

2015-08-19

How to Cite

Salado-Rasmussen, K., Cowan, S., Gerstoft, J., Kiellberg Larsen, H., Hoffmann, S., Bygum Knudsen, T., Lea Katzenstein, T., & Skov Jensen, J. (2015). Molecular Typing of Treponema pallidum in Denmark: A Nationwide Study of Syphilis. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 96(2), 202–206. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-2190

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Articles