Modern trends in the diagnostics of syphilis

Overview

Syphilis is a serious generalized disease transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse (90%).Since 1990, in the Czech Republic there began a continual, almost exponential rise in itsincidence. Diagnostics of this disease is based on direct demonstration of the agent, Treponemapallidum subsp. pallidum, and on indirect tests for antibodies. In spite of the relatively broadspectrum namely of indirect tests, setting that diagnosis is often problematic, particularly incases of congenital syphilis, neurosyphilis and documentation of infectious risk - presence oftreponemas in the blood. All direct tests (available for routine practice) are based on subjectiveevaluation. Presently, there is taking place the development of new methods of demonstratingantibodies and the establishment ofmolecular diagnostics (PCR) in the objective demonstrationof treponemas. The article brings a review of tests being applied in routine practice pointingout the efficacy of new methods (ELISA, Western-blot, immuno-line) in correlation withstandardized PCR.

Key words:
syphilis - diagnostics - Treponema pallidum.