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

• Published in: Acta dermato-venereologica Vol. 96; no. 2; pp. 202 - 206
• Main Authors: Salado-Rasmussen, Kirsten, Cowan, Susan, Gerstoft, Jan, Larsen, Helle Kiellberg, Hoffmann, Steen, Knudsen, Troels Bygum, Katzenstein, Terese Lea, Jensen, Jørgen Skov
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Coinfection; Denmark - epidemiology; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Female; Genotype; Health Surveys; HIV Infections - diagnosis; HIV Infections - epidemiology; Humans; Male; Molecular Epidemiology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prognosis; Syphilis - diagnosis; Syphilis - epidemiology; Syphilis - microbiology; Time Factors; Treponema pallidum - classification; Treponema pallidum - genetics; Treponema pallidum - isolation & purification
• ISSN: 0001-5555; 1651-2057
• DOI: 10.2340/00015555-2190

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.