Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Genitourinary Medicine logoLink to Genitourinary Medicine
. 1992 Dec;68(6):413–419. doi: 10.1136/sti.68.6.413

Laboratory techniques in the diagnosis of syphilis: a review.

J J van der Sluis 1
PMCID: PMC1194984  PMID: 1487267

Full text

PDF
413

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Burdash N. M., Hinds K. K., Finnerty J. A., Manos J. P. Evaluation of the syphilis Bio-EnzaBead assay for detection of treponemal antibody. J Clin Microbiol. 1987 May;25(5):808–811. doi: 10.1128/jcm.25.5.808-811.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Cerny E. H., Farshy C. E., Hunter E. F., Larsen S. A. Rheumatoid factor in syphilis. J Clin Microbiol. 1985 Jul;22(1):89–94. doi: 10.1128/jcm.22.1.89-94.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Codd A. A., Sprott M. S., Narang H. K., Crone P. B., Turner R. H. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Treponema pallidum antibodies. J Med Microbiol. 1988 Jun;26(2):153–157. doi: 10.1099/00222615-26-2-153. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Costello P. B., Green F. A. Binding affinity of serum immunoglobulin G to cardiolipin and other phospholipids in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and syphilis. Infect Immun. 1988 Jul;56(7):1738–1742. doi: 10.1128/iai.56.7.1738-1742.1988. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Farshy C. E., Hunter E. F., Helsel L. O., Larsen S. A. Four-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Treponema pallidum antibody. J Clin Microbiol. 1985 Mar;21(3):387–389. doi: 10.1128/jcm.21.3.387-389.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Farshy C. E., Hunter E. F., Larsen S. A., Cerny E. H. Double-conjugate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for immunoglobulins G and M against Treponema pallidum. J Clin Microbiol. 1984 Dec;20(6):1109–1113. doi: 10.1128/jcm.20.6.1109-1113.1984. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fieldsteel A. H., Cox D. L., Moeckli R. A. Cultivation of virulent Treponema pallidum in tissue culture. Infect Immun. 1981 May;32(2):908–915. doi: 10.1128/iai.32.2.908-915.1981. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. HUNTER E. F., DEACON W. E., MEYER P. E. AN IMPROVED FTA TEST FOR SYPHILIS, THE ABSORPTION PROCEDURE (FTA-ABS). Public Health Rep. 1964 May;79:410–412. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Haas J. S., Bolan G., Larsen S. A., Clement M. J., Bacchetti P., Moss A. R. Sensitivity of treponemal tests for detecting prior treated syphilis during human immunodeficiency virus infection. J Infect Dis. 1990 Oct;162(4):862–866. doi: 10.1093/infdis/162.4.862. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Harris E. N., Gharavi A. E., Wasley G. D., Hughes G. R. Use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and of inhibition studies to distinguish between antibodies to cardiolipin from patients with syphilis or autoimmune disorders. J Infect Dis. 1988 Jan;157(1):23–31. doi: 10.1093/infdis/157.1.23. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hay P. E., Clarke J. R., Strugnell R. A., Taylor-Robinson D., Goldmeier D. Use of the polymerase chain reaction to detect DNA sequences specific to pathogenic treponemes in cerebrospinal fluid. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1990 Mar 15;56(3):233–238. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1990.tb13943.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Hay P. E., Clarke J. R., Taylor-Robinson D., Goldmeier D. Detection of treponemal DNA in the CSF of patients with syphilis and HIV infection using the polymerase chain reaction. Genitourin Med. 1990 Dec;66(6):428–432. doi: 10.1136/sti.66.6.428. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hicks C. B., Benson P. M., Lupton G. P., Tramont E. C. Seronegative secondary syphilis in a patient infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with Kaposi sarcoma. A diagnostic dilemma. Ann Intern Med. 1987 Oct;107(4):492–495. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-107-4-492. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hunter E. F., Farshy C. E., Liska S. L., Cruce D. D., Crawford J. A., Feeley J. C. Sodium desoxycholate-extracted treponemal antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for syphilis. J Clin Microbiol. 1982 Sep;16(3):483–486. doi: 10.1128/jcm.16.3.483-486.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hunter E. F. The fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption (FTA-ABS) test for syphilis. CRC Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 1975 Jan;5(3):315–330. doi: 10.3109/10408367509107046. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Ijsselmuiden O. E., Schouls L. M., Stolz E., Aelbers G. N., Agterberg C. M., Top J., van Embden J. D. Sensitivity and specificity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using the recombinant DNA-derived Treponema pallidum protein TmpA for serodiagnosis of syphilis and the potential use of TmpA for assessing the effect of antibiotic therapy. J Clin Microbiol. 1989 Jan;27(1):152–157. doi: 10.1128/jcm.27.1.152-157.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Ijsselmuiden O. E., van der Sluis J. J., Mulder A., Stolz E., Bolton K. P., van Eijk R. V. An IgM capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay to detect IgM antibodies to treponemes in patients with syphilis. Genitourin Med. 1989 Apr;65(2):79–83. doi: 10.1136/sti.65.2.79. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Ison C. A. Laboratory methods in genitourinary medicine. Methods of diagnosing gonorrhoea. Genitourin Med. 1990 Dec;66(6):453–459. doi: 10.1136/sti.66.6.453. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Ito F., Hunter E. F., George R. W., Pope V., Larsen S. A. Specific immunofluorescent staining of pathogenic treponemes with a monoclonal antibody. J Clin Microbiol. 1992 Apr;30(4):831–838. doi: 10.1128/jcm.30.4.831-838.1992. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Larsen S. A. Syphilis. Clin Lab Med. 1989 Sep;9(3):545–557. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Lefevre J. C., Bertrand M. A., Bauriaud R. Evaluation of the Captia enzyme immunoassays for detection of immunoglobulins G and M to Treponema pallidum in syphilis. J Clin Microbiol. 1990 Aug;28(8):1704–1707. doi: 10.1128/jcm.28.8.1704-1707.1990. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Loizou S., Mackworth-Young C. G., Cofiner C., Walport M. J. Heterogeneity of binding reactivity to different phospholipids of antibodies from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and with syphilis. Clin Exp Immunol. 1990 May;80(2):171–176. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1990.tb05228.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Lukehart S. A., Hook E. W., 3rd, Baker-Zander S. A., Collier A. C., Critchlow C. W., Handsfield H. H. Invasion of the central nervous system by Treponema pallidum: implications for diagnosis and treatment. Ann Intern Med. 1988 Dec 1;109(11):855–862. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-109-11-855. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Mouritsen S., Høier-Madsen M., Wiik A., Orum O., Strandberg Pedersen N. The specificity of anti-cardiolipin antibodies from syphilis patients and from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Clin Exp Immunol. 1989 May;76(2):178–183. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Moyer N. P., Hudson J. D., Hausler W. J., Jr Evaluation of the Bio-EnzaBead test for syphilis. J Clin Microbiol. 1987 Apr;25(4):619–623. doi: 10.1128/jcm.25.4.619-623.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Müller F., Lindenschmidt E. G. Demonstration of specific 19S(IgM) antibodies in untreated and treated syphilis. Comparative studies of the 19S(IgM)-FTA test, the 19S(IgM)-TPHA test, and the solid phase haemadsorption assay. Br J Vener Dis. 1982 Feb;58(1):12–17. doi: 10.1136/sti.58.1.12. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Noordhoek G. T., Cockayne A., Schouls L. M., Meloen R. H., Stolz E., van Embden J. D. A new attempt to distinguish serologically the subspecies of Treponema pallidum causing syphilis and yaws. J Clin Microbiol. 1990 Jul;28(7):1600–1607. doi: 10.1128/jcm.28.7.1600-1607.1990. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Noordhoek G. T., Hermans P. W., Paul A. N., Schouls L. M., van der Sluis J. J., van Embden J. D. Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum (Nichols) and Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue (CDC 2575) differ in at least one nucleotide: comparison of two homologous antigens. Microb Pathog. 1989 Jan;6(1):29–42. doi: 10.1016/0882-4010(89)90005-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Noordhoek G. T., Wolters E. C., de Jonge M. E., van Embden J. D. Detection by polymerase chain reaction of Treponema pallidum DNA in cerebrospinal fluid from neurosyphilis patients before and after antibiotic treatment. J Clin Microbiol. 1991 Sep;29(9):1976–1984. doi: 10.1128/jcm.29.9.1976-1984.1991. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Pedersen N. S., Petersen C. S., Vejtorp M., Axelsen N. H. Serodiagnosis of syphilis by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for IgG antibodies against the Reiter treponeme flagellum. Scand J Immunol. 1982 Apr;15(4):341–348. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1982.tb00657.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Pedersen N. S., Sheller J. P., Ratnam A. V., Hira S. K. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for detection of immunoglobulin M to nontreponemal and treponemal antigens for the diagnosis of congenital syphilis. J Clin Microbiol. 1989 Aug;27(8):1835–1840. doi: 10.1128/jcm.27.8.1835-1840.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Petersen C. S., Jørgensen B. B., Pedersen N. S. A sonicate of Reiter treponemes used as sorbing agent in the fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption (FTA-ABS) test. Dan Med Bull. 1991 Feb;38(1):93–96. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Petersen C. S., Rasmussen E., Pedersen N. S. Comparison of sorbent preparations used in the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test. Dan Med Bull. 1990 Dec;37(6):561–562. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Pope V., Hunter E. F., Feeley J. C. Evaluation of the microenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with Treponema pallidum antigen. J Clin Microbiol. 1982 Apr;15(4):630–634. doi: 10.1128/jcm.15.4.630-634.1982. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Radolf J. D., Lernhardt E. B., Fehniger T. E., Lovett M. A. Serodiagnosis of syphilis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with purified recombinant Treponema pallidum antigen 4D. J Infect Dis. 1986 Jun;153(6):1023–1027. doi: 10.1093/infdis/153.6.1023. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Rodgers G. C., Laird W. J., Coates S. R., Mack D. H., Huston M., Sninsky J. J. Serological characterization and gene localization of an Escherichia coli-expressed 37-kilodalton Treponema pallidum antigen. Infect Immun. 1986 Jul;53(1):16–25. doi: 10.1128/iai.53.1.16-25.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Ross J., Moyes A., Young H., McMillan A. An analysis of false positive reactions occurring with the Captia Syph G EIA. Genitourin Med. 1991 Oct;67(5):408–410. doi: 10.1136/sti.67.5.408. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. STEINER G. Modified silver stain of microorganisms in tissues. Am J Clin Pathol. 1950 May;20(5):489–490. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/20.5_ts.489. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Schouls L. M., Ijsselmuiden O. E., Weel J., van Embden J. D. Overproduction and purification of Treponema pallidum recombinant-DNA-derived proteins TmpA and TmpB and their potential use in serodiagnosis of syphilis. Infect Immun. 1989 Sep;57(9):2612–2623. doi: 10.1128/iai.57.9.2612-2623.1989. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Scotti A. T., Logan L. A specific IgM antibody test in neonatal congenital syphilis. J Pediatr. 1968 Aug;73(2):242–243. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(68)80075-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Stevens R. W., Schmitt M. E. Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for treponemal antibody. J Clin Microbiol. 1985 Mar;21(3):399–402. doi: 10.1128/jcm.21.3.399-402.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Strobel P. L., Kraus S. J. An electron microscopic study of the FTA-ABS "beading" phenomenon with lupus erythematosus sera, using ferritin-conjugated anti-human IgG. J Immunol. 1972 May;108(5):1152–1161. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Tramont E. C. Syphilis in the AIDS era. N Engl J Med. 1987 Jun 18;316(25):1600–1601. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198706183162510. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Turner T. B., Hardy P. H., Newman B. Infectivity tests in syphilis. Br J Vener Dis. 1969 Sep;45(3):183–195. doi: 10.1136/sti.45.3.183. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Veldkamp J., Visser A. M. Application of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the serodiagnosis of syphilis. Br J Vener Dis. 1975 Aug;51(4):227–231. doi: 10.1136/sti.51.4.227. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Wendel G. D., Maberry M. C., Christmas J. T., Goldberg M. S., Norgard M. V. Examination of amniotic fluid in diagnosing congenital syphilis with fetal death. Obstet Gynecol. 1989 Dec;74(6):967–970. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  47. Wilkinson A. E., Cowell L. P. Immunofluorescent staining for the detection of Treponema pallidum in early syphilitic lesions. Br J Vener Dis. 1971 Aug;47(4):252–254. doi: 10.1136/sti.47.4.252. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  48. Young H., Moyes A., McMillan A., Patterson J. Enzyme immunoassay for anti-treponemal IgG: screening or confirmatory test? J Clin Pathol. 1992 Jan;45(1):37–41. doi: 10.1136/jcp.45.1.37. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  49. Young H., Moyes A., McMillan A., Robertson D. H. Screening for treponemal infection by a new enzyme immunoassay. Genitourin Med. 1989 Apr;65(2):72–78. doi: 10.1136/sti.65.2.72. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Genitourinary Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES