Abstract
Given reports of increasing syphilis incidence in Western countries, we used molecular typing and epidemiological data to elucidate Treponema pallidum transmission networks. Samples and data were collected, dating from 2002 to 2005, from a well-defined population of patients with an ulcus and a diagnosis of infectious syphilis. Molecular typing using the tprK gene (V3–V5 region) was performed on 211 isolates from 205 Amsterdam STI clinic patients. We revealed 32 T. pallidum clusters and recognized ten large clusters, consisting predominantly of homosexual men (89%). Yet, no common patient characteristics were found to link the patients in these clusters. We therefore conclude that the highly variable tprK region (V3–V5) is not suitable for elucidating T. pallidum transmission networks in a high risk population.
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Acknowledgement
The authors thank Mirjam Dierdorp for excellent technical support. The authors also state that they did not have a commercial or other association that might pose a conflict of interest regarding the study presented in this paper. This study was supported by the Amsterdam Health Service (GGD Amsterdam) and ZonMw (grant number 912-03-005).
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Heymans, R., Kolader, ME., van der Helm, J.J. et al. TprK gene regions are not suitable for epidemiological syphilis typing. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 28, 875–878 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-009-0717-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-009-0717-5