The Fight Against Syphilis - Leading the charge against Syphilis with early detection
25 January 2019
Think of Syphilis and a disease that was rife in the late middle ages springs to mind. However, the reality is that in our modern age, the disease is still far from being eradicated. Testing for Syphilis and accurately identifying the disease as early as possible is vital to stop the spread and reduce the damage done by Syphilis.
Syphilis arrived in Europe in around the 1400s leaving a considerable death toll in its wake. Treatments at the time included segregation and mercury treatment administered by various methods including rubbing on the skin and even fumigation. It was not until the mass-production of penicillin in 1945, that it was widely available as a treatment for the disease.
The World Health Organisation reports approximately 12 million cases of syphilis a year. These days most new syphilis cases are present in developing countries, whilst the infection has been on the increase in the US, UK, Australia and Europe since the 80s.
Syphilis is a debilitating disease which, left untreated, can present serious complications and even death. One of the highest risks is for mother-to-foetus transmission causing miscarriage, stillbirth and infant mortality. What’s more there is an increased risk of acquiring HIV infection if syphilis is present by two to five times. Nevertheless, treatment with penicillin is normally effective providing the condition is diagnosed early.
Whilst treatment for syphilis will eliminate the bacteria and prevent further damage to organs, it will not reverse any damage that has already occurred. Early detection is therefore key in the fight against the condition.
Syphilis tests including TPHA, VDRL and RPR have helped facilitate this early detection, identifying antibodies to the bacterium that causes syphilis (Treponema pallidum) in blood, fluid or tissues.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, Syphilis screening is increasingly being integrated into existing programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Providing syphilis is diagnosed and treated before 28 weeks of pregnancy, the prognosis is usually positive.
Work is also being done to prevent syphilis through education and access to sexual and reproductive health services. The hope is that this will reduce both inherited and new cases of the disease.
In Europe, work continues to inform and educate individuals on safe sexual practices, alerting them to the symptoms for syphilis and other STIs and the benefits of screening. As awareness grows, further steps will be made in the fight to combat this potentially devastating disease.
Syphilis Test Kits
Lorne laboratories is able to offer the following syphilis test kits:
The VDRL (Venereal disease research laboratory) test uses VDRL antigen for the detection of reagin antibodies associated with syphilis.
The RPR (Rapid plasma Reagin) test uses modified VDRL antigen containing microparticulate carbon. This aggregates in the presence of reagin type antibodies in serum or plasma.
The TPHA (Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay) test employs preserved avian erythrocytes coated with antigens of T. pallidum, which bind with the antibodies present in patient’s serum or plasma.
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