Detection of Treponema pallidum in Tissues by Indirect Immunoperoxidase Technique and FTA - ABS Complement Technique

Lee, Won Soo; Lee, Min Geol; Lee, Jung Bock

Abstract

Using the indirect immunoperoxidase and FTA ABS complement techniques, 36 skin specimen: from 30 patients with primary and secondary syphilis and a gastric mucosal specimen from a patient with secondary syphilis which were confirmed by elinical history, physical examination, VDRL, FTA ABS, TPHA, and 19s(IgM)-FTA test, were examined. The follwing results were obtained. l. Of the 37 specimens, 33(89%) were positive in the indirect immunoperoxidase techique and 26 of the 37 specimens(70g) were positive in the FTA ABS complement technique. Of the 17 specimens, 12(71%) were positive in the darkfield examination. 2. The ratio of agreement of the results between the indirect immunoperoxidase and FTA ABS complement techniques was 81%, The ratio of agreement of the results between the indirect immunoperoxidase technique and darkfield examination was 82%. 3. Most, of the treponemes were located in the upper dermis, epidermis, and blood vessel walls in the order named, and rarely in the lower dermis of the syphilitic skin lesion. There was no remarkable difference in histologic clistribution of treponemes between the clinical stages and types of syphilitic skin lesions. From the results, the indirect immunoperoxidase technique is considered a superior method than the FTA ABS complement technique and darkfield examination for detecting the treponemes in the suspected syphilitic lesions.