Detection of Treponema pallidum in Tissue by FTA - ABS Complement Test

Chung, Kee Yang; Lee, Min Geol; Lee, Jung Bock

Abstract

Using the FTA-ABS complernent test, 32 skin speciruens from 27 patients with primary and secondary syphilis and a stomach specimen from a patient with suspected gastric syphilis which were confirmed by clinical history, physical examination, VDRL, FTA-ABS, and 19S(IgM)-FTA test, were tested. The following results were obtained. 1. In the darkfield examination, 7 of the 9 specimens(78%) were positive and in the FTA-ABS complernent test, 20 of the 33 specimens(61%) were positive. 2. The ratio of agreement between the darkfield examination and the FTA-ABS complement test was 89%. 3. In the chancres, macular syphilids, and condyloma lata, T. pallida were diffusely scattered in the epidermis, dermoepidermal junction, connective tiasue, and vascular walls, whereas in the papular syphilid T. pallida were mainly aggregated in the the epidermis, dermoepidermal junction, papillary dermis as well as the blood vessel walls in the papillary dermis. From these results, the FTA-ABS complement test can be considered to be a useful method for both the diagnosis and research of syphilis. It is especially helpful in cases where serological or histopathological study can not confirrn the diagnosis as when internal organs are involved.