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The fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test is a diagnostic test for syphilis.Using antibodies specific for the Treponema pallidum species, such tests would be assumed to be more specific than non-treponemal testing such as VDRL but have been shown repeatedly to be sensitive but not specific for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay and the Toluidine red unheated serum test (TRUST), which may be used to confirm a positive VDRL result, are more specific for syphilis than non-treponemal tests and in the presence of a positive test, more likely indicate active infection.
Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum is a spiral-shaped, Gram-negative, highly mobile bacterium. [ 11 ] [ 22 ] Two other human diseases are caused by related Treponema pallidum subspecies, yaws (subspecies pertenue ) and bejel (subspecies endemicum ), and one further caused by the very closely related Treponema carateum , pinta .
Treponema pallidum pallidum is a motile spirochete that is generally acquired by close sexual contact, entering the host via breaches in squamous or columnar epithelium. The organism can also be transmitted to a fetus by transplacental passage during the later stages of pregnancy, giving rise to congenital syphilis. [ 53 ]
It is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum when it infects the baby after crossing the placenta or from contact with a syphilitic sore at birth. [4] [5] It is not transmitted during breastfeeding unless there is an open sore on the mother's breast. [4] The unborn baby can become infected at any time during the ...
Fig. 1: Microwells showing positive and negative TPHA test. The Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay (also called TPPA test) is an indirect agglutination assay used for detection and titration of antibodies against the causative agent of syphilis, Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. It also detects other treponematoses. [citation ...
A sexually transmitted infection (STI), also referred to as a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and the older term venereal disease (VD), is an infection that is spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, or sometimes manual sex.
The CSF is tested for antibodies for specific Treponema pallidum antigens. The preferred test is the VDRL test, which is sometimes supplemented by fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS). [1] [2] [3] Historically, the disease was studied under the Tuskegee study, often cited as an example of unethical human experimentation.