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Amplification of the DNA polymerase I gene of Treponema
pallidum from
whole blood of persons with syphilis.
Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 2001;40:163-6.
Marfin AA, Liu
H, Sutton MY, Steiner B, Pillay A, Markowitz LE.
Abstract
Previous reports suggest that Treponema pallidum bacteremia occurs in
persons with syphilis exposure ('incubating syphilis') and in persons with
primary or secondary syphilis. During a recent syphilis outbreak, whole blood
samples from 32 persons with suspected syphilis or syphilis exposure were screened
using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the DNA polymerase I gene
(polA) of T. pallidum. Of the 32 samples, polA was amplified
from 13 (41%). Of these 13, three were determined to have incubating syphilis;
two had primary or secondary syphilis and eight had latent syphilis. This study
demonstrates that spirochetemia can occur throughout the course of T. pallidum infection.