Macrolide treatment failure in a case of secondary syphilis: a novel A2059G mutation in the 23S rRNA gene of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum.

We report an occurrence of treatment failure after oral spiramycin therapy in a man with secondary syphilis and a reported penicillin and tetracycline allergy. Molecular detection revealed treponemal DNA in the blood of the patient and sequencing of the 23S rDNA identified an A to G transition at the gene position corresponding to position 2059 in the Escherichia coli 23S rRNA gene. The occurrence of this novel 23S rDNA mutation was examined among 7 rabbit-propagated syphilitic strains of Treponema pallidum and among 22 syphilis patient isolates from the Czech Republic. The prevalence of A2058G and A2059G mutations among clinical specimens was 18.2 and 18.2 %, respectively.

[Issues of congenital syphilis in the past twenty years. I. Etiology, epidemiology and diagnosis]. / Problematikka vrozené syfilis v posledních dvacet letech. I. Etiologie, epidemiologie a diagnostika.

Since 1990 there is an upward trend in the incidence of both acquired and congenital syphilis in the Czech Republic. A similar situation exists in other European countries as well. Higher incidence of syphilis is clearly associated with urban agglomerates and sexual tourism destinations. The only way to reduce the number of cases is a consistent application of mandatory preventive and diagnostic measures. These important measures against the spreading of the infection include mandatory serological testing of pregnant women and newborns (from umbilical blood), antibiotic treatment and systematic follow-up of HIV-positive mothers and children. This paper describes the current epidemiological situation of syphilis in the Czech Republic and presents a review of available diagnostic tests and their significance for diagnosis.

[Issues of congenital syphilis in the past twenty years. II. Clinical picture]. / Problematikka vrozené syfilis v posledních dvacet letech. II. Klinický obraz.

The paper describes the clinical picture and management of congenital syphilis. In the introduction the origin of syphilis is mentioned. The etiologic agent -- Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (Tp) -- is transmitted to fetus almost exclusively via placenta. Perinatal infections are less frequent, and postnatal infections are only exceptionally. The symptoms of congenital syphilis may be divided into prenatal (syphilis materno-fetalis), neonatal, and rarely seen postnatal. Prenatal symptoms causing the immaturity of fetus are recognizable from the 7th month of pregnancy and associated with miscarriages, premature deliveries of still-born babies or live neonates with congenital syphilis. Neonatal and postnatal symptoms are manifested only after birth. They may present immediately at birth, develop within first two years of life as early congenital syphilis, or (similarly to acquired syphilis) later in life as a late localized form, often seen many years after birth, even at puberty -- late congenital syphilis. The clinical picture depends on many factors -- primarily on the duration of the infection in mother and the stage of pregnancy.