Serological tests for treponemal disease in adults in two Jamaican communities

ABSTRACT

VDRL and RPCF tests were carried out on representative samples of about 500 subjects aged 35-64 living in a rural area of Jamaica where yaws was once common, and in about the same number of subjects in a suburban community where yaws transmission very rarely occurred; some people had, however, spent their childhood in rural areas. The proportion of reactors was high; 40 per cent. by the VDRL and 50 per cent. by the RPCF tests were reactive in the rural area; 34 per cent. by the VDRL and 38 per cent. by the RPCF were reactive in the suburban community. The reactivity of those who were born and brought up in the suburban community was lower (16 and 24 per cent. by the VDRL and RPCF tests respectively) than that of those who had spent their childhood in rural areas before migrating to the city. These differences are attributed to the prevalence of yaws infection acquired in childhood in rural areas; although the disease had been cured, sero-reactivity persisted. The rapidly changing pattern of treponemal infection and the difficulties involved in interpreting serological tests in Jamaica are briefly discussed.(Summary)