The impact of host immunity on oscillating rates of syphilis when gender and race are considered

The rates of syphilis in the United States have increased since the all time low in 2000. In 2003, the rates of syphilis in the United States were 2.5 cases per 100,000. There were 178 reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis (8.9 cases per 100,000) in Houston, Texas, which was a 58.9% increase from 2002. While syphilis can be completely treated now, unlike in times past, it is still a public health concern. The purpose of this study is to examine the possibility of modeling the impact of an immune response in primary and secondary syphilis in 63 major cities across the United States, stratified by gender and racial-ethnic groups. A Fourier analysis will be performed by SAS. Subsequently, this study will compare the results to a similar study of syphilis in 68 US cities, that focused on immune response, however, did not stratified by race and gender. This study will help determine if the oscillating rates of syphilis are due to biological factors of the disease or to behavioral changes in the population. This study will use surveillance data from 63 major cities across the United States. The data will be provided by the Centers of Disease Control. Ultimately, this study will expand the knowledge of the effect of immunity on endemics.^

Sex, drugs, and STIs: Syphilis infection and hepatitis B vaccine compliance among illicit drug users in Houston

Although the association between syphilis infection status and compliance with the hepatitis B virus vaccine has been the focus of investigation, there is a lack of data regarding the association between syphilis infection and HBV vaccine compliance. The author investigated the association between the exposure of syphilis infection and the outcome of HBV vaccine completion, defined as degree of constancy and accuracy with which a patient follows a prescribed regimen. A cohort design was employed using interview and serological data from the Drugs, AIDS, STDs, Hepatitis (DASH) Research Project; analysis was restricted to HIV and HBV seronegative (at baseline), illicit drug users residing in Harris County. Syphilis negative and syphilis positive infection status was determined from the serological data while covariates and outcome information were determined from the DASH Project Questionnaire; enrolled subjects (n=1160) were selected from the data. Association between exposure and outcome was assessed with logistic regression adjusted for data-based confounders. ^ A prevalence of 7% and 71% was found for syphilis and HBV vaccine compliance, respectively. When measuring the actual association between syphilis infection status and HBV vaccine compliance, an odds ratio of 1.49 (95% CI: 0.86, 2.72) was obtained. There was a non-significant association between these two variables. 78% of the study population was syphilis positive and completed the vaccine series compared to 70% of the population that was syphilis negative and received all three doses. This finding confirms that there is a difference between syphilis positive and negative drug users with respect to HBV vaccine compliance. The fact that differences were found in these drug users with respect to vaccine schedule supports the idea that sub-group differences may exist and thus merits further investigation. If these differences are confirmed, it is recommended that STI interventions identify community characteristics of their samples and target populations based on practices specific to that community. ^

Comparison of alternative methods of contact tracing in a syphilis control program

The purpose of this study was to compare the relative effectiveness of alternative methods of tracing named contacts of syphilis patients. A total of 236 contacts, identified by patients in two City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services clinics during the period April 1 through July 31, 1987, were studied. After contacts were grouped by sex and age, the proportion brought to examination by each of three methods, and by a combination of methods, was determined for each subgroup.^ The study found that 78.4% of all the 236 named sex contacts reported were located and brought to examination by the various methods of contact tracing and that 21.6% were missed. Of the 185 contacts examined, a combination of methods identified 47.7% of the cases, telephone contact, 28.6%, field contact, 16.9%, and patient referral, 11.8%.^ Of the 236 contacts reported, males made up 56.8% and females 43.2%. Contact tracing was more successful among females, with 81.4% of the 102 named female contacts, as compared to 76.1% of the 134 named male contacts being brought to examination. It is not known whether equal efforts were exerted in the follow-up of both male and female contacts. In both female and male subgroups, a combination of methods brought over 40% of sex contacts to examination. Telephone contact among females yielded 27.7% of the cases and field contact 18.1%, whereas in males, telephone contact identified 29.4% of the cases and field contact 15.7%. Patient referral was the least productive method in both sex groups, locating 12.8% in males as compared to 10.8% in females.^ On an age specific basis, a combination of methods was the most effective method in the 15-39 age group, whereas telephone contact was most effective in the 40-44 age group, and field contact in the 50-54 age group. Of all the methods of contact tracing, patient referral was the least productive in most age groups.^ Future studies of contact tracing should incorporate several important variables which were not examined in this study. ^

A descriptive study of syphilis infection in Houston, Texas, 1999--2008

The rate of syphilis nationally has been on the rise since 2001. Syphilis, if left untreated can facilitate the transmission of HIV infection. An epidemiologic study describing the trends of syphilis is important to the public health community to lay the foundation for the development and implementation of programs to prevent and eliminate syphilis in the United States. ^ The objective of this study was to describe the trends of syphilis among the population in Houston/Harris County, Texas. ^ We reviewed surveillance data that included 11,605 unique cases from the Houston Department of Human and Health Service from 1999 through 2008. The rates were calculated per 100,000 population. ^ We show the prevalence of syphilis at testing (excluding congenital) increased 40% in Houston/Harris County, Texas from 2001 through 2008, and the ratio of syphilis comparing men to women was 2:1. The 18–29 years age group had the highest percentage of cases of syphilis among all age groups in Houston/Harris County. Primary and Secondary (P&S) syphilis, the most infectious stage, had an 85% increase in rate among males from 1999 through 2008. ^ Between 1999 and 2000, 71% of cases were identified through public facilities compared to private facilities. However, after 2001 rates shifted over more to the private facilities. By 2008, private facilities identified 54.7% of cases, compared to 45.3% identified through public facilities. This may be due to an increase among individuals who have a higher socio-economic status with access to health care insurance. ^ In conclusion, syphilis rates from 1999 through 2008 increased among all race ethnicities, age groups, and genders in Houston/Harris County. Blacks still are disproportionally affected by syphilis infections, and for the first time, White males displayed a significant increase in cases among males. It is vital to Houston public health professionals to have improved surveillance techniques to track syphilis trends and engage high risk groups to better understand their risks in hope of treating and preventing syphilis.^

A comparison of the results obtained by the complement fixation test for the diagnosis of syphilis performed according to the new technique of Kolmer and the technique of the California state hygienic laboratory,

Thesis (M.A.)--Univ. of California. Dec. 1922.

Untersuchungen über den constitutionellen Mercurialismus und sein Verhältniss zur constitutionellen Syphilis.

Includes bibliographical references (Garrison-Morton (5th ed.) 2387).

Traité complet et observations pratiques sur les maladies vénériennes, ou Nouvelle méthode de guérir radicalement la syphilis la plus invétérée /

Mode of access: Internet.

Recherches cliniques et expérimentales sur la syphilis, le chancre simple et la blennorrhagie... /

Mode of access: Internet.

Traité des syphilides ou Maladies vénériennes de la peau : précédé de considérations sur la syphilis, son origine, sa nature, etc. : accompagné d'un atlas in-folio contenant douze planches /

Contiene: I. [Texto] ([8], 630 p.) -- 2. Atlas ([12] h. de lám.)

Syphilis ou Le mal vénerien, poeme latin de Jerome Fracastor : avec la traduction en François & de notes.

Mode of access: Internet.

De la virilité : des causes de son déclin prématuré et instrutions pour en obtenir le parfait rétablissement ... suivi de remarqus sur le traitement de la syphilis, de la gonorrhée et de la blennorrhagie ... /

Mode of access: Internet.

La syphilis : ses formes, son unité /

Mode of access: Internet.

Leçons théoriques et cliniques sur la syphilis et les syphilides /

Mode of access: Internet.

Exposition critique et pratique des nouvelles doctrines sur la syphilis : suivie d'une étude sur les nouveaux moyens préservatifs des maladies vénériennes /

Mode of access: Internet.