SEROPREVALENCE OF TREPONEMA PALLIDUM AMONG BLOOD DONORS OF PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, is a sexually transmitted infection that can also be passed from mother to child and through contaminated blood. This study estimated the prevalence of T. pallidum among blood donors at Frontier Foundation, Peshawar, and compared serological and molecular detection methods. Of 682 donor samples screened by VDRL, 15 were reactive; on further testing of these 15, 14, 13 and 10 were positive by RPR, ELISA and conventional PCR, respectively. By gender, 10 of 380 males, 4 of 205 transgender donors and 1 of 97 females were positive. Annual positives were 11 (2022), 13 (2023) and 10 (2024). Treponemal infection was present in donors of every gender group, and all four assays proved suitable for detection, indicating that continued surveillance and improved screening are needed.