Chancroid, primary syphilis, genital herpes, and lymphogranuloma venereum in Antananarivo, Madagascar

J Infect Dis. 1999 Oct;180(4):1382-5. doi: 10.1086/315005.

Abstract

Ulcer material from consecutive patients attending clinics in Antananarivo, Madagascar, was tested using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) to detect Treponema pallidum, Haemophilus ducreyi, and herpes simplex virus. Sera were tested for syphilis and for IgG and IgM antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis by microimmunofluorescence testing (MIF). By M-PCR, 33% of 196 patients had chancroid, 29% had syphilitic ulcers, and 10% had genital herpes; 32% of the ulcer specimens were M-PCR negative. Compared with M-PCR, syphilis serology was 72% sensitive and 83% specific. The sensitivity of clinical diagnosis of syphilis, chancroid, and genital herpes was 93%, 53%, and 0% and specificity was 20%, 52%, and 99%, respectively. Less schooling was associated with increased prevalence of syphilitic ulcers (P=.001). Sixteen patients (8%) were clinically diagnosed with lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV); 1 plausible case of LGV was found by MIF. In Madagascar, primary care of genital ulcers should include syndromic treatment for syphilis and chancroid.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chancroid / diagnosis
  • Chancroid / epidemiology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Female
  • Haemophilus ducreyi / isolation & purification
  • Herpes Genitalis / diagnosis
  • Herpes Genitalis / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphogranuloma Venereum / diagnosis
  • Lymphogranuloma Venereum / epidemiology*
  • Madagascar / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Simplexvirus / isolation & purification
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Syphilis / diagnosis
  • Syphilis / epidemiology*
  • Treponema pallidum / isolation & purification
  • Ulcer / epidemiology
  • Ulcer / etiology
  • Ulcer / microbiology