Treponemal serological tests in Jamaican school children

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Abstract
Yaws, although occurring in parts of Jamaica, is much rarer than in the past. Sera from children, 7-15 years old, attending primary schools in areas in which the incidence of yaws differs, were examined by the VDRL [venereal disease research laboratory] and RPCF [Reiter protein complement fixation] tests. The proportion reactive at the schools ranged from 1.6% to 27.6% and 4.0% to 34.1% respectively. Clinical yaws was seen in only one of the sero-reactors; most of the other positive tests were in children with either latent or cured yaws. It is suggested that the RPCF, which showed a higher proportion of reactions than the VDRL test, measures antibodies against yaws different from those measured by the VDRL test in these circumstances. The immediate and long-term problems of sero-reactivity in a country where both yaws and syphilis are present are discussed.