Biological false positive Wassermann reactions in Uganda.

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Abstract
The "Wassermann Reaction" (WR) and the Reiter protein complement-fixation test (RPCF) were carried out on a variety of persons in Uganda in an effort to assess the prevalence of treponemal disease (as evidence by a positive RPCF test) and of biologic false positivity (BFP) (as evidenced by a positive WR and a negative RPCF test). About 15 percent of the adult population showed evidence of treponemal infections, probably mostly syphilis but in part-yaws. BFP reactions were also very common, most frequent in children and decreasing in frequency with age. BFP reactions were no more frequent among patients suffering from leprosy than among those in the general population. Although a positive correlation was found between the malaria antibody titer and the percent with BFP reactions, the prevalence of BFP was similar in malarious and non-malarious areas of the country. It is concluded that BFP reactions to leprosy, malaria, small-pox vaccination and malnutrition probably account for only a minority of the BFP reactions.