{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,9]],"date-time":"2026-05-09T01:48:15Z","timestamp":1778291295751,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":39,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,26]],"date-time":"2023-09-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1695686400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Speedx Pty Ltd"},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000002","name":"National Institutes of Health","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["1R01AI39265-01"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1R01AI39265-01"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000002","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,30]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Syphilis diagnosis relies on immunologic markers and clinical protocols. However, syphilitic lesions can be confused with other genital ulcer diseases.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Using a PlexPCR VHS assay, we analyzed lesion DNA samples from 87 individuals who were clinically diagnosed with early syphilis infection and had at least 1 positive serologic test result. DNA was detected by the PlexPCR VHS multiplex assay and \u03b2-globin genes.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Among the participants, 99% (86\/87) had a positive rapid treponemal test result. DNA was successfully detected in 91% (79\/87) of the lesion samples. PlexPCR VHS identified 5 herpes simplex virus (HSV)\/Treponema pallidum coinfections (2 HSV-1 and 3 HSV-2), only T pallidum DNA in 62% (49\/79), and only HSV-2 in 12.7% (10\/79). While 19% (15\/79) were negative for all pathogens, none were varicella zoster virus positive. The PlexPCR VHS had 68.4% agreement with the clinical diagnosis.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>\n               <jats:sec>\n                  <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Since the PlexPCR VHS detects multiple organisms simultaneously, it can help to confirm actual syphilis and identify other pathogen coinfections or the pathogen causing the ulcer.<\/jats:p>\n               <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1093\/ofid\/ofad483","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,26]],"date-time":"2023-09-26T16:55:41Z","timestamp":1695747341000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Molecular Characterization of Genital and Extragenital Lesions With the PlexPCR VHS Assay in Patients Diagnosed With Syphilis"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5370-6176","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Eguiluz","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia , Lima , Peru"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jazmin","family":"Qquellon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia , Lima , Peru"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Silver K","family":"Vargas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia , Lima , Peru"},{"name":"School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia , Lima , Peru"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Reyes-Diaz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia , Lima , Peru"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Kelika A","family":"Konda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia , Lima , Peru"},{"name":"Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California , USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Carlos F","family":"Caceres","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia , Lima , Peru"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jeffrey D","family":"Klausner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California , Los Angeles, California , 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