Treponema pallidum Infection in Primates: Clinical Manifestations, Epidemiology, and Evolution of a Stealthy Pathogen

2013 ◽  
pp. 189-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin N. Harper ◽  
Sascha Knauf
Keyword(s):  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations

scholarly journals Beyond appearance: An unusual manifestation of isolated oral secondary syphilis

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 205873841984556
Author(s):  
Elena Mari ◽  
Maurizio Nudo ◽  
Enzo Palese ◽  
Luisa Cotticelli ◽  
Ciro Cotticelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Infection ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Secondary Syphilis ◽  
Unusual Manifestation ◽  
Oral Manifestation ◽  
Secondary Stage ◽  
Recurrent Activity ◽  
Systemic Manifestations ◽  
Mucosal Lesions

Syphilis is a sexually acquired chronic infection caused by Treponema pallidum and is characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations. The secondary stage of the disease results from the hematogenous and lymphatic dissemination of treponemes after a few weeks or months, and it is characterized by recurrent activity of the disease, with muco-cutaneous as well as systemic manifestations. Mucosal lesions range from small, superficial ulcers that resemble painless aphthae to large gray plaques, and they are generally associated with systemic manifestations of the disease. The exclusive asymptomatic oral localization not associated with general manifestations is uncommon but may actually be unrecognized and under-reported. We report a case of isolated oral manifestation as the unique presentation of secondary syphilis.

Syphilis

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martyn Wood ◽  
Marilyn Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Latent Infection ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Congenital Infection ◽  
Child Transmission ◽  
Tertiary Syphilis ◽  
Latent Stage ◽  
Mother To Child ◽  
Stage Infection

The term ‘syphilis’ describes the wide-ranging clinical manifestations of infection with the slowly dividing spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. T. pallidum infection is mainly sexually acquired; it is thought the bacterium enters through microabrasions in the skin or mucosa. Congenital infection via mother-to-child transmission is also recognized. The driving force of the clinical manifestations of all stages of syphilis is an underlying and often multisystem vasculitis. Acquired syphilis can be divided into early and late presentations. In early stage infection, the T. pallidum infection has been acquired within 2 years of the diagnosis. This early stage includes the symptomatic primary and secondary stages of infection, and the asymptomatic early latent stage. Late infection of over 2 years’ standing includes all the manifestations of tertiary syphilis and asymptomatic late latent infection. This chapter discusses syphilis, including its demographics, etiology, natural history, complications, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.

scholarly journals Syphilis Diagnosis through Oral Lesions of Different Clinical Aspects: Report of 3 Cases

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 106-109
Author(s):  
Matheus Bruno Costa ◽  
Erika Terumi Tomisaki ◽  
Fabio Augusto Ito ◽  
Heliton Gustavo de Lima ◽  
Willian Ricardo Pires ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Clinical Aspects ◽  
Oral Lesions ◽  
Oral Manifestations ◽  
Benzathine Penicillin ◽  
Incisional Biopsy ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
And Control

Abstract Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection, caused by the anaerobic spirochete Treponema pallidum. It is characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations including the oral mucosa, mimicking several diseases, thereby making diagnosis a challenge for clinicians. Therefore, the objective of this work is to report three cases of syphilis that were diagnosed based on oral lesions of different clinical aspects. In this series of cases, the lesions were found on the tongue and hard palate and presented as white plaques, ulcers or erythematous spots associated with ulcers. In the two cases, incisional biopsy was performed, and the histopathological aspects were suggestive of syphilis. Treponemic and non-treponemic tests were positive for all the patients, confirming syphilis. Therapy with benzathine-penicillin, administered intramuscularly led to complete remission of oral lesions in all the patients. The syphilis reemergence in the last years demands its inclusion in the differential diagnosis of several oral lesions. Diagnosing syphilis by oral lesions can be difficult once it can mimic other conditions. Therefore, dentists should know the clinical aspects of this infection, since many cases may exhibit only oral manifestations, to help in the diagnosis and control of the infection spread. Keywords: Syphilis. Treponemal Infections. Oral Manifestations. ResumoA sífilis é uma infecção sexualmente transmissível, causada pela espiroqueta anaeróbia Treponema pallidum. É caracterizada por uma variedade de manifestações clínicas, incluindo a mucosa oral, podendo mimetizar várias doenças, tornando o diagnóstico um desafio. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho é relatar três casos de sífilis diagnosticados a partir de lesões orais de diferentes aspectos clínicos. Nesta série de casos, as lesões foram encontradas na língua e palato duro e apresentadas como placas brancas, úlceras ou manchas eritematosas associadas a úlceras. Em dois casos, foi realizada biópsia incisional e os aspectos histopatológicos foram sugestivos de sífilis. Os testes treponêmicos e não treponêmicos foram positivos para todos os pacientes, confirmando a sífilis. A terapia com penicilina benzatina, administrada por via intramuscular, levou à remissão completa das lesões orais em todos os pacientes. O ressurgimento da sífilis nos últimos anos exige sua inclusão no diagnóstico diferencial de várias lesões bucais. O diagnóstico da sífilis por lesões orais pode ser difícil, pois pode mimetizar outras condições. Portanto, o dentista deve conhecer os aspectos clínicos dessa infecção, pois muitos casos podem apresentar apenas manifestações orais, para auxiliar no diagnóstico e controle da disseminação da infecção. Palavras-chave: Sífilis. Infecção Treponêmica. Manifestações Orais.

scholarly journals Laboratory Examination of Syphilis

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 722-741
Author(s):  
M. Izazi Hari Purwoko ◽  
Mutia Devi ◽  
Suroso Adi Nugroho ◽  
Fitriani Fitriani ◽  
Raden Pamudji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venereal Disease ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Dark Field ◽  
Morphological Observation ◽  
Serologic Test ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Antibody Absorption

Syphilis, is sexually transmitted disease caused by spirochete Treponema pallidum subsp.pallidum. It have many diverse clinical manifestations that occur in distinct stages. Early diagnosis and management are the main things to prevent transmission and complication. Direct test or morphological observation is the definitive diagnosis of syphilis. This can be done through animal inoculation test, dark field microscopy, direct fluorescence antibody (DFA), and nucleid acid amplification test (NAAT). While the indirect test is a nontreponemal serologic test consist of Wasserman test, venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL), toluidine red unheated serum test (TRUST), unheated serum reagin (USR), rapid plasma reagin (RPR) and treponemal serologic test, such as T. pallidum passive particle agglutination (TPPA), T. pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA), fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-Abs), enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and rapid test. The algorithm of serologic test can be divided into traditional or reverse.

scholarly journals Secondary Syphilis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM): A Case Report

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Ade Fernandes ◽  
Evy Ervianti
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Treatment Success ◽  
Venereal Disease ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Secondary Syphilis ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Tertiary Stage ◽  
Sex With Men

Background: Recently, the incidence of syphilis among men who have sex with men (MSM) has increased rapidly, especially among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected MSM. Coinfection with these two organisms alter the symptoms and signs, progression of the disease, and the risk of progressing to the tertiary stage. Purpose: To report a case of secondary syphilis in HIV-infected MSM.  Case: A 24-year-old male complaint of multiple redness macule for 1-month duration on his chest, back, groin, palm, and soles. The rash was neither painful nor pruritic. He also complains of hair loss resulting "moth eaten" alopecia. One month before, he had a painless ulcer on his genital, which resolved without treatment. His HIV infection was diagnosed two years earlier. He had been sexually active with multiple homosexual partners without using a condom since 2010. The Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test (VDRL) titer was 1/32, and Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) was 1/20480. Initial treatment was a single dose of 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin. Serologic examination was reevaluated on month 1, 3, 6, and 9 after therapy and declined in the third month. Discussion: For HIV-infected persons, the clinical manifestations of syphilis in most of the cases remain the same. However, the lesions are more aggressive, and coexistence of primary and secondary syphilis is more frequent. Serologic tests are accurate and reliable for the diagnosis and for following a patient’s response to treatment. Penicillin is effective but physical and serological follow up is needed. Conclusion: HIV-infected MSM have higher risk of syphilis. Staging is needed to determine the treatment. Serologic examination should be repeated and long enough to monitor the treatment success.

scholarly journals Essential syphilitic alopecia: Non-scarring alopecia in 21-year-old man

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (e) ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Hafssa Chehab ◽  
Bertrand Richert
Keyword(s):  
Hair Loss ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Secondary Syphilis ◽  
Laboratory Evaluation ◽  
History Of ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACT Alopecia syphilitica is a less common clinical manifestations of secondary syphilis. It is uncommon for hair loss to be the sole or predominant manifestation, as hair loss is the chief clinical and histologic differential diagnosis of. The main difference between alopecia areata and Alopecia syphilitica is the detection of Treponema pallidum in syphilis. We present the case of a 21- year-old belgium man with different patches of non-cicatricial alopecia of his scalp. The patient denied previous history of genital or other skin lesions. Laboratory evaluation was positive for syphilis. The diagnosis of alopecia syphilitica was made and he was treated with single intramuscular injections of benzathine penicillin. The lesions improved with treatment in all the patients who attended follow-up. Dermatologists should maintain a high level of clinical suspicion for this uncommon manifestation of syphilis, particularly when it is the only symptom.

Cholangitis and pulmonary nodules in a clinical presentation of syphilis in an HIV-infected patient

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 820-824
Author(s):  
Evelyn Hermida-Lama ◽  
Javier Marco-Hernández ◽  
Alice Annalisa Medaglia ◽  
Mario Pagès ◽  
Ivan Vollmer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Infected Patient ◽  
Clinical Presentation ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Pulmonary Nodules ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Liver Biopsies ◽  
Sex With Men

Several clinical manifestations attributed to syphilitic infection have been described in the literature. This is important because of the increased incidence of this infection mainly among men who have sex with men. We report the case of an HIV-infected patient who was hospitalized due to severe cholestasis, initially interpreted as drug-induced liver disease. It evolved slowly, with increasing intrahepatic cholangitis confirmed by magnetic resonance cholangiography and the appearance of several pulmonary nodules. In lung and liver biopsies, the presence of Treponema pallidum was detected by molecular and immunohistochemistry techniques, and a diagnosis of cholangitis and pulmonary syphilis was made.

scholarly journals Dendritic Cells Phagocytose and Are Activated byTreponema pallidum

2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 518-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah A. Bouis ◽  
Taissia G. Popova ◽  
Akira Takashima ◽  
Michael V. Norgard
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Transmitted Disease ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Dc Line

ABSTRACT Cell-mediated immune processes play a prominent role in the clinical manifestations of syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease of humans caused by spirochetal bacterium Treponema pallidum. The immune cell type that initiates the early immune response toT. pallidum thus far has not been identified. However, dendritic cells (DCs) are the first immune-competent cells to encounter antigens within skin or mucous membranes, the principal sites of early syphilitic infection. In the present study, immature DC line XS52, derived from murine skin, was utilized to examine T. pallidum-DC interactions and subsequent DC activation (maturation). Electron microscopy revealed that T. pallidumwas engulfed by DCs via both coiling and conventional phagocytosis and was delivered to membrane-bound vacuoles. The XS52 DC line expressed surface CD14 and mRNA for Toll-like receptors 2 and 4, molecules comprising important signaling components for immune cell activation by bacterial modulins. Both T. pallidum and a synthetic lipopeptide (corresponding to the 47-kDa major membrane lipoprotein) activated the XS52 DC line, as indicated by the secretion of interleukin-12 (IL-12), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6 and elevated surface expression of CD54. The combined data support the contention that DCs stimulated by T. pallidum and/or its proinflammatory membrane lipoproteins are involved in driving the cellular immune processes that typify syphilis.

scholarly journals Congenital Syphilis Coinfection in a Preterm Infant with Early Onset Sepsis due to Enterobacter cloacae

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Sakviseth Bin ◽  
Sethikar Im
Keyword(s):  
Early Onset ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Congenital Syphilis ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Enterobacter Cloacae ◽  
Benzyl Penicillin ◽  
Fourfold Increase ◽  
Early Onset Sepsis

Introduction. Syphilis is a tropical disease, caused by a spirochete Treponema pallidum, which can be transmitted transplacentally from untreated mothers to the fetus during any stages of pregnancy. Clinical manifestations of early congenital syphilis are variable and nonspecific. The diagnosis is based on the serology status of the mother, newborn clinical symptoms, and comparative serology titer between mother and newborn. Case Presentation. A late preterm female infant, appropriate for gestational age, was treated for severe early onset sepsis due to Enterobacter cloacae since day 2 of life. The coinfection with Treponema pallidum was suspected and confirmed at day 4 with clinical signs and a fourfold increase of rapid plasma reagin (RPR) compared to mother’s serology. Combined with meropenem and amikacin, Benzyl-Penicillin was used for 10 days, thereby resulting in a significant clinical and laboratory improvement. The girl was discharged at day 18 and brought for regular follow-ups for both growth milestone and syphilis serology. RPR decreased fourfold at the age of 1 month. Conclusion. Syphilis should not be overlooked. The vertical transmission is preventable by an on-time treatment of the infected mother, triggered by a proper antenatal screening at the right time. Congenital syphilis should be ruled out in any challenging neonatal sepsis. The diagnosis tools and treatments are easily accessible and inexpensive in our economical settings.

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