Presentation
Diagnosis of syphilis is usually based on clinical presentation, dark-field microscope analysis, and serological tests. [biosb.com]
Here we present three historic T. pallidum genomes (two from T. pallidum ssp. pallidum and one from T. pallidum ssp. pertenue) that have been reconstructed from skeletons recovered from the Convent of Santa Isabel in Mexico City, operational between the [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The most commonly observed clinical presentation is a generalized, nonpruritic papulosquamous eruption. [e-ijd.org]
Immune System
- Inguinal Lymphadenopathy
On physical examination, there is a 1-cm ulcer on the underside of the penis and bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy. Dark-field microscopy reveals motile, spiral-shaped organisms. [step1.medbullets.com]
Regional (usually inguinal) lymphadenopathy which appears within 1 week of onset of skin lesions. Lymph nodes are painless firm, non-suppurative, and often bilateral. [microbenotes.com]
On physical examination, he had an indurated, nontender ulcer 1 cm in diameter on the glans penis and left inguinal lymphadenopathy. The rapid plasma reagin test was reactive, but on dark-field microscopical examination, the lesion was negative. [nejm.org]
Entire Body System
- Asymptomatic
The spirochete Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum is the causative agent of syphilis, a chronic, sexually transmitted infection characterized by multiple symptomatic and asymptomatic stages. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The primary outcome was the proportion of men with T pallidum detected from potentially asymptomatic sites—namely, the mouth, anus, urethra, and semen. [thelancet.com]
- Weakness
Comment in Genome reveals wiles and weak points of syphilis. Pennisi E. Pennisi E. Science. 1998 Jul 17;281(5375):324-5. doi: 10.1126/science.281.5375.324. Science. 1998. PMID: 9705704 No abstract available. [pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Cardiovascular syphilis : damages heart, arteries, enlarged aorta, aneurysms (blood vessels become weak; bubble forms, which can break and cause patient to bleed to death) b. [microbiologyusp.wikia.com]
Signs and symptoms of neurosyphilis can include: severe headache; muscle weakness and/or trouble with muscle movements; and changes to your mental state (trouble focusing, confusion, personality change) and/or dementia (problems with memory, thinking, [cdc.gov]
Epidemic re-emergence of weak infections Interestingly, our model features a universal lack of an epidemic threshold in the limit of infinite population size. This complements earlier work [ 27 ]. [doi.org]
- Constitutional Symptom
A 37-yr-old homosexual man presented with mild anorectal symptoms, a diffuse maculopapular rash, constitutional symptoms, and a reactive serologic test for syphilis. Sigmoidoscopy revealed a 2 x 2-cm indurated rectal mass 5 cm above the anal verge. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Secondary Syphilis is characterized by disseminated disease, constitutional symptoms, rash on hands and soles, condyloma lata, lymphadenopathy, and patchy hair loss. [osmosis.org]
Mild constitutional symptoms of malaise, headache, anorexia, nausea, aching pains in the bones, and fatigability are often present. Congenital syphilis is the result of passage of T. pallidum across the placenta. [biovision.com]
symptoms do not accompany infection with pinta. [doi.org]
- Sepsis
WPV1 cases reported New test for COVID-19 may deliver faster results to more people Hot Zone author, Richard Preston, warns of Nipah virus Malaria concerns for Africa during COVID-19 pandemic Cytovale Receives Additional BARDA Funding to Evaluate Rapid Sepsis [outbreaknewstoday.com]
Thomson Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK Michael Marks HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK Michelle J. [nature.com]
Respiratoric
- Rhinitis
Manifestations of congenital syphilis include: Earliest manifestations occur within 2 years of age and affected children are infectious and they suffer from rhinitis (or snuffles), mucocutaneous lesions, bone changes, hepatospleenomegaly and lymphadenopathy [microbenotes.com]
“Snuffles” describes the mucopurulent rhinitis caused by involvement of the nasal mucosae. [emedicine.medscape.com]
Invasion of T. pallidum into the nasal mucosa causes persistent rhinitis with a whitish discharge that is sometimes tinged with blood. [cmr.asm.org]
Gastrointestinal
- Regurgitation
[…] meningitis) Meningovascular syphilis (vasculitis of arteries leading to embolic stroke) General paresis of insane Tabes dorsalis (demyelination of the posterior columns) Cardiovascular syphilis Characterized by aneurysm of ascending aorta and aortic regurgitation [microbenotes.com]
Complications occur in approximately 10% of individuals with untreated syphilis ( 160 ), the most common being aortic regurgitation. Other complications are coronary ostial stenosis and saccular aneurysm ( 153 ). [cmr.asm.org]
Skin
- Papule
Within 2–10 weeks after infection, a papule develops at the site of infection and breaks down to form an ulcer with a clean, hard base (“hard chancre”), also called as primary lesion. [microbenotes.com]
The primary lesion, or mother yaw, develops within 2 to 4 weeks at the site of skin entry as a painless erythematous papule or group of papules. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
papules ( 23 ). [doi.org]
- Skin Pustule
Secondary Syphilis • Secondary syphilis at 2- 10 weeks after primary lesion – diffuse symptoms: – Fever – Headache – Skin pustules • Usually disappears even without 23 24. [slideshare.net]
Musculoskeletal
- Saber Shin
Congenital syphilis is a subtype in neonates acquired from the mother in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, that presents with facial anomalies like snuffles, a saddle nose, Hutchinson teeth, mulberry molars, short maxillae, saber shins, and [osmosis.org]
Residual stigmata may remain for long time such as: Hutchinson’s teeth (notched central incisors) Mulberry molars Saddle nose, and saber shins In the congenital infection, the child makes IgM antitreponemal antibody. [microbenotes.com]
Later manifestations of congenital syphilis include bone and teeth deformities, such as “saddle nose” (due to destruction of the nasal septum), “saber shins” (due to inflammation and bowing of the tibia), “Clutton’s joints” (due to inflammation of the [emedicine.medscape.com]
(F) Saber shin, caused by chronic osteitis. (Panels A, C, and D are courtesy of Cynthia Kwakye and the Ghana National Yaws Eradication Program, reproduced with permission. [doi.org]
- Bilateral Knee Effusion
It is characterized by interstitial keratitis, eighth-nerve deafness, bilateral knee effusions (Clutton’s joints). [microbenotes.com]
Psychiatrical
- Distractibility
“The protein acts like a distraction that draws the immune system away from proteins that might be the bacterium’s Achilles heel. More work will be required to determine if this is the case in TprK.” [outbreaknewstoday.com]
Neurologic
- Seizure
General paresis causes paralysis, tremors, seizures, and general mental decline from damage to brain cells. Gummas form anywhere on the brain or spinal cord therefore causing a variety of neurological defects. [plaza.ufl.edu]
Other presenting problems include aphasia and seizures. [infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com]
- Stroke
Meningovascular neurosyphilis causes cranial nerve damage, pupil abnormalities, and sometimes stroke. Tabes dorsalis is described as a progressive degeneration of the spinal cord thereby causing inability to walk. [plaza.ufl.edu]
[…] syphilis Granulomatous lesions in the skin, bones, and liver Neurosyphilis Degenerative changes in the central nervous system Common manifestations include: Meningeal syphilis (meningitis) Meningovascular syphilis (vasculitis of arteries leading to embolic stroke [microbenotes.com]
Neurological problems Syphilis can cause a number of problems with the nervous system, including: Headache Stroke Meningitis Hearing loss Visual problems, including blindness Dementia Loss of pain and temperature sensations Sexual dysfunction in men Bladder [mayoclinic.org]
Seizures or a stroke-like event may be the initial presenting complaint. [infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com]
- Irritability
Impairment of memory and speech, personality changes, irritability, and psychotic symptoms develop and may advance to progressive dementia. [emedicine.medscape.com]
Workup
May aid in the workup of neurosyphilis. Mnemonic Unique test identifier. FTA CSF G Methodology Process(es) used to perform the test. Semi-Quantitative Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Performed Days of the week the test is performed. [ltd.aruplab.com]
Syphilis Workup. In: Bronze MS, ed. Medscape. Updated July 11, 2017. Accessed September 13, 2022. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/229461-workup Fine SM. Treponematosis (Endemic Syphilis, Yaws, and Pinta) Workup. In: Brusch JL, ed. Medscape. [testing.com]
Cytology
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Abnormality
Normalization of cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities after neurosyphilis therapy: does HIV status matter? Clin. Infect. Dis. 38 : 1001 -1006. ↵ Marra, C. M., L. C. Tantalo, C. L. Maxwell, K. Dougherty, and B. Wood. 2004. [cmr.asm.org]
Normalization of cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities after neurosyphilis therapy: does HIV status matter? Clin Infect Dis. 2004;38:1001-6.[PubMed] 76. Marra CM, Tantalo LC, Maxwell CL, Dougherty K, Wood B. [antimicrobe.org]
Microbiology
- Treponema Pallidum
Product Description Spirochete (Treponema pallidum) is the causative agent of syphilis. [biocare.net]
Treponema pallidum Antibody (TrP33) Summary Immunogen Formalin inactivated Treponema pallidum, strain N8, cultivated in vitro. [novusbio.com]
MATĚJKOVÁ Petra ŠMAJS David Year: 2006, type: Conference abstract Detekce původce syfilis Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum v klinických vzorcích. [muni.cz]
pallidum nowiki Treponema pallidum plwiki Krętek blady ptwiki Treponema pallidum rowiki Treponema pallidum ruwiki Бледная трепонема simplewiki Treponema pallidum svwiki Treponema pallidum trwiki Treponema pallidum ukwiki Treponema pallidum viwiki Treponema [wikidata.org]
- Treponema Carateum
The agents of human treponematoses include four closely related members of the genus Treponema: three subspecies of Treponema pallidum plus Treponema carateum. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Millions of people have been, and continue to be, infected by pathogenic Treponema, including the three Treponema pallidum subspecies and Treponema carateum. [grantome.com]
[…] pathogenic subspecies while T. p. carateum is the least invasive of the subspecies. [en.wikipedia.org]
T reponema pallidum subspp. pallidum, endemicum, and pertenue, the agents of venereal syphilis, endemic syphilis, and yaws, respectively, together with Treponema carateum, the agent of pinta, are primary pathogens of humans that have eluded in vitro cultivation [aac.asm.org]
- Candida
[…] verification BIOCHIP, HHV-6, Rubella virus*, Measles virus, Mumps virus field B: VZV, EBV-CA, EBV-EA, Treponema pallidum field C: HSV-1 and -2, Coxsackie virus type B1 and A9 field D: Echo virus type 7, Borrelia afzelii, burgdorferi (CH), garinii field E: CMV, Candida [euroimmun.com]
Treatment
Abstract Currently, the efficacy of syphilis treatment is measured with anti-lipid antibody tests. These can take months to indicate cure and, as a result, syphilis treatment trials require long periods of follow-up. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prognosis
[…] favorable prognosis for patients diagnosed with either primary or secondary syphilis 20% of untreated patients with tertiary syphilis die of the disease prognosis for tertiary syphilis depends on extent of scarring and tissue damage with adequate treatment [step1.medbullets.com]
Its prognosis is poor and optimal therapy has not been determined. Tuberculous meningitis has a high mortality in those also infected with HIV, especially in the developing world, and better therapies are urgently needed. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Etiology
They were the first investigators to find the etiological agent of syphilis, described under the name of Spirochaeta pallida. [scielo.br]
The etiological agent of yaws, Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue (T. pertenue), was discovered by Aldo Castellani in 1905 shortly after Schaudinn and Hoffmann discovered the etiological agent of syphilis, T. pallidum subspecies pallidum. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The spirochete Treponema pallidum (Tp), the etiologic agent of syphilis, causes a multistage sexually transmitted infection (STI). [certest.es]
Epidemiology
Author information 1 Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Germany; Primatology Department, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 2 Epidemiology [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
All these data should improve our understanding of syphilis epidemiology. [peerj.com]
Pathophysiology
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful Identification of Treponema pallidum in tissues Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test [mayocliniclabs.com]
Syphilis: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Clinical Manifestations in Patients Without HIV. In: Marrazzo J, ed. UpToDate. Updated July 15, 2022. [testing.com]
Vascular inflammation is a complex and multifactorial pathophysiological process that plays a crucial role in the development and progression of disease (Clarke et al., 2010; Iwata et al., 2010; Yang et al., 2018; Zeng et al., 2018). [frontiersin.org]
Prevention
Author information 1 Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Japan; Department of Molecular Epidemiology and Biomedical Sciences, Japan. 2 Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Aichi Medical University [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]