Treponematosis (Endemic Syphilis, Yaws, and Pinta) Questions & Answers

1. Mikalová L, Strouhal M, Oppelt J, Grange PA, Janier M, Benhaddou N, et al. Human Treponema pallidum 11q/j isolate belongs to subsp. endemicum but contains two loci with a sequence in TP0548 and TP0488 similar to subsp. pertenue and subsp. pallidum, respectively. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2017 Mar. 11 (3):e0005434. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

2. Smajs D, Norris SJ, Weinstock GM. Genetic diversity in Treponema pallidum: Implications for pathogenesis, evolution and molecular diagnostics of syphilis and yaws. Infect Genet Evol. 2011 Dec 15. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

3. Mikalová L, Strouhal M, Cejková D, Zobaníková M, Pospíšilová P, Norris SJ, et al. Genome analysis of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum and subsp. pertenue strains: most of the genetic differences are localized in six regions. PLoS One. 2010 Dec 29. 5(12):e15713. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

4. Giacani L, Lukehart SA. The endemic treponematoses. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2014 Jan. 27 (1):89-115. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

5. Kawahata T, Kojima Y, Furubayashi K, Shinohara K, Shimizu T, Komano J, et al. Bejel, a Nonvenereal Treponematosis, among Men Who Have Sex with Men, Japan. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Aug. 25 (8):1581-1583. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].

6. Kojima Y, Furubayashi K, Kawahata T, Mori H, Komano J. Circulation of Distinct Treponema pallidum Strains in Individuals with Heterosexual Orientation and Men Who Have Sex with Men. J Clin Microbiol. 2019 Jan. 57 (1):[QxMD MEDLINE Link].

7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Notice to readers: Recommendations regarding screening of refugee children for treponemal infection. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2005. 54(37):933-4. [Full Text].

8. Global Health Observatory Data (Endemic treponematoses). World Health Organization. Available at https://www.who.int/gho/neglected_diseases/treponematoses/en/. October 16, 2019;

9. Julvez J, Michault A, Kerdelhue V. [Serologic studies of non-venereal treponematoses in infants in Niamey, Niger]. Med Trop (Mars). 1998. 58(1):38-40. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

10. World Health Organization. Yaws, Fact sheet no. 316, Updated February 2014. World Health Organization. Available at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs316/en/. Accessed: June 4, 2014.

11. Maurice J. WHO plans new yaws eradication campaign. Lancet. 2012 Apr 14. 379(9824):1377-8. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

12. Tabbara KF, al Kaff AS, Fadel T. Ocular manifestations of endemic syphilis (bejel). Ophthalmology. 1989 Jul. 96(7):1087-91. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

13. Marks M, Mitjà O, Solomon AW, Asiedu KB, Mabey DC. Yaws. Br Med Bull. 2015 Mar. 113 (1):91-100. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

14. Mitjà O, Lukehart S, Bassat Q. Mass Treatment with Single-Dose Azithromycin for Yaws. N Engl J Med. 2016 Sep 15. 375 (11):1094. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

15. Backhouse JL, Hudson BJ, Hamilton PA. Failure of penicillin treatment of yaws on Karkar Island, Papua New Guinea. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1998 Sep. 59(3):388-92. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

16. Kazura JW. Yaws eradication--a goal finally within reach. N Engl J Med. 2015 Feb 19. 372 (8):693-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

17. Mitjà O, Hays R, Ipai A, Gubaila D, Lelngei F, Kiara M, et al. Outcome predictors in treatment of yaws. Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Jun. 17(6):1083-5. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

Steven M Fine, MD, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Rochester School of Medicine

Steven M Fine, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lynn S Fine, PhD, MPH Manager of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, ACM Medical Laboratories; Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, St John Fisher College and Nazareth College

Lynn S Fine, PhD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Public Health Association, Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

John L Brusch, MD, FACP Corresponding Faculty Member, Harvard Medical School

John L Brusch, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey M Zaks, MD Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine; Vice President, Medical Affairs, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Internal Medicine, Providence Hospital

Jeffrey M Zaks, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Cardiology, American College of Healthcare Executives, American Association for Physician Leadership, American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

• Print this section
• Print the entire contents of
• Print the entire contents of article