This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Singh, A. E.
Right arrow Articles by Romanowski, B.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Singh, A. E.
Right arrow Articles by Romanowski, B.
Right arrowPubmed/NCBI databases
Medline Plus Health Information
*Syphilis

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, April 1999, p. 187-209, Vol. 12, No. 2
0893-8512/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Syphilis: Review with Emphasis on Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Some Biologic Features

Ameeta E. Singh1,2 and Barbara Romanowski2,*

Alberta Health STD Services1 and Department of Medicine, University of Alberta,2 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Syphilis is a chronic disease with a waxing and waning course, the manifestations of which have been described for centuries. It occurs worldwide, and the incidence varies significantly with geographic location. Transmission is mainly by sexual contact. The causative organism, Treponema pallidum, was first described in 1905, but because of the inability to culture the organism and the limitations of direct microscopy, serologic testing is the mainstay of laboratory diagnosis. The disease has been arbitrarily divided into several stages. The primary stage is defined by a chancre at the site of inoculation. The secondary stage is characterized by a polymorphic rash, lymphadenopathy, and other systemic manifestations. A variable asymptomatic latent period follows, which for epidemiologic purposes is divided into early (<1 year) and late (>1 year) stages. The early stages (primary, secondary, and early latent) are potentially infectious. The tertiary stage is the most destructive and is marked by cardiovascular and neurologic sequelae and gummatous involvement of any organ system. Congenital infection may result in protean early or late manifestations. Unlike many other bacteria causing infectious diseases, the organism remains sensitive to penicillin, and this remains the mainstay of therapy.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Ste. 1000, 8215 112 St., Edmonton, AB T6G 2C8, Canada. Phone: (780) 436-4900. Fax: (780) 436-4920. E-mail: broman{at}comcept.ab.ca.

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, April 1999, p. 187-209, Vol. 12, No. 2
0893-8512/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


This article has been cited by other articles:

  • van Dommelen, L, Smismans, A, Goossens, V J, Damoiseaux, J, Bruggeman, C A, van Tiel, F H, Hoebe, C J P A (2008). Evaluation of a rapid one-step immunochromatographic test and two immunoenzymatic assays for the detection of anti-Treponema pallidum antibodies. Sex. Transm. Infect. 84: 292-296 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Benzaken, A S, Sabido, M, Galban, E G, Pedroza, V, Vasquez, F, Araujo, A, Peeling, R W, Mayaud, P (2008). Field evaluation of the performance and testing costs of a rapid point-of-care test for syphilis in a red-light district of Manaus, Brazil. Sex. Transm. Infect. 84: 297-302 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Chuck, A., Ohinmaa, A., Tilley, P., Singh, A., Jacobs, P. (2008). Cost effectiveness of enzyme immunoassay and immunoblot testing for the diagnosis of syphilis. Int J STD AIDS 19: 393-399 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Chakraborty, R., Luck, S. (2008). Syphilis is on the increase: the implications for child health. Arch. Dis. Child. 93: 105-109 [Full Text]  
  • Kent, M. E, Romanelli, F. (2008). Reexamining Syphilis: An Update on Epidemiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Management. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy 42: 226-236 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Zetola, N. M., Engelman, J., Jensen, T. P., Klausner, J. D. (2007). Syphilis in the United States: An Update for Clinicians With an Emphasis on HIV Coinfection. Mayo Clin Proc. 82: 1091-1102 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Knight, C. S., Crum, M. A., Hardy, R. W. (2007). Evaluation of the LIAISON Chemiluminescence Immunoassay for Diagnosis of Syphilis. CVI 14: 710-713 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Reynolds, S J, Risbud, A R, Shepherd, M E, Rompalo, A M, Ghate, M V, Godbole, S V, Joshi, S N, Divekar, A D, Gangakhedkar, R R, Bollinger, R C, Mehendale, S M (2006). High rates of syphilis among STI patients are contributing to the spread of HIV-1 in India.. Sex. Transm. Infect. 82: 121-126 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • LaFond, R. E., Lukehart, S. A. (2006). Biological Basis for Syphilis. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 19: 29-49 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Marangoni, A., Sambri, V., Accardo, S., Cavrini, F., D'Antuono, A., Moroni, A., Storni, E., Cevenini, R. (2005). Evaluation of LIAISON Treponema Screen, a Novel Recombinant Antigen-Based Chemiluminescence Immunoassay for Laboratory Diagnosis of Syphilis. CVI 12: 1231-1234 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Hashimoto, M., Asai, Y., Ogawa, T. (2003). Treponemal Phospholipids Inhibit Innate Immune Responses Induced by Pathogen-associated Molecular Patterns. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 44205-44213 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • (2003). HIV and Syphilis Coinfection: Trends and Interactions. AIDS Clin Care 2003: 1-1 [Full Text]  
  • Hagedorn, H.-J., Kraminer-Hagedorn, A., De Bosschere, K., Hulstaert, F., Pottel, H., Zrein, M. (2002). Evaluation of INNO-LIA Syphilis Assay as a Confirmatory Test for Syphilis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 40: 973-978 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Hase, C. C., Fedorova, N. D., Galperin, M. Y., Dibrov, P. A. (2001). Sodium Ion Cycle in Bacterial Pathogens: Evidence from Cross-Genome Comparisons. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 65: 353-370 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Sambri, V., Marangoni, A., Eyer, C., Reichhuber, C., Soutschek, E., Negosanti, M., D'Antuono, A., Cevenini, R. (2001). Western Immunoblotting with Five Treponema pallidum Recombinant Antigens for Serologic Diagnosis of Syphilis. CVI 8: 534-539 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Bruisten, S. M., Cairo, I., Fennema, H., Pijl, A., Buimer, M., Peerbooms, P. G. H., Van Dyck, E., Meijer, A., Ossewaarde, J. M., van Doornum, G. J. J. (2001). Diagnosing Genital Ulcer Disease in a Clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. J. Clin. Microbiol. 39: 601-605 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Ebel, A., Vanneste, L., Cardinaels, M., Sablon, E., Samson, I., De Bosschere, K., Hulstaert, F., Zrein, M. (2000). Validation of the INNO-LIA Syphilis Kit as a Confirmatory Assay for Treponema pallidum Antibodies. J. Clin. Microbiol. 38: 215-219 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»