ENDEMIC TREPONEMATOSES

MICROBIOLOGY AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

The endemic treponematoses—yaws (Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue), endemic syphilis (T. pallidum subspecies endemicum), and pinta (T. carateum)—are nonvenereal chronic diseases acquired during childhood and caused by organisms closely related to the agent of syphilis, T. pallidum subspecies pallidum.
  • Disease is transmitted by direct contact.
  • The most recent World Health Organization (WHO) estimate (1995) suggested that there are 460,000 new cases per year and a prevalence of 2.5 million infected persons.
  • Disease is limited to people in rural areas of developing nations and recent émigrés from these regions.

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