Syphilis

Syphilis (STI)

Treponema Pallidum

Spirochete non-gram staining(spiral-shaped), motile-axial filaments, microaerophile, “stealth pathogen”, very slow division (1/30 hrs), small genome (1.14mb)- cannot be maintained in culture

humans, mammals

mucosa and compromised skin (mouth, rectum, urogenital system)

10-90 days (primary infection)

Spirochete penetrates mucus membrane and multiplies before- spreading to lymph nodes and blood stream. Inflammatory responses cause chancres and lesions that spread throughout the body. Immune system evasion allows for chronic infection wuth relapsing symptoms

Non-painful lesion or chancre sore at site of infection, resolves in 3-6 weeks

Widely distributed skin and mucosal rash or lesions, inflamed lymph nodes, patchy hair loss, malaise, mild fever, headache, resolves in 3-12 weeks

Latent period for 2-4 yrs- symptom free except for parent transmission. Congentital Syphilis- results in still birth. Tertiary Stage Syphilis 10-30 yrs after infection- lesions effecting other tissues

Neuro- brain, Ocular- eye, Cardiovascular- heart, gumma- big leison but no pain

Abstinence, barrier methods of contraception, detection

Long lasting injection of Antibiotics- Benzathine Penicillin G (BPG), Azithromycin, or Ceftriaxone