Treponema spp.

• Treponema spp.

  • tightly twisted organism
  • resembles cork screw
• Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum

  • Agent : syphilis
  • Great pox, Evil pox, Italian pox, Spanish disease
  • MOT: sexually transmitted
• Stages of Treponema subp. pallidum

  1. Primary syphilis - hard chancre
  2. Secondary syphilis- chindylomata Lata
  3. Latent syphilis - absence of clinical symptoms
  4. Tertiary syphilis - gummas and neurosyphilis
• Laboratory diagnosis

  • Direct microscopic examination using dark field microscope
• Treatment

  • Heavy metals - Arsenic, Salvarsan
  • DOC : Penicillin
• Jorisch Herxheimer Rxn

  • large quantities of toxins are released as the bacterium dies during treatment process
• T. pallidum subsp pertenue

  • Agent : Yaws
  • Transmission : direct contact of traumatized skin with infected lesions
• T. pallidum subsp. endecume

  • Agent : Bejel
  • MOT : mouth to mouth by utensils
• Treponema carateum

  • Agent : Pinta
  • MOT : direft contact of traumatized skin with infected lesions