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Boaitey YA, Owusu-Ofori A, Anyogu A, Aghakhanian F, Arora N, Parr JB, Bosshard PP, Raheem S, Gerbault P. Prevalence of yaws and syphilis in the Ashanti region of Ghana and occurrence of H. ducreyi, herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2 in skin lesions associated with treponematoses. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0295088. [PMID: 38776332 PMCID: PMC11111032 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Yaws affects children in tropical regions, while syphilis primarily affects sexually active adults worldwide. Despite various campaigns towards the eradication of yaws and elimination of syphilis, these two diseases are still present in Ghana. The aetiological agents of both diseases, two Treponema pallidum subspecies, are genetically similar. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of these treponematoses and the occurrence of pathogens causing similar skin lesions in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A point-of-care test was used to determine the seroprevalence of the treponematoses. Both yaws and syphilis were identified in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Multiplex PCR was used to identify treponemes and other pathogens that cause similar skin lesions. The results indicated that the seroprevalences of T. pallidum in individuals with yaws-like and syphilis-like lesions were 17.2% and 10.8%, respectively. Multiplex PCR results showed that 9.1%, 1.8% and 0.9% of yaws-like lesions were positive for Haemophilus ducreyi, herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and T. pallidum respectively. Among syphilis-like lesions, 28.3% were positive for herpes simplex virus -2 (HSV-2) by PCR. To our knowledge, this is the first time HSV-I and HSV-2 have been reported from yaws-like and syphilis-like lesions, respectively, in Ghana. The presence of other organisms apart from T. pallidum in yaws-like and syphilis-like lesions could impede the total healing of these lesions and the full recovery of patients. This may complicate efforts to achieve yaws eradication by 2030 and the elimination of syphilis and warrants updated empirical treatment guidelines for skin ulcer diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaw Agyekum Boaitey
- School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
- Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Alex Owusu-Ofori
- Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Amarachukwu Anyogu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of West London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Farhang Aghakhanian
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Natasha Arora
- Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan B. Parr
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | | | - Saki Raheem
- School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pascale Gerbault
- Department of Genetic and Evolution, Laboratory of Anthropology, Genetic and Population, University of Geneva, Genève, Switzerland
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2
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An ancient cranium from Dmanisi: Evidence for interpersonal violence, disease, and possible predation by carnivores on Early Pleistocene Homo. J Hum Evol 2022; 166:103180. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2022.103180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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3
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Cohen SP, Wang EJ, Doshi TL, Vase L, Cawcutt KA, Tontisirin N. Chronic pain and infection: mechanisms, causes, conditions, treatments, and controversies. BMJ MEDICINE 2022; 1:e000108. [PMID: 36936554 PMCID: PMC10012866 DOI: 10.1136/bmjmed-2021-000108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Throughout human history, infection has been the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with pain being one of the cardinal warning signs. However, in a substantial percentage of cases, pain can persist after resolution of acute illness, manifesting as neuropathic, nociplastic (eg, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome), or nociceptive pain. Mechanisms by which acute infectious pain becomes chronic are variable and can include immunological phenomena (eg, bystander activation, molecular mimicry), direct microbe invasion, central sensitization from physical or psychological triggers, and complications from treatment. Microbes resulting in a high incidence of chronic pain include bacteria such as the Borrelia species and Mycobacterium leprae, as well as viruses such as HIV, SARS-CoV-2 and herpeses. Emerging evidence also supports an infectious cause in a subset of patients with discogenic low back pain and inflammatory bowel disease. Although antimicrobial treatment might have a role in treating chronic pain states that involve active infectious inflammatory processes, their use in chronic pain conditions resulting from autoimmune mechanisms, central sensitization and irrevocable tissue (eg, arthropathy, vasculitis) or nerve injury, are likely to cause more harm than benefit. This review focuses on the relation between infection and chronic pain, with an emphasis on common viral and bacterial causes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven P Cohen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neurology, and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Anesthesiology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eric J Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tina L Doshi
- Departments of Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine and Neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lene Vase
- Department of Psychology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kelly A Cawcutt
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Nuj Tontisirin
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
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4
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Mubemba B, Gogarten JF, Schuenemann VJ, Düx A, Lang A, Nowak K, Pléh K, Reiter E, Ulrich M, Agbor A, Brazzola G, Deschner T, Dieguez P, Granjon AC, Jones S, Junker J, Wessling E, Arandjelovic M, Kuehl H, Wittig RM, Leendertz FH, Calvignac-Spencer S. Geographically structured genomic diversity of non-human primate-infecting Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue. Microb Genom 2020; 6:mgen000463. [PMID: 33125317 PMCID: PMC7725339 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Many non-human primate species in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue, the bacterium causing yaws in humans. In humans, yaws is often characterized by lesions of the extremities and face, while T. pallidum subsp. pallidum causes venereal syphilis and is typically characterized by primary lesions on the genital, anal or oral mucosae. It remains unclear whether other T. pallidum subspecies found in humans also occur in non-human primates and how the genomic diversity of non-human primate T. pallidum subsp. pertenue lineages is distributed across hosts and space. We observed orofacial and genital lesions in sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire and collected swabs and biopsies from symptomatic animals. We also collected non-human primate bones from 8 species in Taï National Park and 16 species from 11 other sites across sub-Saharan Africa. Samples were screened for T. pallidum DNA using polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and we used in-solution hybridization capture to sequence T. pallidum genomes. We generated three nearly complete T. pallidum genomes from biopsies and swabs and detected treponemal DNA in bones of six non-human primate species in five countries, allowing us to reconstruct three partial genomes. Phylogenomic analyses revealed that both orofacial and genital lesions in sooty mangabeys from Taï National Park were caused by T. pallidum subsp. pertenue. We showed that T. pallidum subsp. pertenue has infected non-human primates in Taï National Park for at least 28 years and has been present in two non-human primate species that had not been described as T. pallidum subsp. pertenue hosts in this ecosystem, western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) and western red colobus (Piliocolobus badius), complementing clinical evidence that started accumulating in Taï National Park in 2014. More broadly, simian T. pallidum subsp. pertenue strains did not form monophyletic clades based on host species or the symptoms caused, but rather clustered based on geography. Geographical clustering of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue genomes might be compatible with cross-species transmission of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue within ecosystems or environmental exposure, leading to the acquisition of closely related strains. Finally, we found no evidence for mutations that confer antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Mubemba
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Wildlife Sciences, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia
| | - Jan F. Gogarten
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
- Viral Evolution, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Verena J. Schuenemann
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ariane Düx
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Lang
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kathrin Nowak
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kamilla Pléh
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ella Reiter
- Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Markus Ulrich
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anthony Agbor
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gregory Brazzola
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Deschner
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Paula Dieguez
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Sorrel Jones
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jessica Junker
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Erin Wessling
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Mimi Arandjelovic
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hjalmar Kuehl
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roman M. Wittig
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Fabian H. Leendertz
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sébastien Calvignac-Spencer
- Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms, Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin, Germany
- Viral Evolution, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
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5
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Pietrobelli A, Mariotti V, Fusari S, Gasparini A, Bettuzzi M, Morigi MP, Belcastro MG. Syphilis in an Italian medieval jewish community: A bioarchaeological and cultural perspective. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2020; 30:85-97. [PMID: 32570054 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2020.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aim to discuss the presence of treponemal infections in three individuals belonging to a large (∼400 individuals) Late Medieval cemetery (14th -16th century) that archaeological and documentary sources place within a Jewish context, and to discuss the role of these diseases in a biocultural perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS An anthropological and paleopathological study was conducted on skeletal remains of three individuals, though macroscopic and tomographic examination. RESULTS Cranial lesions in which simultaneous destructive and proliferative processes (caries sicca) are noted. Long bones also present osseous alterations with increased bone density and non-uniform thickening. CONCLUSIONS Skeletal lesions are consistent with treponemal infections (possibly either endemic or acquired syphilis). Historical documentation could help the interpretation of our cases, recording a syphilis outbreak in Bologna in 1496, possibly coeval to the Late Medieval Jewish cemetery. SIGNIFICANCE These cases of treponematosis are unique, documenting the presence of the disease within the Jewish Medieval community in Italy, as they frame the effects and consequence of the infection in shaping social and cultural contexts of the medieval Italian and European communities. They offer material evidence to elaborate on the historical documents on the hostility Jewish community suffered. LIMITATIONS Radiocarbon dating have not been performed directly on skeletal remains of the three pathological individuals. δ13C and δ15N isotope ratios should also be acquired to estimate the marine diet component, to account for possible marine reservoir effect on radiocarbon age calibration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Pietrobelli
- Dept. of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Valentina Mariotti
- Dept. of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Samantha Fusari
- Dept. of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Anthony Gasparini
- Dept. of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Bettuzzi
- Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Morigi
- Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Belcastro
- Dept. of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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6
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Majander K, Pfrengle S, Kocher A, Neukamm J, du Plessis L, Pla-Díaz M, Arora N, Akgül G, Salo K, Schats R, Inskip S, Oinonen M, Valk H, Malve M, Kriiska A, Onkamo P, González-Candelas F, Kühnert D, Krause J, Schuenemann VJ. Ancient Bacterial Genomes Reveal a High Diversity of Treponema pallidum Strains in Early Modern Europe. Curr Biol 2020; 30:3788-3803.e10. [PMID: 32795443 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.07.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Syphilis is a globally re-emerging disease, which has marked European history with a devastating epidemic at the end of the 15th century. Together with non-venereal treponemal diseases, like bejel and yaws, which are found today in subtropical and tropical regions, it currently poses a substantial health threat worldwide. The origins and spread of treponemal diseases remain unresolved, including syphilis' potential introduction into Europe from the Americas. Here, we present the first genetic data from archaeological human remains reflecting a high diversity of Treponema pallidum in early modern Europe. Our study demonstrates that a variety of strains related to both venereal syphilis and yaws-causing T. pallidum subspecies were already present in Northern Europe in the early modern period. We also discovered a previously unknown T. pallidum lineage recovered as a sister group to yaws- and bejel-causing lineages. These findings imply a more complex pattern of geographical distribution and etiology of early treponemal epidemics than previously understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerttu Majander
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19-23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany; Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany; Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Saskia Pfrengle
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19-23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Arthur Kocher
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Judith Neukamm
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19-23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany; Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics, University of Tübingen, Sand 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Marta Pla-Díaz
- Joint Research Unit "Infection and Public Health" FISABIO-University of Valencia, Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Valencia, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Natasha Arora
- Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190/52, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gülfirde Akgül
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kati Salo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, Unioninkatu 38F, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rachel Schats
- Laboratory for Human Osteoarchaeology, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333CC Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sarah Inskip
- McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3ER, UK
| | - Markku Oinonen
- Laboratory of Chronology, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heiki Valk
- Institute of History and Archaeology, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu, Tartumaa, Estonia
| | - Martin Malve
- Institute of History and Archaeology, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu, Tartumaa, Estonia
| | - Aivar Kriiska
- Institute of History and Archaeology, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2, 51005 Tartu, Tartumaa, Estonia
| | - Päivi Onkamo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 9, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; Department of Biology, University of Turku, Vesilinnantie 5, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Fernando González-Candelas
- Joint Research Unit "Infection and Public Health" FISABIO-University of Valencia, Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), Valencia, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Denise Kühnert
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Johannes Krause
- Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19-23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany; Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Strasse 10, 07745 Jena, Germany; Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (S-HEP), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Verena J Schuenemann
- Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstrasse 19-23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany; Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (S-HEP), University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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7
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Baker BJ, Crane-Kramer G, Dee MW, Gregoricka LA, Henneberg M, Lee C, Lukehart SA, Mabey DC, Roberts CA, Stodder ALW, Stone AC, Winingear S. Advancing the understanding of treponemal disease in the past and present. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2020; 171 Suppl 70:5-41. [PMID: 31956996 DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.23988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Syphilis was perceived to be a new disease in Europe in the late 15th century, igniting a debate about its origin that continues today in anthropological, historical, and medical circles. We move beyond this age-old debate using an interdisciplinary approach that tackles broader questions to advance the understanding of treponemal infection (syphilis, yaws, bejel, and pinta). How did the causative organism(s) and humans co-evolve? How did the related diseases caused by Treponema pallidum emerge in different parts of the world and affect people across both time and space? How are T. pallidum subspecies related to the treponeme causing pinta? The current state of scholarship in specific areas is reviewed with recommendations made to stimulate future work. Understanding treponemal biology, genetic relationships, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations is crucial for vaccine development today and for investigating the distribution of infection in both modern and past populations. Paleopathologists must improve diagnostic criteria and use a standard approach for recording skeletal lesions on archaeological human remains. Adequate contextualization of cultural and environmental conditions is necessary, including site dating and justification for any corrections made for marine or freshwater reservoir effects. Biogeochemical analyses may assess aquatic contributions to diet, physiological changes arising from treponemal disease and its treatments (e.g., mercury), or residential mobility of those affected. Shifting the focus from point of origin to investigating who is affected (e.g., by age/sex or socioeconomic status) and disease distribution (e.g., coastal/ inland, rural/urban) will advance our understanding of the treponemal disease and its impact on people through time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda J Baker
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Gillian Crane-Kramer
- Department of Anthropology, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, New York
| | - Michael W Dee
- Centre for Isotope Research, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Lesley A Gregoricka
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Maciej Henneberg
- Biological Anthropology and Comparative Anatomy Unit, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christine Lee
- Department of Anthropology, California State University Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Sheila A Lukehart
- Department of Medicine/Infectious Diseases and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - David C Mabey
- Communicable Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Ann L W Stodder
- Office of Archaeological Studies, The Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico
| | - Anne C Stone
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Stevie Winingear
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
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8
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Jaiswal AK, Tiwari S, Jamal SB, de Castro Oliveira L, Alves LG, Azevedo V, Ghosh P, Oliveira CJF, Soares SC. The pan-genome of Treponema pallidum reveals differences in genome plasticity between subspecies related to venereal and non-venereal syphilis. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:33. [PMID: 31924165 PMCID: PMC6953169 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6430-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spirochetal organisms of the Treponema genus are responsible for causing Treponematoses. Pathogenic treponemes is a Gram-negative, motile, spirochete pathogen that causes syphilis in human. Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum (TEN) causes endemic syphilis (bejel); T. pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) causes venereal syphilis; T. pallidum subsp. pertenue (TPE) causes yaws; and T. pallidum subsp. Ccarateum causes pinta. Out of these four high morbidity diseases, venereal syphilis is mediated by sexual contact; the other three diseases are transmitted by close personal contact. The global distribution of syphilis is alarming and there is an increasing need of proper treatment and preventive measures. Unfortunately, effective measures are limited. RESULTS Here, the genome sequences of 53 T. pallidum strains isolated from different parts of the world and a diverse range of hosts were comparatively analysed using pan-genomic strategy. Phylogenomic, pan-genomic, core genomic and singleton analysis disclosed the close connection among all strains of the pathogen T. pallidum, its clonal behaviour and showed increases in the sizes of the pan-genome. Based on the genome plasticity analysis of the subsets containing the subspecies T pallidum subsp. pallidum, T. pallidum subsp. endemicum and T. pallidum subsp. pertenue, we found differences in the presence/absence of pathogenicity islands (PAIs) and genomic islands (GIs) on subsp.-based study. CONCLUSIONS In summary, we identified four pathogenicity islands (PAIs), eight genomic islands (GIs) in subsp. pallidum, whereas subsp. endemicum has three PAIs and seven GIs and subsp. pertenue harbours three PAIs and eight GIs. Concerning the presence of genes in PAIs and GIs, we found some genes related to lipid and amino acid biosynthesis that were only present in the subsp. of T. pallidum, compared to T. pallidum subsp. endemicum and T. pallidum subsp. pertenue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Kumar Jaiswal
- PG Program in Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.,Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Sandeep Tiwari
- PG Program in Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - Syed Babar Jamal
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Medical Sciences, Abid Majeed Road, Rawalpindi, Punjab, 46000, Pakistan
| | - Letícia de Castro Oliveira
- PG Program in Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.,Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Leandro Gomes Alves
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- PG Program in Bioinformatics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Preetam Ghosh
- Department of Computer Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA-23284, USA
| | - Carlo Jose Freira Oliveira
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Siomar C Soares
- Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM), Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
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9
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Ros-Vivancos C, González-Hernández M, Navarro-Gracia JF, Sánchez-Payá J, González-Torga A, Portilla-Sogorb J. [Evolution of treatment of syphilis through history]. REVISTA ESPANOLA DE QUIMIOTERAPIA : PUBLICACION OFICIAL DE LA SOCIEDAD ESPANOLA DE QUIMIOTERAPIA 2018; 31:485-492. [PMID: 30427145 PMCID: PMC6254479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In this article, we present a historical revision of syphilis treatment since the end of the XV century up until the current days. For centuries, it was understood that syphilis had been brought to Spain by Columbus after coming back from America. It became an epidemic soon after. Later on, it was spread all over Europe. The chronologic and geographic origin of this illness have been debated in recent years, however, there has been no agreement about it as yet. Mercury was the main used therapy for four and a half centuries, until the discovery of penicillin in 1943. This discovery changed the therapeutic approach to syphilis since then. Other remedies were used during this period. Guaiacum was one of them, but it was dismissed in the mid-sixteenth century. Iodides were also used, especially in the tertiary symptoms of the disease. The discovery of arsphenamine (Salvarsan) at the beginning of the XX century, used by itself at its onset and associated to mercury or bismuth later on, was a significant therapeutic contribution. Bismuth was in itself a great therapeutic asset. It displaced the use of mercury in an important way until 1943, when the appearance of penicillin became the treatment of choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Ros-Vivancos
- Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Unidad Docente de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública del Hospital General Universitario de Elche
| | - María González-Hernández
- Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Unidad Docente de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública del Hospital General Universitario de Elche
| | - Juan Francisco Navarro-Gracia
- Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Unidad Docente de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública del Hospital General Universitario de Elche
| | - José Sánchez-Payá
- Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Unidad Docente de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública del Hospital General Universitario de Alicante
| | - Antonio González-Torga
- Servicio de Medicina Preventiva y Unidad Docente de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública del Hospital General Universitario de Alicante
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Šmajs D, Strouhal M, Knauf S. Genetics of human and animal uncultivable treponemal pathogens. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2018; 61:92-107. [PMID: 29578082 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2018.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Treponema pallidum is an uncultivable bacterium and the causative agent of syphilis (subsp. pallidum [TPA]), human yaws (subsp. pertenue [TPE]), and bejel (subsp. endemicum). Several species of nonhuman primates in Africa are infected by treponemes genetically undistinguishable from known human TPE strains. Besides Treponema pallidum, the equally uncultivable Treponema carateum causes pinta in humans. In lagomorphs, Treponema paraluisleporidarum ecovar Cuniculus and ecovar Lepus are the causative agents of rabbit and hare syphilis, respectively. All uncultivable pathogenic treponemes harbor a relatively small chromosome (1.1334-1.1405 Mbp) and show gene synteny with minimal genetic differences (>98% identity at the DNA level) between subspecies and species. While uncultivable pathogenic treponemes contain a highly conserved core genome, there are a number of highly variable and/or recombinant chromosomal loci. This is also reflected in the occurrence of intrastrain heterogeneity (genetic diversity within an infecting bacterial population). Molecular differences at several different chromosomal loci identified among TPA strains or isolates have been used for molecular typing and the epidemiological characterization of syphilis isolates. This review summarizes genome structure of uncultivable pathogenic treponemes including genetically variable regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A6, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A6, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Sascha Knauf
- Work Group Neglected Tropical Diseases, Pathology Unit, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Göttingen, Germany,.
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11
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Treponema pallidum 11qj Subtype May Correspond to a Treponema pallidum Subsp. Endemicum Strain. Sex Transm Dis 2018; 43:517-8. [PMID: 27419817 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000000474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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12
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Pratas AC, Goldschmidt P, Lebeaux D, Aguilar C, Ermak N, Benesty J, Charlier C, Benveniste E, Merabet L, Sedira N, Hope-Rapp E, Chaumeil C, Bodaghi B, Héron E, Sahel JA, Lortholary O, Errera MH. Increase in Ocular Syphilis Cases at Ophthalmologic Reference Center, France, 2012-2015. Emerg Infect Dis 2018; 24:193-200. [PMID: 29350138 PMCID: PMC5782877 DOI: 10.3201/eid2402.171167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe the frequency, demographic and clinical features, and visual outcomes of ocular syphilis infections observed during 2012-2015 at a tertiary reference center in Paris, France. Twenty-one cases (29 eyes) were identified. The occurrence of ocular syphilis increased from 1 case in 2012 to 5 cases in 2013, 6 cases in 2014, and 9 cases in 2015 (2.22-25.21/1,000 individual patients/year for the period). Among case-patients, an annual 20%-33% were co-infected with HIV. Seventy-six percent of ocular syphilis infections occurred in men who have sex with men. Seventy-five percent of case-patients had a good final visual outcome (best-corrected visual acuity >0.3 logMAR score). Visual outcome was worse for HIV-positive patients than for HIV-negative patients (p = 0.0139). At follow-up, the best visual outcomes were observed in patients whose mean time from first ocular symptom to consultation was 15 days (SD +19 days).
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13
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Godornes C, Giacani L, Barry AE, Mitja O, Lukehart SA. Development of a Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) scheme for Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue: Application to yaws in Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11:e0006113. [PMID: 29281641 PMCID: PMC5760108 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Yaws is a neglected tropical disease, caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue. The disease causes chronic lesions, primarily in young children living in remote villages in tropical climates. As part of a global yaws eradication campaign initiated by the World Health Organization, we sought to develop and evaluate a molecular typing method to distinguish different strains of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue for disease control and epidemiological purposes. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Published genome sequences of strains of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue and pallidum were compared to identify polymorphic genetic loci among the strains. DNA from a number of existing historical Treponema isolates, as well as a subset of samples from yaws patients collected in Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea, were analyzed using these targets. From these data, three genes (tp0548, tp0136 and tp0326) were ultimately selected to give a high discriminating capability among the T. pallidum subsp. pertenue samples tested. Intragenic regions of these three target genes were then selected to enhance the discriminating capability of the typing scheme using short readily amplifiable loci. This 3-gene multilocus sequence typing (MLST) method was applied to existing historical human yaws strains, the Fribourg-Blanc simian isolate, and DNA from 194 lesion swabs from yaws patients on Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea. Among all samples tested, fourteen molecular types were identified, seven of which were found in patient samples and seven among historical isolates or DNA. Three types (JG8, TD6, and SE7) were predominant on Lihir Island. CONCLUSIONS This MLST approach allows molecular typing and differentiation of yaws strains. This method could be a useful tool to complement epidemiological studies in regions where T. pallidum subsp. pertenue is prevalent with the overall goals of improving our understanding of yaws transmission dynamics and helping the yaws eradication campaign to succeed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charmie Godornes
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Alyssa E. Barry
- Division of Population Health and Immunity, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Oriol Mitja
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clinic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Division of Public Health, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
- Lihir Medical Center, International SOS-Newcrest Mining, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea
| | - Sheila A. Lukehart
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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LOPEZ BELÉN, LOPEZ-GARCIA JOSÉMANUEL, COSTILLA SERAFÍN, GARCIA-VAZQUEZ EVA, DOPICO EDUARDO, PARDIÑAS ANTONIOF. Treponemal disease in the Old World? Integrated palaeopathological assessment of a 9th–11th century skeleton from north-central Spain. ANTHROPOL SCI 2017. [DOI: 10.1537/ase.170515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- BELÉN LOPEZ
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo
| | - JOSÉ MANUEL LOPEZ-GARCIA
- Departamento de Morfología y Biología Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo
| | - SERAFÍN COSTILLA
- Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Servicio de Radiodiagnóstico, Oviedo
| | - EVA GARCIA-VAZQUEZ
- Departamento de Biología Funcional, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo
| | - EDUARDO DOPICO
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Educación, Facultad Formación Profesorado y Educación, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo
| | - ANTONIO F. PARDIÑAS
- Departamento de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo
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15
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Marks M, Mitjà O, Vestergaard LS, Pillay A, Knauf S, Chen CY, Bassat Q, Martin DL, Fegan D, Taleo F, Kool J, Lukehart S, Emerson PM, Solomon AW, Ye T, Ballard RC, Mabey DCW, Asiedu KB. Challenges and key research questions for yaws eradication. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2015; 15:1220-1225. [PMID: 26362174 PMCID: PMC4668588 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(15)00136-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Revised: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Yaws is endemic in west Africa, southeast Asia, and the Pacific region. To eradicate yaws by 2020, WHO has launched a campaign of mass treatment with azithromycin. Progress has been made towards achievement of this ambitious goal, including the validation of point-of-care and molecular diagnostic tests and piloting of the strategy in several countries, including Ghana, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea. Gaps in knowledge need to be addressed to allow refinement of the eradication strategy. Studies exploring determinants of the spatial distribution of yaws are needed to help with the completion of baseline mapping. The finding that Haemophilus ducreyi causes lesions similar to yaws is particularly important and further work is needed to assess the effect of azithromycin on these lesions. The integration of diagnostic tests into different stages of the eradication campaign needs investigation. Finally, studies must be done to inform the optimum mass-treatment strategy for sustainable interruption of transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Marks
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK.
| | - Oriol Mitjà
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Lihir Medical Centre, International SOS, Newcrest Mining, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea
| | - Lasse S Vestergaard
- Division for Communicable Diseases, Regional Office for the Western Pacific, World Health Organization, Manila, Philippines
| | - Allan Pillay
- Molecular Diagnostics and Typing Laboratory, Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sascha Knauf
- German Primate Center, Leibniz-Institute for Primate Research, Pathology Unit, Working Group Neglected Tropical Diseases, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cheng-Yen Chen
- Molecular Diagnostics and Typing Laboratory, Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Diana L Martin
- Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David Fegan
- World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Jacob Kool
- World Health Organization, Vanuatu Country Office, Port Vila, Vanuatu
| | - Sheila Lukehart
- Departments of Medicine and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paul M Emerson
- International Trachoma Initiative, The Task Force for Global Health, Decatur, GA, USA
| | - Anthony W Solomon
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tun Ye
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ronald C Ballard
- Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David C W Mabey
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Kingsley B Asiedu
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
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17
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The molecular typing data of recently identified subtype 11q/j of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum suggest imported case of yaws. Sex Transm Dis 2015; 41:552-3. [PMID: 25118969 DOI: 10.1097/olq.0000000000000165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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18
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Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network laboratory guidelines for the use of direct tests to detect syphilis in Canada. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY 2015; 26 Suppl A:13A-7A. [PMID: 25798160 PMCID: PMC4353979 DOI: 10.1155/2015/685603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum and/or its nucleic acid can be detected by various methods such as microscopy, rabbit infectivity test or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. The rabbit infectivity test for T. pallidum, although very sensitive, has been discontinued from most laboratories due to ethical issues related to the need for animal inoculation with live T. pallidum, the technically demanding procedure and long turnaround time for results, thus making it impractical for routine diagnostic use. Dark-field and phase-contrast microscopy are still useful at clinic- or hospital-based laboratories for near-bedside detection of T. pallidum in genital, skin or mucous lesions although their availability is decreasing. The lack of reliable and specific anti-T. pallidum antibodies and its inferior sensitivity to PCR may explain why the direct fluorescent antibody test for T. pallidum is not widely available for clinical use. Immunohistochemical staining for T. pallidum also depends on the availability of specific antibodies, and the method is only applicable for histopathological examination of biopsy and autopsy specimens necessitating an invasive specimen collection approach. With recent advances in molecular diagnostics, PCR is considered to be the most reliable, versatile and practical for laboratories to implement. In addition to being an objective and sensitive test for direct detection of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum DNA in skin and mucous membrane lesions, the resulting PCR amplicons from selected gene targets can be further characterized for antimicrobial (macrolide) susceptibility testing, strain typing and identification of T. pallidum subspecies.
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Chi KH, Danavall D, Taleo F, Pillay A, Ye T, Nachamkin E, Kool JL, Fegan D, Asiedu K, Vestergaard LS, Ballard RC, Chen CY. Molecular differentiation of Treponema pallidum subspecies in skin ulceration clinically suspected as yaws in Vanuatu using real-time multiplex PCR and serological methods. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2014; 92:134-8. [PMID: 25404075 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.14-0459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed a TaqMan-based real-time quadriplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to simultaneously detect Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, T. pallidum subsp. pertenue, and T. pallidum subsp. endemicum, the causative agents of venereal syphilis, yaws, and bejel, respectively. The PCR assay was applied to samples from skin ulcerations of clinically presumptive yaws cases among children on Tanna Island, Vanuatu. Another real-time triplex PCR was used to screen for the point mutations in the 23S rRNA genes that have previously been associated with azithromycin resistance in T. pallidum subsp. pallidum strains. Seropositivity by the classical syphilis serological tests was 35.5% among children with skin ulcerations clinically suspected with yaws, whereas the presence of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue DNA was only found in lesions from 15.5% of children. No evidence of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue infection, by either PCR or serology was found in ∼59% of cases indicating alternative causes of yaws-like lesions in this endemic area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Hua Chi
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
| | - Damien Danavall
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
| | - Fasihah Taleo
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
| | - Allan Pillay
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
| | - Tun Ye
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
| | - Eli Nachamkin
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
| | - Jacob L Kool
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
| | - David Fegan
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
| | - Kingsley Asiedu
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
| | - Lasse S Vestergaard
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
| | - Ronald C Ballard
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
| | - Cheng-Yen Chen
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Ministry of Health, Port Vila, Vanuatu; Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; World Health Organization, Port Vila, Vanuatu; World Health Organization Consultant, Springhill, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; World Health Organization, Western Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines
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Cortez KJ, Greenwald MA. Current Trends in Donor Testing to Detect Syphilis Infection. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2014; 16:423. [DOI: 10.1007/s11908-014-0423-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Nechvátal L, Pětrošová H, Grillová L, Pospíšilová P, Mikalová L, Strnadel R, Kuklová I, Kojanová M, Kreidlová M, Vaňousová D, Procházka P, Zákoucká H, Krchňáková A, Šmajs D. Syphilis-causing strains belong to separate SS14-like or Nichols-like groups as defined by multilocus analysis of 19 Treponema pallidum strains. Int J Med Microbiol 2014; 304:645-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Revised: 04/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Abstract
The agents of human treponematoses include four closely related members of the genus Treponema: three subspecies of Treponema pallidum plus Treponema carateum. T. pallidum subsp. pallidum causes venereal syphilis, while T. pallidum subsp. pertenue, T. pallidum subsp. endemicum, and T. carateum are the agents of the endemic treponematoses yaws, bejel (or endemic syphilis), and pinta, respectively. All human treponematoses share remarkable similarities in pathogenesis and clinical manifestations, consistent with the high genetic and antigenic relatedness of their etiological agents. Distinctive features have been identified in terms of age of acquisition, most common mode of transmission, and capacity for invasion of the central nervous system and fetus, although the accuracy of these purported differences is debated among investigators and no biological basis for these differences has been identified to date. In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially set a goal for yaws eradication by 2020. This challenging but potentially feasible endeavor is favored by the adoption of oral azithromycin for mass treatment and the currently focused distribution of yaws and endemic treponematoses and has revived global interest in these fascinating diseases and their causative agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Giacani
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sheila A. Lukehart
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Abstract
Improved understanding of the differential diagnosis of endemic treponematoses is needed to inform clinical practice and to ensure the best outcome for a new global initiative for the eradication of yaws, bejel, and pinta. Traditionally, the human treponematoses have been differentiated based upon their clinical manifestations and epidemiologic characteristics because the etiologic agents are indistinguishable in the laboratory. Serological tests are still considered standard laboratory methods for the diagnosis of endemic treponematoses and new rapid point-of-care treponemal tests have become available which are extremely useful in low-resource settings. In the past ten years, there has been an increasing effort to apply polymerase chain reaction to treponematoses and whole genome fingerprinting techniques have identified genetic signatures that can differentiate the existing treponemal strains; however, definitive diagnosis is also hampered by widespread unavailability of molecular diagnostics. We review the dilemmas in the diagnosis of endemic treponematoses, and advances in the discovery of new diagnostic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriol Mitjà
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Lihir Medical Centre-InternationalSOS, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Quique Bassat
- Lihir Medical Centre-InternationalSOS, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea
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Centurion-Lara A, Giacani L, Godornes C, Molini BJ, Brinck Reid T, Lukehart SA. Fine analysis of genetic diversity of the tpr gene family among treponemal species, subspecies and strains. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2013; 7:e2222. [PMID: 23696912 PMCID: PMC3656149 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Accepted: 04/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The pathogenic non-cultivable treponemes include three subspecies of Treponema pallidum (pallidum, pertenue, endemicum), T. carateum, T. paraluiscuniculi, and the unclassified Fribourg-Blanc treponeme (Simian isolate). These treponemes are morphologically indistinguishable and antigenically and genetically highly similar, yet cross-immunity is variable or non-existent. Although all of these organisms cause chronic, multistage skin and systemic disease, they have historically been classified by mode of transmission, clinical presentations and host ranges. Whole genome studies underscore the high degree of sequence identity among species, subspecies and strains, pinpointing a limited number of genomic regions for variation. Many of these “hot spots” include members of the tpr gene family, composed of 12 paralogs encoding candidate virulence factors. We hypothesize that the distinct clinical presentations, host specificity, and variable cross-immunity might reside on virulence factors such as the tpr genes. Methodology/Principal Findings Sequence analysis of 11 tpr loci (excluding tprK) from 12 strains demonstrated an impressive heterogeneity, including SNPs, indels, chimeric genes, truncated gene products and large deletions. Comparative analyses of sequences and 3D models of predicted proteins in Subfamily I highlight the striking co-localization of discrete variable regions with predicted surface-exposed loops. A hallmark of Subfamily II is the presence of chimeric genes in the tprG and J loci. Diversity in Subfamily III is limited to tprA and tprL. Conclusions/Significance An impressive sequence variability was found in tpr sequences among the Treponema isolates examined in this study, with most of the variation being consistent within subspecies or species, or between syphilis vs. non-syphilis strains. Variability was seen in the pallidum subspecies, which can be divided into 5 genogroups. These findings support a genetic basis for the classification of these organisms into their respective subspecies and species. Future functional studies will determine whether the identified genetic differences relate to cross-immunity, clinical differences, or host ranges. Pathogenic treponemes include three subspecies of Treponema pallidum (pallidum, pertenue, endemicum), T. carateum, T. paraluiscuniculi, and the unclassified Fribourg-Blanc treponeme. Although they share morphology and have very similar antigenic profiles, they have traditionally been distinguished by mode of transmission, host specificity and the clinical manifestations that they cause. The molecular basis for these disease characteristics is not known. Comparative genomics has revealed that sequences differences among the species and subspecies are found in very localized regions of the chromosome. Many of these regions of sequence variation are found in the tpr genes, which encode a family of twelve candidate virulence factors, many of which are predicted to be outer membrane proteins. Most of the tpr-specific sequence changes are consistent within subspecies or species, supporting the historical classification of these organisms into separate subspecies and species. Functional studies are needed to determine whether any of the tpr gene differences are related to differences in host range, immunity, or clinical manifestations.
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Abstract
Yaws is an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum pertenue-a bacterium that closely resembles the causative agent of syphilis-and is spread by skin-to-skin contact in humid tropical regions. Yaws causes disfiguring, and sometimes painful lesions of the skin and bones. As with syphilis, clinical manifestations can be divided into three stages; however, unlike syphilis, mother-to-child transmission does not occur. A major campaign to eradicate yaws in the 1950s and 1960s, by mass treatment of affected communities with longacting, injectable penicillin, reduced the number of cases by 95% worldwide, but yaws has reappeared in recent years in Africa, Asia, and the western Pacific. In 2012, one oral dose of azithromycin was shown to be as effective as intramuscular penicillin in the treatment of the disease, and WHO launched a new initiative to eradicate yaws by 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriol Mitjà
- Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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26
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Harper KN, Fyumagwa RD, Hoare R, Wambura PN, Coppenhaver DH, Sapolsky RM, Alberts SC, Tung J, Rogers J, Kilewo M, Batamuzi EK, Leendertz FH, Armelagos GJ, Knauf S. Treponema pallidum infection in the wild baboons of East Africa: distribution and genetic characterization of the strains responsible. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50882. [PMID: 23284649 PMCID: PMC3527465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2012] [Accepted: 10/25/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been known for decades that wild baboons are naturally infected with Treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes the diseases syphilis (subsp. pallidum), yaws (subsp. pertenue), and bejel (subsp. endemicum) in humans. Recently, a form of T. pallidum infection associated with severe genital lesions has been described in wild baboons at Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania. In this study, we investigated ten additional sites in Tanzania and Kenya using a combination of macroscopic observation and serology, in order to determine whether the infection was present in each area. In addition, we obtained genetic sequence data from six polymorphic regions using T. pallidum strains collected from baboons at two different Tanzanian sites. We report that lesions consistent with T. pallidum infection were present at four of the five Tanzanian sites examined, and serology was used to confirm treponemal infection at three of these. By contrast, no signs of treponemal infection were observed at the six Kenyan sites, and serology indicated T. pallidum was present at only one of them. A survey of sexually mature baboons at Lake Manyara National Park in 2006 carried out as part of this study indicated that roughly ten percent displayed T. pallidum-associated lesions severe enough to cause major structural damage to the genitalia. Finally, we found that T. pallidum strains from Lake Manyara National Park and Serengeti National Park were genetically distinct, and a phylogeny suggested that baboon strains may have diverged prior to the clade containing human strains. We conclude that T. pallidum infection associated with genital lesions appears to be common in the wild baboons of the regions studied in Tanzania. Further study is needed to elucidate the infection's transmission mode, its associated morbidity and mortality, and the relationship between baboon and human strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin N Harper
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America.
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Fanella S, Kadkhoda K, Shuel M, Tsang R. Local transmission of imported endemic syphilis, Canada, 2011. Emerg Infect Dis 2012; 18:1002-4. [PMID: 22607961 PMCID: PMC3358156 DOI: 10.3201/eid1806.111421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Endemic (nonvenereal) syphilis is relatively common in nonindustrialized regions of the world. We describe a case of local transmission in Canada and review tools available for confirming a diagnosis. Improved molecular tools and global clinical awareness are needed to recognize cases of endemic syphilis imported to areas where it is not normally seen.
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Montiel R, Solórzano E, Díaz N, Álvarez-Sandoval BA, González-Ruiz M, Cañadas MP, Simões N, Isidro A, Malgosa A. Neonate human remains: a window of opportunity to the molecular study of ancient syphilis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36371. [PMID: 22567153 PMCID: PMC3342265 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2011] [Accepted: 03/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis can be a useful tool in bacterial disease diagnosis in human remains. However, while the recovery of Mycobacterium spp. has been widely successful, several authors report unsuccessful results regarding ancient treponemal DNA, casting doubts on the usefulness of this technique for the diagnosis of ancient syphilis. Here, we present results from an analysis of four newborn specimens recovered from the crypt of "La Ermita de la Soledad" (XVI-XVII centuries), located in the province of Huelva in the southwest of Spain. We extracted and analyzed aDNA in three independent laboratories, following specific procedures generally practiced in the aDNA field, including cloning of the amplified DNA fragments and sequencing of several clones. This is the most ancient case, reported to date, from which detection of DNA from T. pallidum subspecies pallidum has been successful in more than one individual, and we put forward a hypothesis to explain this result, taking into account the course of the disease in neonate individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Montiel
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
- Research Center for Natural Resources (CIRN), Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
| | - Eduvigis Solórzano
- Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Nancy Díaz
- Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Brenda A. Álvarez-Sandoval
- Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (CINVESTAV-IPN), Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Mercedes González-Ruiz
- Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Mari Pau Cañadas
- Departament de Biologia Molecular, General Lab, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nelson Simões
- Research Center for Natural Resources (CIRN), Department of Biology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
| | - Albert Isidro
- Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- Servei de Cirurgia Ortopèdica i Traumatologia (COT), Hospital Universitari del Sagrat Cor, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Assumpció Malgosa
- Unitat d'Antropologia, Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
- * E-mail:
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29
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Trueba G, Dunthorn M. Many neglected tropical diseases may have originated in the Paleolithic or before: new insights from genetics. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1393. [PMID: 22479653 PMCID: PMC3313944 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The standard view of modern human infectious diseases is that many of them arose during the Neolithic when animals were first domesticated, or afterwards. Here we review recent genetic and molecular clock estimates that point to a much older Paleolithic origin (2.5 million years ago to 10,000 years ago) of some of these diseases. During part of this ancient period our early human ancestors were still isolated in Africa. We also discuss the need for investigations of the origin of these diseases in African primates and other animals that have been the original source of many neglected tropical diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Trueba
- Instituto de Microbiología Universidad, San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador.
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30
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Smajs D, Norris SJ, Weinstock GM. Genetic diversity in Treponema pallidum: implications for pathogenesis, evolution and molecular diagnostics of syphilis and yaws. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2012; 12:191-202. [PMID: 22198325 PMCID: PMC3786143 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2011] [Revised: 12/05/2011] [Accepted: 12/07/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pathogenic uncultivable treponemes, similar to syphilis-causing Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum, include T. pallidum ssp. pertenue, T. pallidum ssp. endemicum and Treponema carateum, which cause yaws, bejel and pinta, respectively. Genetic analyses of these pathogens revealed striking similarity among these bacteria and also a high degree of similarity to the rabbit pathogen, Treponema paraluiscuniculi, a treponeme not infectious to humans. Genome comparisons between pallidum and non-pallidum treponemes revealed genes with potential involvement in human infectivity, whereas comparisons between pallidum and pertenue treponemes identified genes possibly involved in the high invasivity of syphilis treponemes. Genetic variability within syphilis strains is considered as the basis of syphilis molecular epidemiology with potential to detect more virulent strains, whereas genetic variability within a single strain is related to its ability to elude the immune system of the host. Genome analyses also shed light on treponemal evolution and on chromosomal targets for molecular diagnostics of treponemal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Smajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A6, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
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31
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Čejková D, Zobaníková M, Chen L, Pospíšilová P, Strouhal M, Qin X, Mikalová L, Norris SJ, Muzny DM, Gibbs RA, Fulton LL, Sodergren E, Weinstock GM, Šmajs D. Whole genome sequences of three Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue strains: yaws and syphilis treponemes differ in less than 0.2% of the genome sequence. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2012; 6:e1471. [PMID: 22292095 PMCID: PMC3265458 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2011] [Accepted: 11/29/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The yaws treponemes, Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue (TPE) strains, are closely related to syphilis causing strains of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA). Both yaws and syphilis are distinguished on the basis of epidemiological characteristics, clinical symptoms, and several genetic signatures of the corresponding causative agents. Methodology/Principal Findings To precisely define genetic differences between TPA and TPE, high-quality whole genome sequences of three TPE strains (Samoa D, CDC-2, Gauthier) were determined using next-generation sequencing techniques. TPE genome sequences were compared to four genomes of TPA strains (Nichols, DAL-1, SS14, Chicago). The genome structure was identical in all three TPE strains with similar length ranging between 1,139,330 bp and 1,139,744 bp. No major genome rearrangements were found when compared to the four TPA genomes. The whole genome nucleotide divergence (dA) between TPA and TPE subspecies was 4.7 and 4.8 times higher than the observed nucleotide diversity (π) among TPA and TPE strains, respectively, corresponding to 99.8% identity between TPA and TPE genomes. A set of 97 (9.9%) TPE genes encoded proteins containing two or more amino acid replacements or other major sequence changes. The TPE divergent genes were mostly from the group encoding potential virulence factors and genes encoding proteins with unknown function. Conclusions/Significance Hypothetical genes, with genetic differences, consistently found between TPE and TPA strains are candidates for syphilitic treponemes virulence factors. Seventeen TPE genes were predicted under positive selection, and eleven of them coded either for predicted exported proteins or membrane proteins suggesting their possible association with the cell surface. Sequence changes between TPE and TPA strains and changes specific to individual strains represent suitable targets for subspecies- and strain-specific molecular diagnostics. Spirochete Treponema pallidum ssp. pertenue (TPE) is the causative agent of yaws while strains of Treponema pallidum ssp. pallidum (TPA) cause syphilis. Both yaws and syphilis are distinguished on the basis of epidemiological characteristics and clinical symptoms. Neither treponeme can reproduce outside the host organism, which precludes the use of standard molecular biology techniques used to study cultivable pathogens. In this study, we determined high quality whole genome sequences of TPE strains and compared them to known genetic information for T. pallidum ssp. pallidum strains. The genome structure was identical in all three TPE strains and also between TPA and TPE strains. The TPE genome length ranged between 1,139,330 bp and 1,139,744 bp. The overall sequence identity between TPA and TPE genomes was 99.8%, indicating that the two pathogens are extremely closely related. A set of 34 TPE genes (3.5%) encoded proteins containing six or more amino acid replacements or other major sequence changes. These genes more often belonged to the group of genes with predicted virulence and unknown functions suggesting their involvement in infection differences between yaws and syphilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darina Čejková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Marie Zobaníková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lei Chen
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Petra Pospíšilová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Xiang Qin
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lenka Mikalová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Steven J. Norris
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Donna M. Muzny
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Richard A. Gibbs
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Lucinda L. Fulton
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Erica Sodergren
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - George M. Weinstock
- Human Genome Sequencing Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- The Genome Institute, Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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Yaws in the Western pacific region: a review of the literature. J Trop Med 2011; 2011:642832. [PMID: 22235208 PMCID: PMC3253475 DOI: 10.1155/2011/642832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2011] [Revised: 08/31/2011] [Accepted: 09/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Until the middle of the 20th century, yaws was highly endemic and considered a serious public health problem in the Western Pacific Region (WPR), leading to intensive control efforts in the 1950s–1960s. Since then, little attention has been paid to its reemergence. Its current burden is unknown.
This paper presents the results of an extensive literature review, focusing on yaws in the South Pacific.
Available records suggest that the region remains largely free of yaws except for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Many clinical cases reported recently were described as “attenuated”; advanced stages are rare. A single intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin is still effective in curing yaws.
In the Pacific, yaws may be amenable to elimination if adequate resources are provided and political commitment revived. A mapping of yaws prevalence in PNG, Solomon, and Vanuatu is needed before comprehensive country-tailored strategies towards yaws elimination can be developed.
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Harper KN, Zuckerman MK, Harper ML, Kingston JD, Armelagos GJ. The origin and antiquity of syphilis revisited: An Appraisal of Old World pre-Columbian evidence for treponemal infection. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2011; 146 Suppl 53:99-133. [DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.21613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Reed DL, Currier RW, Walton SF, Conrad M, Sullivan SA, Carlton JM, Read TD, Severini A, Tyler S, Eberle R, Johnson WE, Silvestri G, Clarke IN, Lagergård T, Lukehart SA, Unemo M, Shafer WM, Beasley RP, Bergström T, Norberg P, Davison AJ, Sharp PM, Hahn BH, Blomberg J. The evolution of infectious agents in relation to sex in animals and humans: brief discussions of some individual organisms. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2011; 1230:74-107. [PMID: 21824167 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06133.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The following series of concise summaries addresses the evolution of infectious agents in relation to sex in animals and humans from the perspective of three specific questions: (1) what have we learned about the likely origin and phylogeny, up to the establishment of the infectious agent in the genital econiche, including the relative frequency of its sexual transmission; (2) what further research is needed to provide additional knowledge on some of these evolutionary aspects; and (3) what evolutionary considerations might aid in providing novel approaches to the more practical clinical and public health issues facing us currently and in the future?
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Reed
- Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Laboratory-confirmed case of yaws in a 10-year-old boy from the Republic of the Congo. J Clin Microbiol 2011; 49:4013-5. [PMID: 21918034 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01121-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a case of yaws in a patient with puritic cutaneous eruption who was initially suspected of infection with monkeypox. The diagnosis was established by real-time PCR and sequencing of specific treponemal DNA sequences. This is the first report describing the use of DNA sequencing to identify Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue-specific sequences in a patient with active yaws.
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PCR Detection of
Haemophilus ducreyi, Treponema pallidum
, and
Mycoplasma genitalium. Mol Microbiol 2011. [DOI: 10.1128/9781555816834.ch25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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37
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Knauf S, Batamuzi EK, Mlengeya T, Kilewo M, Lejora IAV, Nordhoff M, Ehlers B, Harper KN, Fyumagwa R, Hoare R, Failing K, Wehrend A, Kaup FJ, Leendertz FH, Mätz-Rensing K. Treponema infection associated with genital ulceration in wild baboons. Vet Pathol 2011; 49:292-303. [PMID: 21411621 DOI: 10.1177/0300985811402839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The authors describe genital alterations and detailed histologic findings in baboons naturally infected with Treponema pallidum. The disease causes moderate to severe genital ulcerations in a population of olive baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) at Lake Manyara National Park in Tanzania. In a field survey in 2007, 63 individuals of all age classes, both sexes, and different grades of infection were chemically immobilized and sampled. Histology and molecular biological tests were used to detect and identify the organism responsible: a strain similar to T pallidum ssp pertenue, the cause of yaws in humans. Although treponemal infections are not a new phenomenon in nonhuman primates, the infection described here appears to be strictly associated with the anogenital region and results in tissue alterations matching those found in human syphilis infections (caused by T pallidum ssp pallidum), despite the causative pathogen's greater genetic similarity to human yaws-causing strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Knauf
- Justus Liebig University, Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology of Large and Small Animals, Frankfurterstrasse 106, 35393 Giessen, Germany.
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Mikalová L, Strouhal M, Čejková D, Zobaníková M, Pospíšilová P, Norris SJ, Sodergren E, Weinstock GM, Šmajs D. Genome analysis of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum and subsp. pertenue strains: most of the genetic differences are localized in six regions. PLoS One 2010; 5:e15713. [PMID: 21209953 PMCID: PMC3012094 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2010] [Accepted: 11/28/2010] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The genomes of eight treponemes including T. p. pallidum strains (Nichols, SS14, DAL-1 and Mexico A), T. p. pertenue strains (Samoa D, CDC-2 and Gauthier), and the Fribourg-Blanc isolate, were amplified in 133 overlapping amplicons, and the restriction patterns of these fragments were compared. The approximate sizes of the genomes investigated based on this whole genome fingerprinting (WGF) analysis ranged from 1139.3-1140.4 kb, with the estimated genome sequence identity of 99.57-99.98% in the homologous genome regions. Restriction target site analysis, detecting the presence of 1773 individual restriction sites found in the reference Nichols genome, revealed a high genome structure similarity of all strains. The unclassified simian Fribourg-Blanc isolate was more closely related to T. p. pertenue than to T. p. pallidum strains. Most of the genetic differences between T. p. pallidum and T. p. pertenue strains were accumulated in six genomic regions. These genome differences likely contribute to the observed differences in pathogenicity between T. p. pallidum and T. p. pertenue strains. These regions of sequence divergence could be used for the molecular detection and discrimination of syphilis and yaws strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Mikalová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Strouhal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Darina Čejková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Zobaníková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Pospíšilová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Steven J. Norris
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Erica Sodergren
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, The Genome Center, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - George M. Weinstock
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, The Genome Center, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - David Šmajs
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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SIDORENKO SV, SOLOMKA VS, KOZhUShNAYa OS, FRIGO NV, Sidorenko SV, Solomka VS, Kozhushnaya OS, Frigo NV. Methods for typing std pathogens (N. Gonorrhoeae, C. Trachomatis, T. Pallidum). VESTNIK DERMATOLOGII I VENEROLOGII 2010. [DOI: 10.25208/vdv781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic methods were initially used for bacterial typing yet they have a number of drawbacks limiting their use. Methods of molecular and genetic typing have become wide-spread today. Among these methods, bacterial typing based on multilocus sequence
typing (Multilocus Sequence Typing - MLST) has been developing at the fastest rate. However, schemes of molecular
and genetic typing of STD pathogens as compared to other bacteria are insufficiently developed, which considerably complicates
the planning of measures aimed at the reduction of their spread.
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Meheus AZ, Narain JP, Asiedu KB. Endemic treponematoses. Infect Dis (Lond) 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-04579-7.00104-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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Gerstl S, Kiwila G, Dhorda M, Lonlas S, Myatt M, Ilunga BK, Lemasson D, Szumilin E, Guerin PJ, Ferradini L. Prevalence study of yaws in the Democratic Republic of Congo using the lot quality assurance sampling method. PLoS One 2009; 4:e6338. [PMID: 19623266 PMCID: PMC2710509 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2008] [Accepted: 06/09/2009] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Until the 1970s the prevalence of non-venereal trepanomatosis, including yaws, was greatly reduced after worldwide mass treatment. In 2005, cases were again reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We carried out a survey to estimate the village-level prevalence of yaws in the region of Equator in the north of the country in order to define appropriate strategies to effectively treat the affected population. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We designed a community-based survey using the Lot Quality Assurance Sampling method to classify the prevalence of active yaws in 14 groups of villages (lots). The classification into high, moderate, or low yaws prevalence corresponded to World Health Organization prevalence thresholds for identifying appropriate operational treatment strategies. Active yaws cases were defined by suggestive clinical signs and positive rapid plasma reagin and Treponema pallidum hemagglutination serological tests. The overall prevalence in the study area was 4.7% (95% confidence interval: 3.4-6.0). Two of 14 lots had high prevalence (>10%), three moderate prevalence (5-10%) and nine low prevalence (<5%.). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Although yaws is no longer a World Health Organization priority disease, the presence of yaws in a region where it was supposed to be eradicated demonstrates the importance of continued surveillance and control efforts. Yaws should remain a public health priority in countries where previously it was known to be endemic. The integration of sensitive surveillance systems together with free access to effective treatment is recommended. As a consequence of our study results, more than 16,000 people received free treatment against yaws.
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Association of unique, isolated treponemes with bovine digital dermatitis lesions. J Clin Microbiol 2009; 47:689-96. [PMID: 19144804 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01914-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This study used a PCR-based approach targeting 16S rRNA gene fragments to determine the occurrence and association of the three bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) treponeme phylogroups within lesions found in cattle from the United Kingdom. Examination of 51 BDD lesions collected from infected cattle across the United Kingdom revealed that BDD treponeme group 1 (Treponema medium/Treponema vincentii-like), group 2 (Treponema phagedenis-like), and group 3 (Treponema putidum/Treponema denticola-like) were present in 96.1%, 98%, and 76.5% of BDD lesions, respectively. The three phylogroups were present together in 74.5% of lesions. The PCR assays enabled the isolation of further treponeme strains from previously mixed primary BDD lesion cultures. Here a representative from each of the three distinct treponeme phylogroups was isolated from a single BDD lesion for the first time. These data highlight the extent to which this disease is polytreponemal. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy were used to investigate lesional hoof tissues, resulting in treponemes being identified copiously in hair follicles and sebaceous glands, suggesting a potential route of exit and/or entry for these pathogens. This study gives further evidence for the importance of the three treponeme groups in BDD pathogenesis and reiterates the value of molecular genetic approaches for isolating and identifying fastidious anaerobes.
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Harper KN, Liu H, Ocampo PS, Steiner BM, Martin A, Levert K, Wang D, Sutton M, Armelagos GJ. The sequence of the acidic repeat protein (arp) gene differentiates venereal from nonvenereal Treponema pallidum subspecies, and the gene has evolved under strong positive selection in the subspecies that causes syphilis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 53:322-32. [PMID: 18554302 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2008.00427.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Despite the completion of the Treponema pallidum genome project, only minor genetic differences have been found between the subspecies that cause venereal syphilis (ssp. pallidum) and the nonvenereal diseases yaws (ssp. pertenue) and bejel (ssp. endemicum). In this paper, we describe sequence variation in the arp gene which allows straightforward differentiation of ssp. pallidum from the nonvenereal subspecies. We also present evidence that this region is subject to positive selection in ssp. pallidum, consistent with pressure from the immune system. Finally, the presence of multiple, but distinct, repeat motifs in both ssp. pallidum and Treponema paraluiscuniculi (the pathogen responsible for rabbit syphilis) suggests that a diverse repertoire of repeat motifs is associated with sexual transmission. This study suggests that variations in the number and sequence of repeat motifs in the arp gene have clinical, epidemiological, and evolutionary significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin N Harper
- Department of Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Connie J. Mulligan
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Steven J. Norris
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Sheila A. Lukehart
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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Harper KN, Ocampo PS, Steiner BM, George RW, Silverman MS, Bolotin S, Pillay A, Saunders NJ, Armelagos GJ. On the origin of the treponematoses: a phylogenetic approach. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2008; 2:e148. [PMID: 18235852 PMCID: PMC2217670 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2007] [Accepted: 11/15/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Since the first recorded epidemic of syphilis in 1495, controversy has surrounded the origins of the bacterium Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum and its relationship to the pathogens responsible for the other treponemal diseases: yaws, endemic syphilis, and pinta. Some researchers have argued that the syphilis-causing bacterium, or its progenitor, was brought from the New World to Europe by Christopher Columbus and his men, while others maintain that the treponematoses, including syphilis, have a much longer history on the European continent. Methodology/Principal Findings We applied phylogenetics to this problem, using data from 21 genetic regions examined in 26 geographically disparate strains of pathogenic Treponema. Of all the strains examined, the venereal syphilis-causing strains originated most recently and were more closely related to yaws-causing strains from South America than to other non-venereal strains. Old World yaws-causing strains occupied a basal position on the tree, indicating that they arose first in human history, and a simian strain of T. pallidum was found to be indistinguishable from them. Conclusions/Significance Our results lend support to the Columbian theory of syphilis's origin while suggesting that the non-sexually transmitted subspecies arose earlier in the Old World. This study represents the first attempt to address the problem of the origin of syphilis using molecular genetics, as well as the first source of information regarding the genetic make-up of non-venereal strains from the Western hemisphere. For 500 years, controversy has raged around the origin of T. pallidum subsp. pallidum, the bacterium responsible for syphilis. Did Christopher Columbus and his men introduce this pathogen into Renaissance Europe, after contracting it during their voyage to the New World? Or does syphilis have a much older history in the Old World? This paper represents the first attempt to use a phylogenetic approach to solve this question. In addition, it clarifies the evolutionary relationships between the pathogen that causes syphilis and the other T. pallidum subspecies, which cause the neglected tropical diseases yaws and endemic syphilis. Using a collection of pathogenic Treponema strains that is unprecedented in size, we show that yaws appears to be an ancient infection in humans while venereal syphilis arose relatively recently in human history. In addition, the closest relatives of syphilis-causing strains identified in this study were found in South America, providing support for the Columbian theory of syphilis's origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin N. Harper
- Department of Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Paolo S. Ocampo
- School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Bret M. Steiner
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention, NCHHSTP, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Robert W. George
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention, NCHHSTP, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Michael S. Silverman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Lakeridge Health Centre, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shelly Bolotin
- Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Allan Pillay
- Laboratory Reference and Research Branch, Division of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention, NCHHSTP, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nigel J. Saunders
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - George J. Armelagos
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
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