Syphilis Research Papers

Nathan Riley
SCB 260
Prof: Olga Calderon, PhD
20 January 2016
Syphilis
Syphilis is a systemic infectious disease that is the result of sexual or congenital transmission of a bacterium known as Treponema pallidum (Sutton, 2013). This bacteria, in spite of creating a strong immune response, is able to thrive and spread in the human host for many decades. Syphilis has been called “the great pretender,” as its symptoms can look much like those of other infectious diseases and in the past, has been misdiagnosed (CDC SITATION). In this paper, I will introduce the reader to the etiology of the disease, describe and detail the micro-bacterium responsible, discuss diagnosis, treatment (along with the complications there-within), and consider the
Though considered to be Gram-negative, the bacterium is inherently fragile due to it’s unusual envelope arrangement in which the peptidoglycan layer is found within a cytoplasmic-membrane location as opposed the typical outer-membrane location as in conventional Gram-negative bacteria. This structure with its associated fragility make it virtually impossible to manipulate in a laboratory setting and has never been successfully cultured for any length of time in vitro (Houston, 2012). Another significant difference of spirochetes are the manner in which they swim. Like other common swimming bacteria, the spirochetes thrust through liquid by rotating long helical filaments known as flagella. However, in spirochetes, the flagella are internal, occupying the space in between the inner and outer membranes. These flagella, driven by motors, produce rotations within the organism causing the entire cell body to undulate like a cork-screw and propel these organisms through fluids (Harmon, 2013). It is this undulation that makes Treponema pallidum able to wiggle into tight spaces and therefore, may be a major reason why this bacteria is such a successful pathogen. In humans, Treponema pallidum easily breaches the blood-brain barrier and infects the central nervous system, is
The rate of transmission at this time is 90 percent. Sexual transmission drops dramatically after that; by the second year transmission rate is 5 percent, and by the fourth year, syphilis can no longer be contracted by sexual contact. Maternal-fetal transmission can occur either by placental cross-over or at the time of delivery, direct contact with syphilitic lesions. Fetal risks are highest in women with early syphilis. In the initial disease a presumed diagnosis of syphilis can be made upon observation of the patient and sexual history. Dark field microscopy of exudate from the lesion is a reliable way to confirm the presence of spirochetes. Light through the microscope fitted with special lenses allows the visualization and identification of the corkscrew morphology of the spirochete as white against a dark