Retention of motility and virulence of Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain) in vitro.
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A maintenance medium for Treponema pallidum was designed to hold its Eh at the optimum for that organism, -10 to -110 mV. After 100% motile (freshly harvested) T. pallidum was inoculated into the medium, the motility of the treponemes decreased to 80% after 2 days, 50% after 3.5 days, and 0% after 9 days during incubation at 34 C. Full virulence was retained for 2 days, but it dropped rapidly thereafter, and the treponemes became avirulent by day 5. (+info)
Immunization with the N-terminal portion of Treponema pallidum repeat protein K attenuates syphilitic lesion development in the rabbit model.
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When used as an immunogen, Treponema pallidum repeat protein K (TprK) has been shown to attenuate syphilitic lesions upon homologous intradermal challenge in the rabbit model. To further explore this protein as a potential vaccine component, we sought to identify the immunogenic regions of TprK. The abilities of three recombinant peptides encompassing TprK to elicit T- and B-cell responses and to protect against challenge were examined. All three fragments elicited proliferative responses from splenocytes taken from infected rabbits. However, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays indicated that only fragments 1 and 3 were consistently recognized by antisera from infected rabbits. Each fragment was also used to immunize rabbits that were subsequently challenged intradermally with infectious T. pallidum. All lesions on unimmunized control rabbits ulcerated and contained treponemes, while the lesions on rabbits immunized with fragment 1 were the least likely to have detectable treponemes (25%) and the least likely to ulcerate (37.5%). The lesions on rabbits immunized with fragment 3 showed intermediate results, and rabbits immunized with fragment 2 were the most likely of all those on immunized rabbits to have detectable treponemes (91.7%) and to ulcerate (66.7%). These results demonstrate that epitopes in fragment 1 are recognized by T cells and antibodies during infection and that immunization with this portion of TprK most effectively attenuates syphilitic lesion development. (+info)
Nodular secondary syphilis.
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Secondary syphilis can have protean clinical manifestations and may present with unusual lesions, which may go unrecognized. We report a case of secondary syphilis with nodular lesions. A 22 year old male presented with nodular and annular skin lesions over the face, back and limbs and condylomata lata lesion at the penoscrotal junction associated with generalized lymphadenopathy, fever and malaise. Prior to onset of these lesions the patient also had history of a painless genital sore, which healed within two weeks. The serology revealed a reactive VDRL(1:64) and positive TPHA. The HIV serology was non-reactive. The patient responded to a single dose of benzathine penicillin, 2.4 million units, given intramuscularly. This case highlights that secondary syphilis may present with nodular lesions and should be suspected in the appropriate clinical setting. (+info)
Activated and mature CD83-positive dendritic cells and interferon-gamma-positive cells in skin eruptions of secondary syphilis.
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Dendritic cells are considered to be the most potent antigen-presenting cells, and CD83 is expressed at a high level in immunocompetent, activated and mature dendritic cells. Various pathogens can activate and modulate the function of dendritic cells. The presence of activated and mature dendritic cells in skin lesions of secondary syphilis has never been reported. In the present study, an immunohistochemical technique was used to determine the exact tissue distributions of CD83+ dendritic cells and interferon-gamma+ cells in skin lesions of patients with secondary syphilis. Immunohistochemical staining was performed by using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. A small but significant subpopulation of CD83+ dendritic cells was found in the dermis. CD83+ dendritic cells were in close contact with lymphocytes. High-intensity staining of CD83 antigens was detected not only on the surface but also in the cytoplasm of dendritic cells. Infiltrating mononuclear cells were stained positively for CD4 or CD8, with CD8+ cells always being in the majority. A small number of interferon-gamma+ cells resembling mononuclear lymphoid cells were detected in all samples. These results provide in vivo support for the hypothesis that dendritic cells are activated by Treponema pallidum and that thus activated and mature CD83+ dendritic cells may play a role in the Th1 response in secondary syphilis. (+info)
Atypical presentation of syphilis in an HTLV-I infected patient.
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We report the case of a 44 year-old female, who presented a long-lasting, clinically atypical, secondary syphilis ("malignant syphilis") in the right foot, which started six months before medical evaluation. The patient had a serological diagnosis of HTLV-I infection and syphilis two years before the onset of the skin lesions, following a blood donation. As she believed she was allergic to penicillin, she initially received sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim, without any improvement of the clinical picture. After failure of this first treatment regimen, she was given penicillin, which promoted complete healing of the lesion. We found evidence that infection by HTLV-I is capable of modifying the clinical course of secondary syphilis. (+info)
Clinical features of skin lesions in rabbit syphilis: a retrospective study of 63 cases (1999-2003).
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Skin lesions in rabbit syphilis are usually diagnostic, but it is occasionally difficult to differentiate these lesions from those of other skin diseases. Skin lesions in 63 cases of rabbit syphilis were analyzed for early and accurate diagnosis. Lesions were found most frequently around the nose (55 cases) followed by the genitalia (22), lips (20), eyelids (12), and anus (10). Sneezing was observed in 33% of cases with nasal lesions. In cases of maternally acquired infection, lesions could be initially found mainly on the face. Rabbits should be examined carefully not only for facial lesions, but also for lesions of the genitalia and anus, locations easily overlooked. (+info)
Secondary syphilitic lesions.
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An important theme that emerges from all early historical accounts is that in addition to the decreased virulence of Treponema pallidum, the incidence of secondary syphilis has decreased drastically over the past three centuries. Even in the early 20th century, most syphilologists were of the opinion that the disease had undergone changes in its manifestations and that they were dealing with an attenuated form of the spirochete. Such opinions were based primarily on the observations that violent cutaneous reactions and fatalities associated with the secondary stage had become extremely rare. The rate of primary and secondary syphilis in the United States increased in 2002 for the second consecutive year. After a decade-long decline that led to an all-time low in 2000, the recent trend is attributable, to a large extent, by a increase in reported syphilis cases among men, particularly homosexual and bisexual men having sex with men. The present review addresses the clinical and diagnostic criteria for the recognition of secondary syphilis, the clinical course and manifestations of the disease if allowed to proceed past the primary stage of disease in untreated individuals, and the treatment for this stage of the disease. (+info)
Lues maligna in an HIV-infected patient.
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We report such a case of malignant syphilis in a 42-year-old HIV-infected man, co-infected with hepatitis B virus, who presented neurolues and the classical skin lesions of lues maligna. The serum VDRL titer, which was 1:64 at presentation, increased to 1:2,048 three months after successful therapy with penicillin, decreasing 15 months later to 1:8. (+info)