Tag

Syphilis

All articles tagged with #syphilis

Ancient Treponema Genome Rewrites the History of Syphilis
science1 month ago

Ancient Treponema Genome Rewrites the History of Syphilis

Researchers reconstructed the oldest Treponema pallidum genome from a 5,500-year-old Colombian hunter-gatherer, revealing a previously unknown lineage that diverged from modern strains before subspecies formed. The discovery shows treponemal diseases circulated in the Americas long before agriculture or dense populations, suggesting hunter‑gatherer ecologies and mobility helped spread the pathogen and expanding the historical context for syphilis origins.

Denmark Clinches EU First in Eliminating Mother-to-Child HIV and Syphilis
health1 month ago

Denmark Clinches EU First in Eliminating Mother-to-Child HIV and Syphilis

The World Health Organization certified Denmark as the European Union’s first country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis, after meeting 2021–2024 targets with low infant transmission and high prenatal testing/treatment coverage. Elimination is defined as testing and treating at least 95% of pregnant women and keeping new infant infections under 50 per 100,000 births year after year. Denmark’s universal health system, strong data and laboratory capacity, and commitment to rights-based care underpinned the achievement, which comes with ongoing work toward triple elimination including hepatitis B; WHO notes Denmark joins a growing group of countries validated or certified for EMTCT milestones.

Uncertain source of rare syphilis case sparks diagnostic dilemma
health1 month ago

Uncertain source of rare syphilis case sparks diagnostic dilemma

An 83-year-old man in Belgium presented with facial palsy and systemic symptoms; weeks in hospital revealed anemia, liver abnormalities, edema, and kidney dysfunction. A positive Treponema pallidum test and elevated white blood cells in cerebrospinal fluid led to a diagnosis of secondary syphilis with early neurosyphilis—an unusual presentation with an uncertain infection source, possibly a latent infection reactivation or a recent exposure. He received penicillin therapy and improved, highlighting the diagnostic challenge in atypical syphilis cases.

Arlington Faces Sharp Rise in Syphilis, Prompting Expanded Testing Push
health2 months ago

Arlington Faces Sharp Rise in Syphilis, Prompting Expanded Testing Push

Arlington’s 2024 syphilis rate was 31.2 per 100,000, about 50% above Virginia’s average and more than double Northern Virginia’s rate, marking the highest Arlington rate since 2019. Officials cite a younger, highly mobile population and delays in diagnosis and have issued updated testing guidance and engaged clinicians through the Northern Virginia STI/HIV Taskforce to improve detection and treatment. National data show a 42% rise in syphilis from 2020–2024, underscoring the need for routine screening for sexually active people, while Arlington’s STI Clinic provides testing and free services for low‑income residents; prenatal testing to prevent congenital syphilis is also emphasized by Dr. Deidra Parrish, the new public health director.

Ancient genome reshapes the origin map of syphilis
science2 months ago

Ancient genome reshapes the origin map of syphilis

A team analyzing a 5,500-year-old Treponema pallidum genome from a Colombian rock shelter found the pathogen’s lineage was already diverse and not a direct ancestor of modern syphilis, bejel, or yaws. Instead, it’s a sister lineage that diverged around 13,700 years ago, suggesting treponemal diseases spread with ancient humans across continents long before the 1495 Naples outbreak. The discovery challenges single-origin stories and points to a richer, pan-human history of these pathogens, though details about virulence and transmission remain unresolved.

Ancient Colombian skeleton yields oldest Treponema genome, reshaping syphilis origins
science2 months ago

Ancient Colombian skeleton yields oldest Treponema genome, reshaping syphilis origins

Researchers recovered TE1-3, the oldest Treponema pallidum genome, from a 5,500-year-old skeleton in Sabana de Bogotá, Colombia, pushing the bacterium’s presence in the Americas back by thousands of years and fueling the argument that syphilis may have originated in the Americas, though the exact origin and transmission routes remain unsettled.

Syphilis Cases Surge Globally, Women Most Affected
health9 months ago

Syphilis Cases Surge Globally, Women Most Affected

Kenya is experiencing a sharp rise in syphilis and Hepatitis B infections, with women and pregnant women most affected. Despite high infection rates, testing and treatment remain inadequate due to resource constraints and stigma. The government and private sector are working together to improve screening, awareness, and elimination efforts, especially targeting mother-to-child transmission and vulnerable populations.