Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Int J Paleopathol 2020 Jun 19;30:85-97. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Dept. of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

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. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2019 Oct 18;15(1):350. Epub 2019 Oct 18.

Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Building A6, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.

Background: The aim of this study was to quantify the seroprevalence of hare treponematosis in European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) populations in the Czech Republic and to test for an association between treponematosis prevalence and the altitude of the areas in which hares were sampled. We tested 289 serum samples of brown hares collected between 2015 and 2017. The sampling areas included 12 districts (73 villages) distributed throughout the Czech Republic. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2019 08;25(8):1581-1583

Bejel, an endemic treponematosis caused by infection with Treponema pallidum subspecies endemicum, has not been reported in eastern Asia and the Pacific region. We report local spread of bejel among men who have sex with men in Japan. Spread was complicated by venereal syphilis. Read More

J Med Microbiol 2019 May 17;68(5):761-769. Epub 2019 Apr 17.

Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, EFS, ADES, Marseille, France.

Purpose: Syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum , is considered as an old disease affecting humans; traces of such infections, including congenital syphilis, are potentially identifiable in archaeological samples. The aim of this research was to perform macroscopic and molecular investigations of T. pallidum on six infant remains, buried between 1837 and 1867, from the cemetery of 'Les Crottes' in Marseille city (southeastern France). Read More

J Clin Microbiol 2019 01 2;57(1). Epub 2019 Jan 2.

Department of Clinical Laboratory, National Hospital Organization, Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan.

Human treponematosis is caused by various pathogenic subspecies, including subsp. , subsp. , subsp. Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2018 Nov 16;24(11):1210.e1-1210.e5. Epub 2018 Feb 16.

Department of Biology, Masaryk University, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic. Electronic address:

Objectives: Bejel, caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum (TEN), was until now considered as a non-venereal disease endemic in areas with hot and dry climates. This study has identified TEN in clinical samples from Cuban patients previously diagnosed with syphilis. Read More

Indian J Med Res 2015 May;141(5):608-13

Epidemiology & Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi, India.

Yaws, a non-venereal treponematosis, affecting primarily the tribal populations, has been considered historically as one of the most neglected tropical diseases in the world. In 1996, India piloted an initiative to eradicate yaws based on a strategy consisting of active case finding through house-to-house search and treatment of cases and their contacts with long acting penicillin. Thereafter, the campaign implemented in all 51 endemic districts in 10 states of the country led to the achievement of a yaws-free status in 2004. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 2015 Jan 6;156(1):90-101. Epub 2014 Oct 6.

Museum of London Archaeology, London, N1 7ED, UK.

Treponematosis is a syndrome of chronic infectious diseases. There has been much debate on its origins and spread, particularly with regard to venereal syphilis, an unsightly and debilitating disease in preantibiotic populations. The osteological analysis of 5,387 individuals excavated by Museum of London Archaeology from the medieval burial ground of St. Read More

J Sex Med 2014 Dec 4;11(12):3112-8. Epub 2014 Sep 4.

University Department for Forensic Sciences, University of Split, Split, Croatia.

Introduction: There are four theories about the origin of syphilis, of which the mostly represented one is the Columbian theory. This theory suggests that syphilis was brought into Europe in 1493 ad by the ship from Caribbean islands.

Aim: The aim of this study is to test all theories on a sample of 403 skeletons: 135 from prehistory, 134 from antique, and 134 from medieval period and new age from the Dalmatia (Croatia). Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2014 15;18:56. Epub 2014 May 15.

Pietro Annigoni Biomolecular Research Center (CERBA)/ (LABIOGENE), University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Introduction: Due to the existence of a variety of types of non-venereal syphilis caused by the related T. pallidum, regular serological testing such as Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) and Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay Technique (CMIA) are often unable to differentiate venereal syphilis from the non- venereal one, hence, the interest in the use of molecular biology testing for a confirmation diagnosis of syphilis caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum.

Objective: The study is designed to assess the effectiveness of PCR testing and serological methods in the diagnosis of Treponema pallidum subsp pallidum among blood donors in Burkina Faso. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 2013 Feb 24;150(2):273-85. Epub 2012 Dec 24.

Department of Archaeology, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, England. c.a.roberts@ durham.ac.uk

Treponematosis has been one of the most studied and debated infectious diseases in paleopathology, particularly from the standpoint of its origin, evolution, and transmission. This study links evidence for treponematosis in skeletons from the 14th-16th century AD cemetery of the Augustinian friary of Hull Magistrates Court, England, with data from stable isotope analysis to test the hypothesis that the people with treponemal disease buried at this site were not locally born and raised. The objective is to explore the potential of using stable isotope data to track the place of origin and extent of mobility of individuals with an infectious disease. Read More

Skinmed 2012 Jan-Feb;10(1):8-12

Dermato-Venereology (Skin/VD) Center, Sehgal Nursing Home, Panchwati, Delhi, India.

The venereal form of treponematosis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, plagued every major city in the preantibiotic era. "Civilization means syphilization," was an idea touted by Richard von Krafft-Ebing in the late 19th, and early 20th centuries that the effects of modern life make men more susceptible to syphilis and other diseases. Christopher Columbus was thought of as an importer of syphilis to Europe. Read More

Lancet 2012 Jan 11;379(9813):342-7. Epub 2012 Jan 11.

Lihir Medical Centre-International SOS, Newcrest Mining, Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea.

Background: Yaws--an endemic treponematosis and, as such, a neglected tropical disease--is re-emerging in children in rural, tropical areas. Oral azithromycin is effective for syphilis. We assessed the efficacy of azithromycin compared with intramuscular long-acting penicillin to treat patients with yaws. Read More

Wien Klin Wochenschr 2008 ;120(19-20 Suppl 4):20-3

Institut für Nuklearmedizin, Wagner-Jauregg Krankenhaus, Linz, Osterreich.

Syphilis is a recurrent treponematosis of acute and chronic evolution. In general it is either sexually or congenitally transmitted. Primary syphilis appears as a single and painless lesion. Read More

Med Trop (Mars) 2008 Apr;68(2):111-8

Service de Dermatologie, Hôpital d'instruction des armées Laveran, BP 50, 13998, Marseille.

The foot is particularly exposed to injury and infection in the tropical areas. This article provides a review of the main diseases affecting the foot in the tropics including leprosy, ainhum, ulceration due to Mycobacterium ulcerans, mycetoma, chromomycosis, Kaposi's sarcoma, elephantiasis, podoconiasis, dracunculosis, tungiasis, syphilis and endemic treponematosis, larva migrans, scytalidiosis, and envenomation. Prevention is essential. Read More

Int J STD AIDS 2007 Sep;18(9):596-600

Center for International Health, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada.

The combination of high sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence and low HIV prevalence has been described as the Indian Ocean paradox. To investigate current epidemiology of HIV and STI in the Comoros, we conducted cross-sectional surveys of a representative sample of the adult population, and convenience samples of female sex workers and male STI patients. Only one (0. Read More

Sante 2006 Oct-Dec;16(4):215-23

Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Unité de recherche 178, Conditions et territoires d'émergences des maladies, Centre IRD de Hann, BP 1386, Dakar CP 18524 Sénégal.

A historical and comparative study of the origins and emergence of syphilis and AIDS show that both result from human intrusions. Treponema probably existed in primates before human infection, and nonvenereal treponemal infection existed in prehistoric tropical Africa. When humans began wearing clothes, the disappearance of endemic infection ended immunity and led to receptivity to venereal infection. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 2007 Apr;132(4):568-75

Ethologie-Evolution-Ecologie CNRS UMR 6552, Université Rennes 1, Station Biologique, 35380 Paimpont, France.

We evaluated the prevalence of skin lesions in a gorilla population in the Republic of Congo. The observed lesions were typical of yaws, a treponematosis described in gorillas and humans living in tropical regions. Among the 377 gorillas identified, 17% presented skin lesions, mainly on their faces. Read More

Clin Dermatol 2006 May-Jun;24(3):181-90

Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Despite major efforts to eradicate these disorders, yaws, bejel, and pinta (endemic treponematosis) remain serious health issues in many regions of the world. Aside from prominent skin manifestations, these diseases may also lead to significant osseous, neurologic, and ophthalmologic complications. Although progress has been made in differentiating the causative species in a research setting, a simple, specific, and sensitive diagnostic test remains elusive. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2005 May;40(10):1548; author reply 1548-9

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2003 Dec;13(12):719-21

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi.

Symmetrical exuberant periostitis is a rare disease caused by variety of infectious and non-infectious causes. Treponematosis is one of the rare causes of this condition. We report a patient who presented with left arm swelling, secondary to onion peel periostitis of the humerus, which was caused by Treponema species. Read More

Infect Immun 2004 Nov;72(11):6561-76

Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

Treponema paraluiscuniculi, the etiologic agent of rabbit venereal syphilis, is morphologically indistinguishable from Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (T. pallidum), the human syphilis treponeme, and induces similar immune responses and histopathologic changes in the infected host. Read More

Reumatismo 2004 Jan-Mar;56(1):61-6

Arthritis Center of Northeast Ohio, Youngstown, 44512, USA.

Objectives: This study was conducted to test several hypotheses: 1. That rheumatoid arthritis and syphilis were New World diseases, only transmitted to the Old World subsequent to the passages of Christopher Columbus; 2. To indirectly test the hypothesis that lead poisoning was prevalent in Roman Italy by looking for its byproduct, gout; 3. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 2003 Jun;121(2):117-24

Wellcome Centre for the History of Medicine at University College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom.

In 1912, 68 medieval crania were excavated from a cave at Safed in the eastern Mediterranean and brought to the United Kingdom. It is only recently that these skulls have been studied for evidence of disease. One adult individual demonstrates multiple lesions of the cranial vault, compatible with treponematosis. Read More

Acta Medica (Hradec Kralove) Suppl 2003 ;46(1-2):23-31

Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Lékarská fakulta v Hradci Králové, Ustav anatomie.

Syphilis is a treponematosis clinically characterized by a primary lesion, a secondary rash affecting the skin and the mucous membranes and late lesions affecting cardiovascular and central nervous systems, viscera and bones. Off all the skeletal lesions, the most characteristic are those of the skull, most commonly affecting frontal and parietal bones and nasal and palatal region. The collection of 647 adult skulls of both sexes and 98 child and adolescent skulls from the "Broumov Ossuary" (13th - 18th century) was examined for the presence of the bone syphilis lesions. Read More

Zentralbl Bakteriol 1999 Feb;289(1):101-7

Parasite and Tropical Health Research Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.

Sixty-four (4.2%) cases of yaws and forty-one (2.7%) cases of syphilis were encountered during an epidemiological survey for filariasis in the mid-Hawal river valley. Read More

J Radiol 1998 Nov;79(11):1363-6

Service d'Imagerie Médicale, HIA Laveran, Marseille.

Bone and joint localizations of treponematosis vary greatly although there are many common features. Osteal and periosteal lesions are common. We report radiographic descriptions of bone and joint treponematosis, which must not go unrecognized due to the increasing incidence of these diseases. Read More

Am J Trop Med Hyg 1998 Sep;59(3):388-92

Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.

The endemic treponematosis yaws remains a significant cause of morbidity in many tropical countries, despite mass treatment campaigns to eradicate it. An outbreak of yaws in Marup village on Karkar Island, Papua New Guinea in 1988 provided an opportunity to monitor the outcome of treatment with penicillin over an extended period. Thirty-nine children with clinical yaws (6% of 632 examined) were monitored clinically and serologically, for nearly two years after mass treatment of all villagers with the World Health Organization recommended dosages of benzathine penicillin. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 1998 Jun;106(2):229-48

Department of Geography and Anthropology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.

Descriptions of skeletal pathological conditions evident in the prehistoric Tchefuncte adolescent 16ST1-14883b are clarified. The basis is reaffirmed for assigning to the described pathological conditions a diagnostic perspective of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile Lyme disease--a disease that mimics juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in its arthritic presentation--rather than of assigning them as representative of juvenile onset ankylosing spondylitis or other juvenile spondyloarthropathies. A hypothesis (Lewis [1994] Am. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 1996 May;100(1):49-55

Narasihgharaopeta Ankapalle, A.P., India.

An Iron Age (megalithic) skull recovered from a cist burial complex at Agripalle, Andhra Pradesh, India, exhibits extensive erosion of the calvarium, areas of sclerotic diploe, irregular osteitic and periosteitic lesions, and deep ulcerations with a granulomatous appearance of nodular foci due to bone remodeling. These lesions are found over the entire surface, but are less severe in the temporal region and in the occipital region below lambda. There is extensive ulceration and destruction of the orbital roof and the nasopalatine region. Read More

Acta Trop 1995 Aug;59(4):271-7

Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Epidémiologie Tropicale, CHU La Milétrie, Poitiers, France.

Seroprevalences for toxoplasmosis, malaria, rubella, cytomegalovirus, HIV and treponemal infections were evaluated among 211 pregnant women residing in the Cotonou area, Republic of Benin. One hundred and thirteen women (53.6%) had toxoplasma antibodies, 185 (87. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 1995 Jun;97(2):187-95

Dirección de Antropología Física, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, México, D.F.

Congenital syphilis has been diagnosed very seldom in ancient populations. The case that we examined comes from San Jeronimo's Church (17th and 18th centuries AD; Mexico City). Coffin 43 contained an incomplete skeleton of an approximately 2-year-old infant. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 1995 May;20(5):1402-8

Arthritis Center of Northeast Ohio, Youngstown 44512, USA.

Assigning responsibility for the origins of treponemal disease has been complicated because of the (diagnostic) impreciseness of the historical written record and the inability to microbiologically distinguish among the treponematoses. Bedouin skeletal remains of individuals from the Negev area of Israel who had bejel, skeletons from the Todd human skeleton collection of individuals in whom syphilis was diagnosed, and skeletal remains from Guam of individuals who had yaws were analyzed to quantitatively assess their skeletal damage. The osseous reactions, although reproducible for each variety of treponemal disease, are not uniform among these skeletons. Read More

Bull Soc Pathol Exot 1995 ;88(3):124-5

Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Niamey, Niger.

A seroepidemiological study of endemic treponematosis (bejel) in Niger allows us to realise an anonymous non correlated screening of VIH infection in Nomads: Touaregs of Tchirozerine (Agadez), Peuls Boro of Bermo (Maradi). On the 424 Touaregs screened only one was seropositive to VIH2 infection confirmed with Western blot that means 0.23% of seroprevalency comparable to that 0. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 1994 Dec;31(6):1075-6

Genitourin Med 1994 Aug;70(4):278-83

Academic Department of Medicine, University School of Medicine, London, UK.

Am J Phys Anthropol 1994 Apr;93(4):455-75

Department of Geography and Anthropology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803.

A convergence of evidence from macroscopic, radiographic and histologic examination indicates that treponemal infection was present in the 16ST1 Tchefuncte Indian burial population, dated 500 B.C. to 300 A. Read More

Bull Soc Pathol Exot 1994 ;87(1):17-8

Ministère de la Santé et de la Population, Lomé, Togo.

In Togo, since 1940, yaws declared endemic has been controlled after the 1956 and 1961 eradication campaign. Nowadays, unfortunately, the mutilating treponematosis has reappeared in force. Hence, Togolese Health Officers are in search of ways and means to eradicate the disease so as to prevent handicaps for future generations. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 1993 Nov;92(3):249-61

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4353.

Examination of five central Gulf Coast Florida archaeological skeletal series (n = 547) from the late prehistoric and early historic periods reveals the presence of pathological lesions characteristic of treponemal infection. These skeletal remains of native American populations represent a crucial time regarding hypotheses about the exchange of syphilis between the Old and New World or the mutation of one treponemal infection into another. Comparison of the lesions with those observed in modern studies of treponemal infection does not support an interpretation of venereal syphilis. Read More

Bull Soc Pathol Exot 1993 ;86(5):342-4

Laboratoire de référence des Mycobactéries, Cotonou, Bénin.

A study of frequency of treponematosis among pregnant women in Mother Hood of Zogbo (Cotonou) shows 5.1 +/- 2.8% of positivity with risk of 5% by TPHA and VDRL. Read More

Hum Biol 1992 Jun;64(3):337-60

Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560.

One of the objectives of paleopathology is to clarify the role of disease in the evolution of human groups. The recovery of DNA and immunoglobulins from archeological human skeletal tissue offers a method for enhancing and expanding our knowledge about the presence and significance of disease in past human populations. DNA also might reveal the presence of genetic disease. Read More

Ann Pathol 1991 ;11(2):128-31

Laboratoire d'Histopathologie Cutanée, Clinique Dermatologique, Strasbourg.

Treponema in syphilis or non venereal treponematosis can be demonstrated in paraffin embedded tissues, with immunological techniques. Anti-C3 immunofluorescence shows treponemas in 6 of 12 biopsies from 8 patients suspected of treponematosis. This method is easier and quicker than silver impregnation in spite of weak sensitivity. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 1991 Jan;10(1):4-5

Ann Soc Belg Med Trop 1989 Dec;69(4):319-29

In Mali, in the sahelian zone, the prevalence of non venereal endemic syphilis is currently equivalent to the prevalence that existed before the eradication campaigns of the years 1950-60. Because new control programmes of the disease had to be initiated, studies have been performed to measure the current impact of the mass campaigns with long acting penicillin, and to look for a simple method that could rapidly assess the impact of the control programmes. These studies underline that the control of endemic syphilis in these areas cannot rely solely upon the health care facilities, but that mobile strategies and mass campaigns will perhaps always be needed in the areas not covered by the health care facilities. Read More

Med Trop (Mars) 1989 Jul-Sep;49(3):237-44

Programme des Maladies Sexuellement Transmissibles, Organisation Mondiale de la Santé, Genève, Suisse.

Yaws and other endemic treponematoses (bejel or endemic syphilis, pinta) are resurging in many countries of the tropical belt. Today there are more than 2.5 million cases of these diseases, 75% of them in children. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 1989 Jul;79(3):289-303

Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of North Carolina, Charlotte 28223.

The skeleton of an adult female exhibiting evidence of treponemal infection was recently recovered from the Hardin site in the piedmont region of North Carolina. Archaeological indicators suggest a late prehistoric affiliation. The skeleton is affected by a diffuse process resulting in surface changes, both destructive and appositional, node formation and shaft expansion, medullary encroachment and filling, cortical thickening, and fracture. Read More

HNO 1988 Oct;36(10):426-8

Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz.

Yaws is a treponematosis which is rare in Europe. Tertiary stages may present with tumor-like lesions predominantly in the face. These manifestations are called rhinopharyngitis mutilans and goundou. Read More

Bull Soc Pathol Exot Filiales 1988 ;81(1):24-31

Laboratoire de Biologie médicale, Hôpital National, Nouakchott.

A serological serosurvey was made in different ethnic groups of Mauritania in 1985. A very high prevalence of hepatitis B markers was found with more than 20% of HBs antigen carriers. Treponema specific antibodies in low-age classes observed is a reflect of endemic syphilis. Read More

Genitourin Med 1987 Apr;63(2):83-6

Four patients with syphilis or, in two instances, possibly some other treponematosis, underwent oculomotor and audiological tests. The oculomotor test result was abnormal in all four patients. Three had abnormal smooth pursuit eye movements and two of them had hypometric voluntary horizontal saccades, which indicate that the central nervous system (CNS) was affected. Read More

Trop Med Parasitol 1985 Jun;36(2):63-71

Yaws (buba, Frambösie, pian), a non-venereal treponematosis of skin and bones is a tropical disease that affects primarily children. Eradication programs launched between 1950 und 1970 reduced the incidence substantially; resurgences, however, have been reported from several countries. We have studied a geographically isolated focus of yaws in the Ubangi area of northwestern Zaire. Read More