Syphilis as a chronic systemic infection

• Published in: Žurnal mikrobiologii, ėpidemiologii i immunobiologii no. 4; p. 120
• Main Authors: Nesterenko, V G, Akovbian, V A, Semenova, E N, Vavilova, L M, Iudina, T I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 01.07.2006
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Antigens, Bacterial - immunology; Carrier State; Chronic Disease; Disease Outbreaks; Hepatitis B - complications; Hepatitis C - complications; Herpes Simplex - complications; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Macrophages - microbiology; Phagocytosis; Risk Factors; Russia - epidemiology; Syphilis - complications; Syphilis - epidemiology; Syphilis - immunology; Syphilis - microbiology; Treponema pallidum - immunology; Treponema pallidum - pathogenicity; Virulence; Russia
• ISSN: 0372-9311

During the last STDs'epidemic in Russia (1994 - 2004) over 2.7 min people have been infected with syphilis. At present the structure of syphilis morbidity is characterized by 37% of latent forms, including 1.5% late latency. The increased level of late latency may result from: an ever-growing number of those with asymptomatic syphilis; disorderly and self-dependent usage of antibacterial preparations; spread of the virus chronic infections (herpes, hepatitis B, C) altering the macroorganism immune response; alcohol and drug abuse which decreases the efficacy of specific therapy. In general, chronization of the syphilitic infection may be caused by antigenically inert treponemal cell surface; paucity of outer membrane protein; residence of treponemas within an immunoprotective niche; uncompleted phagocytosis of treponemes with macrophages. Syphilis remains an "infectio magna" and demands thorough attention to all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures on every stage of the disease.