4. INTRODUCTION
o Syphilis is one type of sexually
transmitted disease.
o A chronic bacterial disease that is
contracted chiefly by infection
during sexual intercourse, but also
congenitally by infection of a
developing fetus.
5. CAUSATIVE AGENT
o Treponema pallidum is the causative
agent of syphilis.
o T. pallidum is a thin, elongated (0.10 to
0.18 um) bacterium that cannot be
readily visualized by light microscopy,
instead requiring visualization by darkfield
microscopy, which uses obliquely applied
light.
6. o It’s a bacteria.
o Genus : Treponema
o Species : Treponema Pallidum
11. OCCURENCE
o The disease is worldwide in distribution.
o Globally an estimated 12 million new cases
of syphilis arise each year according to the
World Health Organization, most of which
occur in developing countries.
o Because of a lack of antibiotic treatment
and prenatal testing, congenital syphilis is
especially raising alarm in these developing
countries.
12. Incidence rate (per 100 000 population)
Source: Ministry of Health Malaysia, Health Fact
13. Number of Notified Syphilis, Gonorhea and Chancroid,
Malaysia (1993 - 2007)
16. RESERVOIR OF INFECTION
o Humans are the only type of reservoir
for T. pallidum or syphilis.
o Syphilis cannot be spread by a non-
living reservoir, such as toilet seats,
swimming pools, or eating utensils.
17. MODE OF TRANSMISSION
o Person to person by direct contact with a
syphilitic sore, known as a CHANCRE.
Chancres occur mainly on the external
genitals, vagina, anus, or in the rectum.
Chancres also can occur on the lips and in
the mouth.
o Transmission of syphilis occurs during vaginal,
anal, or oral sex.
18. o Pregnant women with disease can transmit
it to their unborn child.
o It is also transmissible by sexual contact with
infectious lesions, from mother to fetus in
uterus, via blood product transfusion, and
occasionally through breaks in the skin that
come into contact with infectious lesions.
o
o If untreated, it progresses through 4 stages:
primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary.
19. REFERENCES
o http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/75181/1/97
89241503839_eng.pdf (WHO)
o http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats07/syphilis.htm#a7
(CDC)
o http://www.slideshare.net/leorezzneri/syphilis-
disease?qid=79e2c361-a7f3-41ce-9d58-
e92745c098f8&v=default&b=&from_search=4
o http://www.austincc.edu/microbio/2421b/tp1.htm
o https://micpohling.wordpress.com/2008/04/02/mal
aysia-health-statistic-hiv-gonorrhea-syphilis/
