What is Syphilis?

The spirochete Treponema Pallidum (TP) is the pathogen of a sexually transmitted disease to cause Syphilis. As this organism cannot be cultured on articial media, the diagnosis of Syphilis depends on the correlation of clinical data with the specic antibodies demonstrated by serological tests.

Multiple clinical stages and long periods of latent, asymptomatic infection are characteristic of Syphilis. Primary syphilis is dened by the presence of a chancre at the site of inoculation. The antibodies response to the TP bacterium can be detected within 4 to 7 days after the chancre appears. The infection remains detectable until the patient receives adequate treatment.