title: Yaws in Polynesia's Wallis and Futuna Islands: a seroprevalence survey.
abstract: We carried out a serological and clinical survey to determine the prevalence and clinical presentation of yaws on two twin islands in Polynesia: Wallis and Futuna. A total of 264 serum samples were tested for specific Treponema pallidum haemagglutinations assay and non-specific rapid plasma reagin: 52 were positive for one or both tests; only one young adult had skin lesion consistent with yaws; and there were no observed cases of secondary or tertiary yaws. Our results contrast with findings in neighbouring islands, such as Vanuatu, where yaws has been reported to resurge. This difference might be explained by better availability and accessibility of healthcare on Wallis and Futuna, thus allowing widespread use of antibiotics for other bacterial diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sia Hospital, Mata’Utu, Wallis and Futuna. guerriergilles@gmail.com
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guerrier
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marcon
authors.forename: Laure
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garnotel
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deltour
authors.forename: Stephane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schinas
authors.forename: Jean Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mathelin
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chouvin
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Metge
authors.forename: Jean Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Daronat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011114:Polynesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015001:Yaws / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial