title: Endemic treponemal diseases.
abstract: The endemic treponemal diseases, consisting of yaws, bejel (endemic syphilis) and pinta, are non-venereal infections closely related to syphilis, and are recognized by WHO as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Despite previous worldwide eradication efforts the prevalence of yaws has rebounded in recent years and the disease is now a major public health problem in 14 countries. Adequate data on the epidemiology of bejel and pinta is lacking. Each disease is restricted to a specific ecological niche but all predominantly affect poor, rural communities. As with venereal syphilis, the clinical manifestations of the endemic treponemal diseases are variable and can be broken down in to early stage and late stage disease. Current diagnostic techniques are unable to distinguish the different causative species but newer molecular techniques are now making this possible. Penicillin has long been considered the mainstay of treatment for the endemic treponemal diseases but the recent discovery that azithromycin is effective in the treatment of yaws has renewed interest in these most neglected of the NTDs, and raised hopes that global eradication may finally be possible.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, WC1E 6JB, UK michael.marks@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, WC1E 6JB, UK.
authors.forename: Anthony W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT, UK Hospital for Tropical Diseases, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, London, WC1E 6JB, UK.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Mabey
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003906:Developing Countries; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D006801:Humans; D010874:Pinta / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015001:Yaws / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Bejel; Neglected tropical diseases; Pinta; Syphilis; Yaws