NONVENEREAL TREPONEMATOSES - YAWS, ENDEMIC SYPHILIS, AND PINTA

The nonvenereal treponematoses-yaws, endemic syphilis, and pinta-const itute a major health concern for many third world countries. These dis eases are caused by an organism that is morphologically and antigenica lly identical to the causative agent of venereal syphilis, Treponema p allidum. Nonvenereal treponematoses differ significantly in their mode s of transmission, epidemiology, and clinical presentation from venere al syphilis. Like venereal syphilis, they have a chronic relapsing cou rse and have prominent cutaneous manifestations. Recently, several cas es of imported yaws and endemic syphilis have been described in Europe . With the escalating U.S. military presence in many remote areas of t he world and ever-increasing world-wide travel, the diagnosis of the n onvenereal treponematoses must be considered in appropriate clinical a nd historical situations.