Epidemiologic and Genomic Reidentification of Yaws, Liberia

Abstract We confirmed endemicity and autochthonous transmission of yaws in Liberia after a population-based, community-led burden estimation (56,825 participants). Serologically was rare focal at population level (24 cases; 2.6 [95% CI 1.4–3.9] cases/10,000 population) with similar clinical epidemiology to other endemic countries West Africa. Unsupervised classification spatially referenced case finding data indicated that more likely occur hard-to-reach communities; healthcare-seeking low among communities, awareness healthcare workers. recovered whole bacterial genomes from 12 cases describe monophyletic clade Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, phylogenetically distinct known TPE lineages, including those affecting neighboring nonhuman primate populations (Taï Forest, Côte d’Ivoire). Yaws is but exhibits prevalence evidence historical genetic bottleneck subsequent local expansion. Reporting gaps appear attributable challenging disease awareness.