Permanent visual loss can be caused by improper use of immunosuppressive therapy in cases of uveitis without differential diagnosis of syphilitic uveitis. We present four cases of syphilitic uveitis that were incorrectly diagnosed as being secondary to rheumatic diseases and were subsequently treated with immunosuppressive therapy, leading to permanent visual loss. These cases highlight the imp...

The rabbit has been commonly used for experimental syphilis since Bertarelli (1906) first inoculated this species with Treponema pallidum. Three years earlier, Metchnikoff and Roux (1906) had succeeded in making the monkey the first animal successfully inoculated with the disease. However, but for isolated and notable exceptions (Neisser, 1906, 1908; Turner and Hollander, 1957), few subsequent ...

Since the incidence of syphilis is constantly rising in western countries during the last few years the awareness of atypical presentations of this treatable disease is warranted. Especially since early treatment results in complete elimination of Treponema pallidum, thus preventing disabilities and neurological deterioration as a consequence of late stage infection. We describe a case in which...

In the US and northern Europe, the prevalence of pregnant syphilitic women is estimated at .1-.6%, while in South Africa it was 7.6% in 1982. In 1978, there 108 cases in the US which increased to 268 reported cases in 1985. The increase of congenital syphilis (CS) by 25% from 1985 to 1988 was attributed to the spread of crack cocaine in the US. The rate was 10.5 cases/100,000 live births in t...

Experimental ocular and neurosyphilis has been investigated in this laboratory during the past three years in three species: (1) Rabbits. (2) Owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus). (3) Squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciurea). Rabbits were selected as a control to the primate experiments because they were used in the great majority of previous studies, and the obvious advantage of having a large available ...