Endemic treponematoses including yaws, bejel, pinta are distinguished from venereal syphilis on the basis of epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations. They cannot be differentiated by morphological and serological methods. A few minor genetic differences have been identified among the subspecies (Treponema pallidum sp. pallidum, pertenue, endemicum, carateum). Although penicillin therapy is effective, these infectious diseases have yet to be eliminated.
Diagnosis, Differential Endemic Diseases