Recovery of spirochagetes in the monkey by passive transfer from human late sero-negative syphilis.

Smith, J. Lawton; Israel, C W

doi:10.1136/sti.44.2.109

“…Although this pattern might be suggestive of past transmission events between NHPs and humans, whether such events really happened remains uncertain due to a paucity of genomic data from both humans and wildlife. However, in an experimental setting, the Fribourg-Blanc strain induced classical yaws symptoms in humans [14] and human-infecting TPE strains were reported to elicit yaws-like symptoms in NHPs [15]. This suggests that molecular compatibility barriers to cross-species transmission of TPE are low, though other barriers to spillover might exist [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographically structured genomic diversity of non-human primate-infecting Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue

Mubemba

¹

,

Gogarten

²

,

Schuenemann

³

et al. 2020

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Many non-human primate species in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue , the bacterium causing yaws in humans. In humans, yaws is often characterized by lesions of the extremities and face, while T. pallidum subsp. pallidum causes venereal syphilis and is typically characterized by primary lesions on the genital, anal or oral mucosae. It remains unclear whether other T. pallidum subspecies found in humans also occur in non-human primates and how the genomic diversity of non-human primate T. pallidum subsp. pertenue lineages is distributed across hosts and space. We observed orofacial and genital lesions in sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire and collected swabs and biopsies from symptomatic animals. We also collected non-human primate bones from 8 species in Taï National Park and 16 species from 11 other sites across sub-Saharan Africa. Samples were screened for T. pallidum DNA using polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and we used in-solution hybridization capture to sequence T. pallidum genomes. We generated three nearly complete T. pallidum genomes from biopsies and swabs and detected treponemal DNA in bones of six non-human primate species in five countries, allowing us to reconstruct three partial genomes. Phylogenomic analyses revealed that both orofacial and genital lesions in sooty mangabeys from Taï National Park were caused by T. pallidum subsp. pertenue . We showed that T. pallidum subsp. pertenue has infected non-human primates in Taï National Park for at least 28 years and has been present in two non-human primate species that had not been described as T. pallidum subsp. pertenue hosts in this ecosystem, western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) and western red colobus (Piliocolobus badius), complementing clinical evidence that started accumulating in Taï National Park in 2014. More broadly, simian T. pallidum subsp. pertenue strains did not form monophyletic clades based on host species or the symptoms caused, but rather clustered based on geography. Geographical clustering of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue genomes might be compatible with cross-species transmission of T. pallidum subsp. pertenue within ecosystems or environmental exposure, leading to the acquisition of closely related strains. Finally, we found no evidence for mutations that confer antimicrobial resistance.

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“…However, in an experimental setting, the simian Fribourg-Blanc strain isolated from Guinea baboons (Papio papio) induced classical yaws symptoms in humans [14]. Similarly, human infecting TP strains were reported to elicit yaws-like symptoms in NHPs [15]. This suggests that molecular compatibility barriers to between-species transmission of TPE are low, though other barriers to spillover might exist [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geographically structured genomic diversity of non-human primate-infecting Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue

Mubemba

¹

,

Gogarten

²

,

Schuenemann

³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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BackgroundIncreasing evidence suggests many non-human primate (NHP) species in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue (TPE), the bacterium causing yaws in humans. In humans, yaws is characterized by lesions of the extremities and face, while Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA) causes venereal syphilis and is characterized by primary lesions on the genital, anal or oral mucosae, and has not been detected in NHPs. Due to a paucity of genetic data, it remains unclear whether other Treponema pallidum (TP) subspecies found in humans also occur in NHP and how the genomic diversity of TPE lineages that do occur in NHPs is distributed across hosts and space. MethodologyWe observed a combination of yaws-and syphilis-like symptoms in sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys atys) in Taï National Park (TNP), Côte d'Ivoire and collected swabs and biopsies from symptomatic animals. We also collected NHP bones from eight species from TNP, as well as from 19 species at 12 field sites across sub-Saharan Africa. Samples were screened for TP DNA using PCRs. In-solution hybridization capture coupled with high throughput sequencing was used to sequence TP genomes from positive samples. Principal findingsWe generated four nearly complete TP genomes from biopsies and swabs and five partial genomes from bones. Phylogenomic analyses revealed that both syphilis-and yaws-like lesions of sooty mangabeys within a single social group in TNP were caused by TPE. All TPE genomes determined from these sooty mangabeys were different and exhibited divergence levels not observed in TPE from a single species at any other field site where the disease seems to be epizootic. In general, simian TPE isolates did not form monophyletic clades based on host species or the type of symptoms caused by an isolate, but rather clustered based on geography. ConclusionsThere is a large diversity of TPE strains infecting NHPs in TNP. Our observations within a single social group of sooty mangabeys do not support the epizootic spread of a single clone, but rather points towards frequent independent introductions of the bacterium, which can cause syphilis-and yaws-like lesions. On a larger scale, the geographic clustering of TPE genomes might be compatible with cross-species transmission of TPE within ecosystems or environmental exposure leading to acquisition of closely related strains. Author's summaryIndividuals in several populations of wild non-human primates (NHP) in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue (TPE), a pathogen causing yaws disease in humans. In humans, yaws is characterized by skin lesions of the extremities and face. In contrast, Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, which causes venereal syphilis in humans, has not been observed in NHPs. We describe a combination of yaws-and syphilislike symptoms in a sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys atys) social group in Taï National Park (TNP), Côte d'Ivoire. We sampled lesioned animals and collected and tested NHP bones from field sites across sub-Saha...

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Persistence of treponemes after treatment.

Dunlop¹

1972

BMJ

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Hence a considerable proportion of "non-specific" genital infection is related to Chlamydia. The new developments will enable us to begin to define how big this proportion is; to study control groups; to determine if any of the Chlamydia are non-pathogenic in the eye, genital tract, or elsewhere; and to study further special forms of disease such as Reiter's disease, abacterial pyuria, proctitis, and salpingitis. Thus there is evidence already that salpingitis commonly occurs in the mothers of babies suffering from ophthalmia neonatorum due to TRIC agent.'03 130 The culture of specimens obtained at laparoscopy should show whether Chlamydia is present in the affected fallopian tubes or not. Such studies will lay the foundations for defined assessment of treatment for disease due to Chlamydia.It would be surprising if there were no other agent concerned as a cause of NSU; therefore it will be of particular interest to test for other agents those patients in whom efficient tests (cell culture and immunological studies) for Chlamydia have given negative results.

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Recovery of spirochagetes in the monkey by passive transfer from human late sero-negative syphilis.

Cited by 7 publications

References 6 publications

Geographically structured genomic diversity of non-human primate-infecting Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue

Geographically structured genomic diversity of non-human primate-infecting Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue

Geographically structured genomic diversity of non-human primate-infecting Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue

Persistence of treponemes after treatment.

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