Tuberculoid Reaction in Lymph Nodes

Why is the infectious stage of syphilis prolonged?

“…The 'luotest' elicited a positive response in only ten out of the 48 patients with early syphilis, and in none of the fifty normal patients. Laymon (1934) found that a positive Mantoux reaction occurred with the same frequency in patients with secondary syphilis as in other patients. It would seem, from this evidence also, that some overriding specific anergy to syphilitic antigens probably exists at this stage.…”