Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026
09:45
Procedures for In Vitro Cultivation of Treponema pallidum, the Syphilis Spirochete
Published on: January 24, 2025
[Congenit syphilis in a baby]
Tina Lund Leunbach1, Uffe Koppelhus, Lars Bender
1Børneafdelingen, Aalborg Sygehus, Aarhus Universitetshospital, Denmark. kristiansen_tina@hotmail.com
Ugeskrift for Laeger
|March 14, 2013
Summary
A pregnant woman with secondary syphilis delivered prematurely after penicillin treatment. Her infant, born small for gestational age, recovered fully with intensive care and penicillin, highlighting the importance of syphilis screening.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Syphilis incidence is rising globally, posing risks to pregnant individuals and their fetuses.
- Congenital syphilis can lead to severe fetal complications, including intrauterine growth restriction and neurological damage.
Observation:
- A pregnant woman diagnosed with secondary syphilis received intravenous penicillin.
- Following treatment, the fetus experienced reduced blood flow in the middle cerebral artery, necessitating a cesarean section at 28 weeks + 5 days gestation.
- The neonate was small for gestational age (birth weight 1,320 g) and required eight weeks of intensive care.
Findings:
- The neonate received intravenous benzyl penicillin for 15 days.
- At one year corrected age, the infant exhibited normal developmental milestones.
- This case demonstrates a positive outcome despite premature delivery and congenital syphilis exposure.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of syphilis in pregnancy are crucial for preventing adverse fetal outcomes.
- Increased awareness and robust screening protocols for syphilis are essential in Western healthcare systems.
- Successful management of congenital syphilis can lead to favorable long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
01:25Immunodeficiency Diseases
Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
01:27Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...