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Volume 19, Number 12—December 2013
Letter

Treponemal Infection in Nonhuman Primates as Possible Reservoir for Human Yaws

Sascha KnaufComments to Author , Hsi Liu, and Kristin N. Harper
Author affiliations: German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany (S. Knauf); Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (H. Liu); Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA (K.N. Harper)

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Figure

Geographic proximity between human yaws and endemic syphilis, as estimated by the World Health Organization, and locations in which treponemal infection has been identified in nonhuman primates (NHPs), Africa, 1990s. Red dots indicate infection in NHPs confirmed by sensitive and specific treponemal serologic tests (TPI/FTA-ABS/MHA-TP [Treponema-pallidum-immobilization reaction/fluorescence-Treponema-antibody-absorption test/Treponema pallidum microhemagglutination assay]) and, in some cases, PCR

Figure. . Geographic proximity between human yaws and endemic syphilis, as estimated by the World Health Organization, and locations in which treponemal infection has been identified in nonhuman primates (NHPs), Africa, 1990s. Red dots indicate infection in NHPs confirmed by sensitive and specific treponemal serologic tests (TPI/FTA-ABS/MHA-TP [Treponema-pallidum-immobilization reaction/fluorescence-Treponema-antibody-absorption test/Treponema pallidum microhemagglutination assay]) and, in some cases, PCR. Stars indicate suspected infection (i.e., sightings of NHPs with lesions consistent with infection). Sources include the following: 1) Cameroon: Gorilla gorilla, observation (W. Karesh, pers. comm.); Pan troglodytes, G. gorilla, and Papio sp., skeletal analysis and serology (4;11 in Technical Appendix. 2) Chad: Erythrocebus patas, serology (4). 3) Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Pan troglodytes, serology (4). 4) Gabon: G. gorilla, observation (W. Karesh, pers. comm.). 5) Guinea: Papio sp., serology and PCR (4,8). 6) Kenya: Papio anubis and Chlorocebus sp., observation and serology (J. Fischer, pers. comm.); 12 in Technical Appendix). 7) Nigeria, Papio anubis (J. Wallis, pers. comm.). 8) Republic of Congo: G. gorilla, serology and observation (W. Karesh, unpub. data; 5). 9) Tanzania: P. anubis; observation, serology, PCR (6,7; 13 in Technical Appendix; S. Knauf, unpub. data). 10) Senegal: Papio sp., Chlorocebus sp., colobus monkeys, and Erythrocebus patas; serology (S. Knauf, unpub. data; 4; 14 in Technical Appendix). Scale bar = 1,000 km.

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Page created: November 20, 2013
Page updated: November 20, 2013
Page reviewed: November 20, 2013
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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