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OBJECTIVE--To study the localisation of treponemes and to analyse the inflammatory infiltrate in biopsy specimens from patients with primary or secondary syphilis, or early infectious yaws. MATERIALS AND METHODS--Skin biopsies originating from human lesions of primary (29x) or secondary (15x) syphilis (Rotterdam), or early yaws (18x) (West Sumatra) were studied. Different histochemical and immunohistochemical detection methods were used in this study. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION--The histochemical silver staining method according to Steiner revealed the presence of T. pallidum in all cases of primary syphilis studied. In 10 out of 14 cases of secondary syphilis, treponemes were demonstrated. With an immunofluorescence staining technique (IF) using anti-T. pallidum antiserum raised in rabbits (a-Tp), T. pallidum was demonstrated in 28 out of 29 cases of primary syphilis, and in 14 out of 14 studied cases of secondary syphilis. The silver staining method and IF showed identical localisations of T. pallidum (mainly in the dermal-epidermal junction zone or throughout the dermis). Using a-Tp antiserum in the indirect immunofluorescence technique, T. pertenue could be demonstrated in the dermis more often than with Steiner silver staining. However, epidermotropism of T. pertenue in yaws specimens was remarkable, compared with more mesodermotropism of T. pallidum; numbers of T. pertenue in the dermis were limited in all specimens. The dermal inflammatory infiltrate in primary and secondary syphilis was composed mainly of lymphocytes and plasma cells. In most cases more T (CD3 positive) cells than B (CD22 positive) cells were present. Regarding T cell subpopulations, in primary syphilis, T helper/inducer (CD4 positive) cells predominated in 86% of cases. In secondary syphilitic lesions, numbers of T helper/inducer cells were less frequent than or equal to T-suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8 positive) cells in 60% of cases. Remarkably, in yaws specimens the inflammatory infiltrate consisted mainly of IgG, but also IgA and IgM producing plasma cells. T or B lymphocytes were scarce, which is in sharp contrast with findings in syphilitic lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

OBJECTIVE--To study ultrastructural aspects of infection with Treponema pertenue (Pariaman strain), originating from West Sumatra, Indonesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS--Biopsy material originating from skin lesions in ten young children suffering from early infectious yaws in Indonesia, and rabbit testicular tissue inoculated with T pertenue. Human skin as well as rabbit testicular tissue was examined by means of conventional electron microscopy. RESULTS--In human skin, treponemes were found in interepidermal spaces in 5 out of 10 specimens. In two of five positive specimens, treponemes were also seen in the dermis. In one out of five specimens from rabbit testicular tissue a profusion of treponemes was found lying in the interstitial myxomatous tissue. Microorganisms showed no adhesion to fibroblasts. CONCLUSION--This ultrastructural study of T pertenue demonstrated the scarcity and focal distribution of treponemes in tissue and did not reveal any morphological differences from the Gauthier strain of T pertenue. No differences from the ultrastructure of T pallidum were observed either. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The mucopolysaccharide nature of the material deposited in rabbit testes infected with Treponema pallidum was confirmed by histochemical staining with alcian blue. Differential staining of mucopolysaccharides showed the presence of sulphated mucopolysaccharides as an almost constant feature, whereas in little more than half of the orchitic testes studied variable deposits of hyaluronic acid were seen. The treponemes were almost exclusively present in the areas rich in mucopolysaccharide. A combination staining with the Warthin-Starry method and alcian blue showed treponemes in close association with pre-existing fibrils and cells contained in these fibrils. The latter findings were confirmed by electron microscopy, and the fibroblasts to which treponemes adhered displayed the characteristics of activated cells. The close parallel between the histopathological changes observed here and their descriptions in published reports shows that our specific strain still behaves the same as the original Nichols pathogenic strain of T pallidum. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper presents the light microscopic findings in biopsies of skin lesions from 45 patients, in whom a diagnosis of early yaws was suspected. In 27 cases typical light-microscopic features of yaws were observed, consisting of parakeratosis or crust containing exudate, marked acanthosis with widening and elongation of the rete ridges or pseudo-carcinomatous hyperplasia and spongiosis. Intraepidermal microabscesses consisting of polymorphonuclear leucocytes were frequently encountered. In a large majority a moderate to dense infiltrate was present, composed mainly of lymphocytes and plasma cells. Vascular changes consisted of only slight endothelial cell proliferation and thickening of vessel walls. Steiner staining revealed the presence of treponemes in the epidermis in 23 of 27 cases. Remarkably, clusters of treponemes were also seen in the papillary dermis in three out of 23 cases. Seven other cases were strongly suggestive of yaws. Other histopathological diagnoses were made in 6 patients, due to the simultaneous occurrence of other skin diseases. The remaining five specimens did not contain enough tissue to allow conclusions to be made. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]