Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 335))

Abstract

For several decades following the advent of benzathine penicillin chemotherapy for syphilis, its incidence in the United States remained low. However, in 1990, the number of new primary and secondary cases reported reached a new peak of 50,223 and there were 2899 cases of congenital syphilis in this country (1). The rise in syphilis started with increased sexual promiscuity, particularly among the homosexual population, but stabilized for a while after recognition of the severity and source of human immunodeficiency viral infections was accepted. Several published reports relate the most recent increase in syphilis to abuse of recreational drugs (2,3).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control, USPHS, “Summary of Notifiable Diseases, United States, 1990” USDHHS, Atlanta (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Centers for Disease Control, USPHS, Relationship of syphilis to drug use and prostitution - Connecticut and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. MMWR 37:755 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  3. R. Marx, S.O. Aral, R.T. Rolfs, C.E. Sterk and J.G. Kahn, Crack, sex, and STD, Sex. Transm. Dis. 18:92(1991).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. L. A. Borenstein, J.D. Radolf, T.E. Fehniger, D.R. Blanco, J.N. Miller and MA. Lovett, Immunization of rabbits with recombinant Treponema pallidum surface antigen 4D lters the course of experimental syphilis, J. Immunol. 140:2415 (1988).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. C. I. Champion, J.N. Miller, M.A. Lovett and D.R. Blanco, Cloning, sequencing, and expression of two class B endoflagellar genes of Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum encoding the 34.5- and 31.0-kilodalton proteins, Infect. Immun. 58:1697 (1990).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. R. Strugnell, A. Cockayne and C.W. Penn, Molecular and antigenic analysis of treponemes, Crit. Rev. Microbiol. 17:231 (1990).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. H. Friedman, T.Klein and S. Specter, “Immunosuppression by marijuana and its components. Psychoneuroimmunology”, 2d ed. Academic Press, Inc., pp. 931 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  8. H. J. Nichols, Observations on a strain of Spirochaeta pallida isolated from the nervous system. J. Exper. Med. 19:362 (1914).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. T. B. Turner and D.H. Hollander, “Biology of the Treponematoses”, WHO Monogr. Ser. no. 35, World Health Organization, Geneva (1957).

    Google Scholar 

  10. R. F. Schell, J.L. LeFrock, J.P. Babu and J.K. Chan, Use of CB hamsters in the study of Treponema pertenue, Br. J. Vener. Dis. 55:316 (1979).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. R. F. Schell, J.L. LeFrock, J.K. Chan, and O. Bagasra, LSH hamster model of syphilitic infection, Infect. Immun. 28:909 (1980).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. R. F. Schell, A.A. Azadegan, S.G. Nitskansky, and J.L. LeFrock, Acquired resistance of hamsters to challenge with homologous and heterologous virulent treponemes, Infect. Immun. 37:617 1982).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. J. N. Miller, “Spirochetes in Body Fluids and Tissues,” Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Illinois (1971),

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Paradise, L.J., Friedman, H. (1993). Syphilis and Drugs of Abuse. In: Friedman, H., Klein, T.W., Specter, S. (eds) Drugs of Abuse, Immunity, and AIDS. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 335. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2980-4_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2980-4_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6297-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-2980-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics