Syphilis is a sexual transmittent disease caused by infection, through abrassion in the skin or mucous membrane, with spirochates Triponema palidum . In adults the infection is usually sexually acquired; however, transmission by kissing, blood transfusion and percutaneous injury has been reported. In infants: The infection may be transplacental Morphology ü Long (4-30 mm), thin walled, flexible, spiral rods ü Motile with axial filaments. (other bacteria are motile with flagella) ü Pathogenic strains cannot be cultured in bacteriological media ü Do not take Gram’s stain. Mode of transmission ü Sexually transmission(main) ü Kissing ü Blood transfusion ü Percutaneous injury ü Transplacental 15.6 Classification of syphilis Stage Acquired Congenital Early 1. Primary 2. Secon...