About event
Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue (TPE) is the causative agent of human yaws. Yaws is currently reported in 13 endemic countries in Africa, southern Asia, and the Pacific region. The disease was believed to have no animal reservoirs, which supported the development of a currently ongoing second yaws eradication campaign. Our data show that nonhuman primates (NHPs) in Sub-Saharan Africa are infected with strains that are not only similar to the strains infecting humans but are genomically indistinguishable from them and highlight NHPs as a possible source for human yaws. In addition, we have documented an inter-species transmission of TPE among NHPs. Moreover, the geographical separation of sampling sites (national parks) does not preclude TPE transmission between and within NHP species. These findings indicate that TPE can only be eliminated in humans and that the yaws infection cannot be eradicated during the current campaign. In addition, our results highlight the need for a long-term yaws surveillance program in areas where the infected NHP populations occur.
More information
This event is part of the Principal Investigator Seminar Series, the schedule of seminars can be found here.
