Chapter 21.L2, Problem 1CT

a. Why does syphilis have such profound effects on the human body?

b. Why is long-term immunity to syphilis so difficult to achieve?

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Why syphilis has such profound effects on human body and why is it difficult to achieve long-term immunity to it.

Introduction:

Syphilis is caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum. It is a strict parasite that has complex growth requirements and this necessitates cultivating them in live cells.

Explanation of Solution

Humans act as sole natural host for the parasite. It is an extremely fastidious and sensitive parasite that cannot survive outside the host for long time and is rapidly destroyed by heat, drying, disinfectants, and other adverse conditions. It is transmitted sexually. Hence, it has such profound effects on human body. Protective immunity does not arise in case of humans against the syphilis pathogen and this makes vaccination difficult. Hence, long-term immunity to it is difficult.

Conclusion

Hence, it may be concluded that, humans being the sole host for parasite, syphilis has profound effect on humans and the ability to obtain protective immunity against it makes long-term immunity difficult.