Talk:Syphilis

What is a Hinton test?
Redirects here but not mentioned. Equinox ◑ 17:13, 17 May 2023 (UTC)


 * @Equinox, it was a more reliable test created by William Augustus Hinton. It's probably worth a brief mention.  Alternatively, you could repoint the redirect to History of syphilis. WhatamIdoing (talk) 05:29, 9 June 2024 (UTC)

Origin in Europe or America?
The history section is confusing. It starts off by saying that it started in America:

> Paleopathologists have known for decades that syphilis was present in the Americas before European contact.

But then says that it was present in Europe before the voyages to America:

> In 2020, a group of leading paleopathologists concluded that enough evidence had been collected to prove that treponemal disease, almost certainly including syphilis, had existed in Europe prior to the voyages of Columbus.

So which one is it? If it's uncertain it should start of by saying that. 46.33.152.203 (talk) 01:10, 26 October 2023 (UTC)


 * It seems that the confusion is introduced by a lengthy attempt move the origins of the disease away from pre-Colombian Americas. This attempt in lengthy and convoluted, if not outright forcefully introduced (and, this is what introduces the confusion and doubt about American origin of the disease) is caused by lack of any proof that the disease did not originate in Americas. It is so much overly forced upon the reader that, I suspect the reason for introducing the hypothesis is extra scientific and could have something to do with politics of the disease in today's world. 174.94.111.33 (talk) 03:07, 9 June 2024 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 19 November 2023
change "This is believed to be partly due to increased sexual activity, increased prostitution, and decreased use of condoms." to : "This is believed to be partly due to increased prostitution, and decreased use of condoms." as increased sexual activity is false. Sexual activity seems to have lessen compared to previous years/decades Psixtras (talk) 20:52, 19 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Red information icon with gradient background.svg Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Lewcm Talk to me! 20:45, 24 November 2023 (UTC)

Unclear bacteriology
The lead says that pinta is caused by Treponema carateum, which, indeed, pinta also says. In the body, however, the first paragraph under "Cause", talking of the bacterial cause, Treponema pallidum says that carateum is a subspecies. I am thus unclear, is T. carateum a separate species within the genus Treponema or is it a subspecies of T. pallidum? One paragraph or the other needs changing/clarifying, but i can't tell which is wrong. Happy days, ~ LindsayHello 12:39, 16 March 2024 (UTC)


 * @LindsayH, I don't know the answer to your question, but Treponema pallidum appears to have some more information. WhatamIdoing (talk) 05:31, 9 June 2024 (UTC)
 * Thank for that.  A tad embarrassing, as i thought i had checked sufficiently without finding the answer before writing my plea, but clearly i didn't.  Anyway, chasing references seems to make the answer fairly clear, so i'll make the change required.  Thanks for the pointer. Happy days, ~ LindsayHello 08:50, 9 June 2024 (UTC)
 * You're welcome. Thanks for making the change. WhatamIdoing (talk) 15:23, 9 June 2024 (UTC)