In the paper by Knell posted on WebCT, the author states that in the UK, syphili

Question

In the paper by Knell posted on WebCT, the author states that in the UK, syphilis is rare nowadays but its incidence is rapidly increasing. In recent outbreaks in the UK, some of those infected noticed no symptoms at all. This could have serious implications concerning the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV because the chance of contracting HIV through heterosexual sex with someone who is HIV positive is about thirty times greater for a person who has syphilis. What is a plausible explanation for the continual evolution in regards to virulence in the organism that causes syphilis?

Explanation / Answer

The history of the human species, it has been said, is the history of infectious disease. Over the centuries, humans have been exposed to a vast amount and array of contagious conditions, including the Black Death and other forms of plague, typhoid fever, cholera, malaria, influenza, and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. Only in the past few hundred years have scientists begun to have any sort of accurate idea concerning the origin of such diseases, through the action of microorganisms and other parasites. Such understanding has led to the development of vaccines and methods of inoculation, yet even before they made these great strides in medicine, humans had an unseen protector: their own immune systems.

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