[Overview of endemic treponematoses].

Endemic treponematoses including yaws, bejel, pinta are distinguished from venereal syphilis on the basis of epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations. They cannot be differentiated by morphological and serological methods. A few minor genetic differences have been identified among the subspecies (Treponema pallidum sp. pallidum, pertenue, endemicum, carateum). Although penicillin therapy is effective, these infectious diseases have yet to be eliminated.