Treponematosis in the eastern highlands of New Guinea.

Serological tests for treponemal disease were undertaken among the inhabitants of 10 census units in the Eastern Highlands of New Guinea. Many sera gave reactive results to some or all of the tests performed. To exclude biological false positive reactions the Treponema pallidum immobilization (TPI) test was carried out on each serum, the results being taken to indicate the presence or absence of treponemal disease in the individual. Clinically, leprosy and malaria were rare and no cases of active yaws were seen. Some middle-aged people showed clinical evidence of old yaws infections. The prevalence of treponemal disease in the census units varied from 3.9% to 79.2%, males having a higher prevalence than females. The children under 15 years showed no serological evidence of treponemal disease in all but 3 units, in which the prevalence ranged from 14.3% to 40%. It is concluded that the treponemal disease involved was yaws. Special interest lies in the non-infected children and adults who have no relative cross-immunity from yaws in a country which is rapidly developing.