Treponema pallidum
Last reviewed 01/2018
Treponema pallidum is the causative organism of syphilis.
It is a motile spirochaete that is generally acquired by close sexual contact.
Treponema pallidum enters the host via breaches in squamous or columnar epithelium.
Primary infection is normally via sexual contact. Rarely, it may occur in medical personnel.
Treponema pallidum can be transmitted to a fetus by transplacental passage during the later stages of pregnancy giving rise to congenital syphilis.