Resurgence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Treponema Pallidum Co-Infection

The noticeable spike in the prevalence of co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Treponema pallidum (syphilis) has generated renewed interest in the subject. While it has been well-established that HIV infection does exert some effect on the natural history of syphilis, it was not until the recent resurgence in the contraction of syphilis by HIV patients that researchers were able to document the impact that this disease has on the course of the HIV infection. A correct assertion is that there exists a complex interaction between HIV and syphilis and that this interaction remains partly understood. New data, though, have emerged that augment our comprehension of the interaction between syphilis and HIV infection as it applies to the heterosexual population, bi-sexual partners, and men who have sex with men (MSM).