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[[Image:Ro0304F8Treponema.jpg|thumbnail|175px|right|Syphilis is an easily spread infection caused by the [[bacteria]] [[Treponema pallidum|Treponema pallidum]]]]

[[Image:Ro0304F8Treponema.jpg|thumbnail|175px|right|Syphilis is an easily spread infection caused by the [[bacteria]] [[Treponema pallidum|Treponema pallidum]]]]

Syphilis is a [[sexually transmitted disease]] caused by the [[bacteria]] [[Treponema pallidum|Treponema pallidum]].  

Syphilis is a [[sexually transmitted disease]] caused by the [[bacteria]] [[Treponema pallidum|Treponema pallidum]]. Syphilis originated in the [[New World]] and was introduced to [[Europe]] in the late 13th century by [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] explorers returning from the New World<ref>[http://www.archaeology.org/9701/newsbriefs/syphilis.html Origins of Syphilis]</ref>. The first European record of a syphilis epedemic was in 1493, a year after the Catholic explorer [[Columbus]] discovered [[America]].

==Causes, incidence, and risk factors==

==Causes, incidence, and risk factors==