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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:Hitlerspeech.jpg‎|thumb|300px|right|In his work ''Mein Kampf'', [[Adolf Hitler]] wrote that the "fight against syphilis demands a fight against prostitution, against prejudices, old habits, against previous conceptions, general views among them not least the false prudery of certain circles."<ref>http://www.mondopolitico.com/library/meinkampf/v1c10.htm</ref>]]

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 15th 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 epidemic was in 1493, a year after the Catholic explorer [[Columbus]] discovered [[America]].

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 15th 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 epidemic was in 1493, a year after the Catholic explorer [[Columbus]] discovered [[America]].

==Causes, incidence, and risk factors==

==Causes, incidence, and risk factors==

Syphilis is an infectious disease. The bacteria that causes it spreads through broken skin or mucous membranes. It is most often spread by sexual contact.

Syphilis is an infectious disease. The bacteria that causes it spreads through broken skin or mucous membranes. It is most often spread by sexual contact.