Treponema Pallidum - Subspecies

Subspecies

There are at least four known subspecies:

• Treponema pallidum pallidum, which causes syphilis
• T. pallidum endemicum, which causes bejel or endemic syphilis
• T. pallidum carateum, which causes pinta
• T. pallidum pertenue, which causes yaws

There is some variation as to which are considered subspecies, and which are species. The cause of pinta is sometimes described as Treponema carateum, rather than a subspecies of Treponema pallidum, even when the subspecies convention is used for the other agents.