Syphilis Was Once Treated by Intentionally Infecting the Patient with the Parasite

question 19

Multiple Choice

Syphilis was once treated by intentionally infecting the patient with the parasite that causes malaria,a disease characterized by repeated bouts of fever,shaking,and chills.Why might this treatment cure syphilis?

• A)Malaria parasites produce strong antibacterial compounds (since they're eukaryotic in nature-they are trying to eliminate their competition for resources).This helps to eliminate ALL bacteria in and on the human body for a short period of time.
• B)Malaria parasites track down and feed upon ALL bacterial cells in the human body as a part of their life cycle.This makes them a "natural antibiotic" of sorts,and highly effective at clearing the bacterial infection of syphilis.
• C)One of the side effects of malarial infection is a massive overproduction of macrophages-so many that they become the dominant cell type in the blood (even over red blood cells!).This drives up the ability to ingest and destroy any microbe,including the bacterium that causes syphilis.
• D)The effect of driving up the body temperature for periods of time can shut down the temperature-sensitive replication of the bacterium that causes syphilis.This gives the immune system time to eliminate it properly.

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