This popular theory states that, Columbus and his crew, might have brought syphilis on their return from the New World (Haiti) in 1493, and aiding the spread of disease in Europe. 1 The king and queen of Spain (Ferdinand and Isabella) had ordered Columbus to discover a naval route to South India for trading spices in September 1493. The king had sponsored 3 ships and 66 crew members. The ships sailed towards east and for the first 3 days, the voyage was pleasant and on the 4th day the ships were caught in a hurricane and lost the course, travelling towards west instead of east. After a long voyage of 1 month the ships anchored on the shores of an island, presently Haiti in the Atlantic ocean. Columbus thought he had finally discovered India. The king of Spain had described Indians as short, wheatish, humble, very hospitable towards visitors, and friendly. On the contrary, Columbus found tall, red, rough, quarrelsome people and he called them Red Indians. The crew started to explore the island in search of spices and condiments and while searching, they observed red Indians having sex with small camels called Llama. The crew also indulged in sex with these animals, and brought these animals back to Spain and gifted llama to members of the royal family. The practice of gifting llamas to royalty of neighbouring countries was continued by the Spanish nobility and the practice of indulging in sex with the llamas became more rampant. It was observed in many members of the royalty who had indulged in sex with llamas developed genital ulcers. The genital ulcers were accompanied with symptoms of syphilis. Subsequently, within a couple of months many individuals succumbed to this new disease. The disease was looked down as a stigma and the people of Europe started blaming other countries for starting the epidemic. Syphilis was given many names during this period, to name a few popular names such as “Spanish disease, French disease, Italian disease, the German disease, the Neapolitan disease, the Christian disease, the Polish disease, Venus disease, Lues Venera, Social disease, and Great Pox”. These names supposedly indicated the country of origin or the class of people from where syphilis started. In 1521, Girolamo Fracastoro (Latin: Heironymus fracastorius) an Italian physician and poet, wrote a poem in Sunday newspaper with the title “Syphilis Sive Morbus Gallicus”. The poem tells of Syphilus, a mythical shepherd who insulted the sun god of Haiti. In retaliation, the god sends a plague to Haiti and Syphilus became the first victim. The poem described about the suffering , progression of the disease and death of Syphilus. Girolamo also described in detail, how this disease was brought by Columbus’ sailors from the New World, and helped its spread in Europe. All the leaders and doctors read the poem, and realized that, this poem explained the natural course of the new disease, syphilis. This Columbus’ theory of origin of syphilis is well supported by the papers published by two physicians 1) Fernandez de Oviedo and 2) Ruy Diaz de Isla, who were instructed by the King Ferdinand of Spain to go to the New World to find out the details about the new disease. Both the physicians found that, this new disease was well known in New World, and the local people were treating syphilis with extract of Guaiacum tree. Both physicians also recorded that, this new disease was not known in Europe, till Columbus returned from New World in 1493 to Spain (Europe). 2, 3

A travel magazine written in October 1961, number 49, describes that, Columbus gave Gonorrhea and alcohol to Haitians and brought Syphilis and Tobacco from Haitians and spread it in Spain (Europe).

Pusey WA published an article in the Journal of American Medical Association mentioning that, the exact date of the history of Syphilis began, with the discovery of New World America. Columbus and his sailors returned from Haiti in 1493, and brought this disease to Europe and subsequently Europeans spread this disease to the entire world in a few years. 4

Hudson wrote scholarly articles in 1958, 1963, and 1965 regarding the origin of Syphilis. He identified 4 subtypes of Treponema, 1) Treponema pallidum causing venereal syphilis. 2) Treponema pallidum pertenue causing yaws. 3) Treponema pallidum endemicum causing endemic syphilis (bejel). 4) Treponema pallidum carateumpinta. Hudson believed that syphilis, yaws, bejel and pinta are just different epidemiological patterns of the same disease, have similar clinical features, same laboratory findings, and all of them are cured with same medicines. He observed that all four of these infections were common and endemic in Central African black population. He proposed that these people started migrating from humid Central Africa to drier regions. Meanwhile, the explorers from Europe gradually introduced their practices, civilization, urbanization and education to these naïve population. The modernization made people of Africa who were once naked or scantily clad to wear clothes covering most of their bodies and they probably undressed fully only during the sexual act. Hudson proposed that endemic treponematoses which were once transmitted by vectors and by close contact with the skin evolved to become venereal to continue the chain of transmission. Syphilis spread from Africa to European and Asian continents with the migration of masses, slave trade and wars. Hudson concluded that syphilis evolved from non-venereal treponematoses in Africa before spreading to other continents. 5, 6, 7

Castiglione, the medical historian, hypothesized that, syphilis was already present in Europe, before the arrival of Columbus but, most of it's were mistaken for leprosy. 1 He also proprosed Columbus and his crew might have brought more virulent form of Treponema from New World to Europe; hence the disease spread quickly all over the world with increased fatality. Syphilis was known in India, the first references to this disease and treatment is found in Ayurvedic book called Bhavaprakasa, written by Bhavamisra. 8 Similarly, Syphilis is also described in many other countries.

Many theories have been proposed to explain the origin of syphilis, of which the previously mentioned theories are well accepted. All the three theories explain the origin of the syphilis in different context.

Columbus’ theory highlights the public health problem created by syphilis d in the 16th century. Hudson theory explains the role of civilization, urbanization, and education in changing the behavior of the people. It explains how the endemic disease transformed to a venereal disease with initiation of hygienic practices.

European theory explains that, sex is universal and a basic instinct of all the living creatures and consequently sexually transmitted diseases are also common to all living creatures. Hence syphilis became prevalent all over the world.