During a survey of yaws prevalence in the Solomon Islands, we collected samples from skin ulcers of 41 children. Using PCR, we identified Haemophilus ducreyi infection in 13 (32%) children. PCR-positive and PCR-negative ulcers were phenotypically indistinguishable. Emergence of H. ducreyi as a cause of nongenital ulcers may affect the World Health Organization’s yaws eradication program.

The authors found that HSV-2 is a more common etiology of GUD than has been suggested by previous studies conducted in South Africa; serologic evidence of HSV-2 infection and current cases of genital herpes are strongly associated with HIV infection among men who present to STD clinics with GUD or urethritis.

Infections are at their lowest level worldwide, but nongenital cutaneous infections have increased.

A highly efficient, convergent approach to the synthesis of the angiotensin I1 receptor antagonist losartan (1) is described. Directed ortho-metalation of 2-trityl-5-phenyltetrazole provides the key boronic acid intermediate 10 for palladium-catalyzed biaryl coupling with bromide 5 obtained from the regioselective alkylation of the chloroimidazole 2. This methodology overcomes many of the drawbacks associated with previously reported syntheses.