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Human intestinal spirochetosis, often called just intestinal spirochetosis when the human context is implicit, is an infection of the colonic-type mucosa with certain species of spirochetal bacteria. Similar infections sometimes occur in pigs, dogs, and birds; porcine intestinal spirochaetosis is an economically important disease of livestock.
| Intestinal spirochetosis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Intestinal spirochetes, colonic spirochetosis, colonic spirochetes, brachyspirosis |
 | |
| Histopathology of intestinal spirochetosis, showing basophilic, fringe-like, end-on-end attachment of filamentous densely packed spirochetes on the surface epithelium of the intestinal mucosa.[1] H&E stain. | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
Signs and symptoms
editNo clear association exists with complaints. However, potential associations include abdominal pain and watery diarrhea, which may be seen with blood; however, these findings are not specific and may be due to a number of other causes.[2]
Cause
editHuman intestinal spirochetosis is caused by Brachyspira pilosicoli and Brachyspira aalborgi.[3] Porcine and avian intestinal spirochetosis are caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and Brachyspira pilosicoli.[citation needed]
Diagnosis
edit
It is diagnosed by examination of tissue, i.e., biopsy. A hallmark finding is the presence of a “false brush border” on the luminal surface of the epithelium, formed by dense linear colonization of spirochetes.[4]
Treatment
editHigh-dose metronidazole is considered effective in eliminating the causative bacteria.[5][6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ Image by Mikael Häggström, MD. Reference for description: Elliot Weisenberg, M.D. "Intestinal spirochetosis". Pathology Outlines. Last author update: 1 May 2017. Last staff update: 3 May 2022
- ↑ Kothari, Truptesh H. "Intestinal Spirochetosis" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
- ↑ Amat Villegas I, Borobio Aguilar E, Beloqui Perez R, de Llano Varela P, Oquiñena Legaz S, Martínez-Peñuela Virseda JM (January 2004). "[Colonic spirochetes: an infrequent cause of adult diarrhea]". Gastroenterol Hepatol (in Spanish). 27 (1): 21–3. doi:10.1016/s0210-5705(03)70440-3. PMID 14718105.
- ↑ Zotti, Sara; Fusaro, Lisa; Di Bella, Stefano; Babich, Stella (2025-06-12). "Human intestinal spirochetosis presenting as colonic ulceration in an immunocompetent 65-year-old man". Infection. doi:10.1007/s15010-025-02574-0. ISSN 0300-8126.
- ↑ Bait-Merabet, Lilia; Thille, Arnaud; Legrand, Patrick; Brun-Buisson, Christian; Cattoir, Vincent (2008). "Brachyspira pilosicoli bloodstream infections: Case report and review of the literature". Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials. 7 (1). doi:10.1186/1476-0711-7-19. ISSN 1476-0711. PMC 2561035. PMID 18817558.
- ↑ Brooke, C. J.; Hampson, D. J.; Riley, T. V. (2003). "In Vitro Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Brachyspira pilosicoli Isolates from Humans". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 47 (7): 2354–2357. doi:10.1128/AAC.47.7.2354-2357.2003. ISSN 0066-4804. Retrieved 2026-05-08.