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Human intestinal spirochetosis, often called just intestinal spirochetosis when the human context is implicit, is an infection of the
http://www.jhasim.com/files/articlefiles/pdf/XASIM_Master_6_5_May_Vignette.pdf
. Accessed on: 25 April 2011.
It is diagnosed by examination of tissue, i.e.
colonic
Colon cleansing, also known as colon therapy, or colon hydrotherapy, or a colonic, or colonic irrigation encompasses a number of alternative medical therapies claimed to remove unspecified toxins from the colon and intestinal tract by remo ...
-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.
Signs and symptoms
No clear association exists with complaints. However, potential associations includeabdominal pain
Abdominal pain, also known as a stomach ache, is a symptom associated with both non-serious and serious medical issues.
Common causes of pain in the abdomen include gastroenteritis and irritable bowel syndrome. About 15% of people have a m ...
and watery diarrhea
Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin w ...
, which may be seen with blood
Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the cir ...
; however, these findings are not specific and may be due to a number of other causes.URLhttp://www.jhasim.com/files/articlefiles/pdf/XASIM_Master_6_5_May_Vignette.pdf
. Accessed on: 25 April 2011.
Cause
Human intestinal spirochetosis is caused by ''Brachyspira pilosicoli
''Brachyspira pilosicoli'' is a gram-negative, anaerobic, host-associated spirochete that colonizes the intestinal tract of animals and humans. It appears as a characteristic "false brush border" due to its end-on attachment to enterocytes of th ...
'' and '' Brachyspira aalborgi''. Porcine and avian intestinal spirochetosis are caused by ''Brachyspira hyodysenteriae'' and ''Brachyspira pilosicoli''.
Diagnosis
It is diagnosed by examination of tissue, i.e. biopsy
A biopsy is a medical test commonly performed by a surgeon, interventional radiologist, or an interventional cardiologist. The process involves extraction of sample cells or tissues for examination to determine the presence or extent of a dise ...
.
Management
Symptomatic individuals can be treated with oral metronidazole.See also
*Cryptosporidiosis
Cryptosporidiosis, sometimes informally called crypto, is a parasitic disease caused by '' Cryptosporidium'', a genus of protozoan parasites in the phylum Apicomplexa. It affects the distal small intestine and can affect the respiratory tra ...
References
{{reflist Gastrointestinal tract disorders