Human Intestinal Spirochaetosis in Two Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Junichi Iwamoto; Sho Ogata; Akira Honda; Yoshifumi Saito; Masashi Murakami; Tadashi Ikegami; Yoshikazu Adachi; Yasushi Matsuzaki

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.53.2386

CASE REPORTS

Human Intestinal Spirochaetosis in Two Ulcerative Colitis Patients

Junichi Iwamoto, Sho Ogata, Akira Honda, Yoshifumi Saito, Masashi Murakami, Tadashi Ikegami, Yoshikazu Adachi, Yasushi Matsuzaki

Author information

Junichi Iwamoto
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Japan
Sho Ogata
Department of Pathology, National Defense Medical College, Japan
Akira Honda
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Japan
Yoshifumi Saito
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Japan
Masashi Murakami
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Japan
Tadashi Ikegami
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Japan
Yoshikazu Adachi
Animal Health Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, Japan
Yasushi Matsuzaki
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Medical University Ibaraki Medical Center, Japan

Keywords: human intestinal spirochaetosis, Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira pilosicoli, ulcerative colitis, metronidazole

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2014 Volume 53 Issue 18 Pages 2067-2071

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.53.2386

Details

Abstract

A histological examination of colonic biopsies of the longitudinal and irregularly-shaped ulcerative lesions of a 37-year-old man and 61-year-old man with ulcerative colitis showed so-called "fringe formation," a typical finding of Brachyspira infection. The antibody titer to Brachyspira aalborgi showed marked elevation in both cases, and the patients were each treated with 1,000 mg of metronidazole for 14 days. Colonoscopy performed after treatment showed an improvement in the ulcerative lesions in both patients. These results indicate the possibility that intestinal spirochaetosis infection should be considered as an infectious complication in patients with ulcerative colitis receiving long-term steroid therapy.

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