Microbiological and biochemical characterization of spirochetes isolated from the feces of homosexual males

Abstract

Spirochetes were isolated from the feces of 11 homosexual males who had diarrhea. The anaerobic organisms were isolated from a selective medium that consisted of Trypticase soy agar supplemented with either 5 % horse or human blood, 400 jig of spectinomycin per ml, and 5 jig of polymyxin B per ml. Nonselective media that permitted good growth of these fastidious organisms were developed, and selected biochemical tests were performed. The tests included carbohydrate utilization, detection of certain enzymes, and determination of volatile fatty-acid end products of metabolism. Two growth patterns were noted on solid media, a haze of growth and production of small colonies. Based on the results of biochemical tests, patterns of preformed enzymes, and volatile fatty-acid production, we believe that the 11 isolates represent a heterogeneous group of spirochetes. The data suggest that the human colon may harbor unique strains of cultivable spirochetes; additional study of the taxonomy of the organisms and assessment of their virulence for humans are needed. An association between spirochetes and the human intestinal mucosa was first documented by Escherich in the late 19th century (7, 8). Since that time, scientific interest in this association, often referred to as intestinal spirochetosis, has

Phenotypic characteristics of Serpulina pilosicoli the agent of intestinal spirochaetosis

“…intestinal spirochaetes previously have been shown to produce acetate and butyrate when grown in thioglycollate broth supplemented with foetal calf serum and glucose; however, the amounts of each fatty acid were not reported [17]. In our study, the spirochaete strains tested produced similar amounts and ratios of acetate, butyrate, ethanol, (10,20,50,100,200) SO 50 20 20 10 20 R Streptomycin (10,20,50,100) 50 50 R 10 10 50 50 Tetracycline (1,5,10,20) I…”

PCR detection of Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira pilosicoli in human faeces

“…B. pilosicoli has been isolated from human faeces or intestinal biopsies in a number of studies from the USA [7], Europe [8^10], Oman [11], Papua New Guinea [12], and Australia [3,9,13]. It also naturally infects pigs [1], dogs [12], and chickens [14].…”

Isolation of Serpulina pilosicoli from Rectal Biopsy Specimens Showing Evidence of Intestinal Spirochetosis

“…Most studies of IS have involved histologic examination of biopsy material, without concurrent bacterial culture (17,21,24,31,42); a smaller number of studies have involved only fecal culture for spirochetes (3,13,18,30,33). One exception was a study by Hovind-Hougen et al (12) in which the newly described spirochete Brachyspira aalborgi was isolated from the feces of one of five patients showing histologic evidence of IS in rectal biopsy specimens.…”