[Colorectal spirochetosis, a possible but unusual cause of chronic diarrhea?].

INTRODUCTION

Human intestinal spirochetosis has been known since the end of the nineteenth century.

OBSERVATION

We report one case of intestinal spirochetosis revealed by chronic diarrhoea and diagnosed on colonic biopsies. The chronic diarrhoea disappeared with antibiotherapy.

COMMENTARIES

The prevalence of intestinal spirochetosis in rectal and colonic biopsies, among patients with digestive disorders, varies in occidental countries from 2% to 7%. Presently, the pathogenic role of intestinal spirochetosis is controversial.