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Journal of Clinical Pathology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Pathology
. 1986 May;39(5):535–541. doi: 10.1136/jcp.39.5.535

Isolation and characterisation of intestinal spirochaetes.

D S Tompkins, S J Foulkes, P G Godwin, A P West
PMCID: PMC499916  PMID: 3722407

Abstract

Faeces or rectal swabs from 1527 subjects were examined for the presence of intestinal spirochaetes by anaerobic culture on blood agar incorporating spectinomycin (400 mg/l). Twenty three specimens (1.5%) were positive, and only one of these came from a patient with diarrhoea. All positive specimens came from either Asians or known homosexuals. Comparative tests showed a close phenotypic similarity between the human isolates and non-pathogenic porcine intestinal spirochaetes. These organisms differ from Brachyspira aalborgi, a spirochaete isolated from subjects with histologically confirmed intestinal spirochaetosis.

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Selected References

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