[Colorectal spirochetosis, a possible but unusual cause of chronic diarrhea?]. / Spirochétose colo-rectale, une cause possible mais inhabituelle de diarrhée chronique?

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.