Intestinal Spirochetosis: An Obscure Cause of Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Abstract

Adherence of spirochetes to the apical membrane of the colonic epithelium has been well-described in the literature, but the exact pathogenesis leading to symptomatic clinical manifestations is poorly understood. Most cases are found incidentally on the pathological evaluation of colonic biopsies taken during diagnostic or therapeutic colonoscopies. However, whether the colonization of the intestinal mucosa can be attributed to clinical symptoms is a matter of debate. Here, we present a case of intermittent hematochezia attributed to the overwhelming invasion of the colonic mucosa by intestinal spirochetes.