Does whipworm increase the pathogenicity of Campylobacter jejuni? A clinical correlate of an experimental observation.
Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of acute diarrhea worldwide, usually mild and self-limiting. No adequate hypothesis has yet been formulated to explain why in an otherwise healthy host this infection is occasionally severe. In a pig model, C jejuni has been shown to be pathogenic only in the presence of swine whipworm. A human case of life-threatening C jejuni colitis leading to toxic megacolon and acute renal failure, associated with concomitant whipworm (Trichuris suis) ova in the feces, is reported. The potential of T suis to potentiate C jejuni in humans deserves further study.
Shin
Jennifer L
JL
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
Gardiner
Geoffrey W
GW
Deitel
Wayne
W
Kandel
Gabor
G
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016123:Campylobacter jejuni / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008532:Megacolon, Toxic / Q000209:etiology*; D014257:Trichuriasis / Q000150:complications*; D014258:Trichuris