Abstract
Tropheryma whipplei, which causes Whipple disease, has been detected in 4% of fecal samples from the general adult population of France. To identify T. whipplei within families, we conducted serologic and molecular studies, including genotyping, on saliva, feces, and serum from 74 relatives of 13 patients with classic Whipple disease, 5 with localized chronic T. whipplei infection, and 3 carriers. Seroprevalence was determined by Western blot and compared with 300 persons from the general population. We detected T. whipplei in 24 (38%) of 64 fecal samples and 7 (10%) of 70 saliva samples from relatives but found no difference between persons related by genetics and marriage. The same circulating genotype occurred significantly more often in families than in other persons. Seroprevalence was higher among relatives (23 [77%] of 30) than in the general population (143 [48%] of 300). The high prevalence of T. whipplei within families suggests intrafamilial circulation.
Highlights
Tropheryma whipplei, which causes Whipple disease, has been detected in 4% of fecal samples from the general adult population of France
In the absence of intestinal lesions, T. whipplei is involved in subacute or chronic infections, such as endocarditis [8], encephalitis [2], uveitis [9,10], adenopathy [2], and osteoarticular infections [2,11]
Our data demonstrate that T. whipplei DNA is more prevalent in the feces and saliva of family members of patients with T. whipplei infection or asymptomatic carriage than in persons related by genetics or marriage
Summary
Tropheryma whipplei, which causes Whipple disease, has been detected in 4% of fecal samples from the general adult population of France. To identify T. whipplei within families, we conducted serologic and molecular studies, including genotyping, on saliva, feces, and serum from 74 relatives of 13 patients with classic Whipple disease, 5 with localized chronic T. whipplei infection, and 3 carriers. The chronic carriage of T. whipplei in saliva and feces suggests that the bacterium might be transmissible within the same family. To identify T. whipplei within families, during 2003– 2011 we conducted molecular and serologic investigations on samples from the families of patients who had chronic T. whipplei infection and were asymptomatic carriers. We studied T. whipplei seroprevalence in the population of France, which enabled us to compare the prevalence with that of the families
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
