Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Trichuris muris Infection: A Model of Type 2 Immunity and Inflammation in the Gut
Published on: May 24, 2011
An experimental mouse model to establish Tropheryma whipplei as a diarrheal agent
Khatoun Al Moussawi1, Nada Malou, Jean-Louis Mege
1Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France.
Abstract:
Tropheryma whipplei has long been considered as a rare bacterium causing a rare disease, Whipple's disease. However, recent advances now suggest that T. whipplei is a ubiquitous environmental bacterium that may cause gastroenteritis, commonly associated with viral pathogens. We developed an animal model to support this hypothesis. We found that orally given T. whipplei induced diarrhea in mice, without spreading into the intestines. Aggravating factors, such as damage to the intestinal mucosa, favored bacterial spreading. Indeed, bacterial presence was prolonged in stools of dextran sulfate-treated mice, and bacteria were detected in the colon. This resulted in an immune response, with T. whipplei-specific serum IgM and IgG and fecal IgA, as measured by newly introduced immuno-polymerase chain reaction technique. Our results confirm that T. whipplei is an agent causing gastroenteritis and suggest that existing mucosal damage may favor bacterial invasion of tissues.
Insights
Tropheryma whipplei causes gastroenteritis, challenging its rare disease status. This ubiquitous bacterium induced diarrhea in mice, with intestinal damage promoting its spread and triggering an immune response.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
Background:
- Tropheryma whipplei was historically considered a rare bacterium causing Whipple's disease.
- Emerging evidence suggests T. whipplei is a common environmental bacterium potentially linked to gastroenteritis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an animal model to investigate the role of T. whipplei in gastroenteritis.
- To determine if T. whipplei can induce gastrointestinal symptoms and how intestinal conditions affect its behavior.
Main Methods:
- Oral administration of T. whipplei to a mouse model.
- Induction of intestinal mucosal damage using dextran sulfate.
- Detection of bacterial presence in stools and colon.
- Measurement of T. whipplei-specific immune responses (IgM, IgG, IgA) using immuno-polymerase chain reaction.
Main Results:
- Oral T. whipplei induced diarrhea in mice without initial intestinal invasion.
- Intestinal mucosal damage significantly promoted bacterial persistence in stools and spread to the colon.
- A specific immune response, including serum IgM, IgG, and fecal IgA, was observed.
Conclusions:
- Tropheryma whipplei is confirmed as a causative agent of gastroenteritis.
- Pre-existing intestinal mucosal damage can facilitate T. whipplei invasion into host tissues.
