Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 1, 2026

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
10:57

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Published on: August 22, 2012

24.7K

Tropheryma whipplei in children with diarrhoea in rural Ghana

C D Vinnemeier1, E M Klupp2, R Krumkamp3

  • 1I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Clinical Research Group, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.

Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|October 13, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Tropheryma whipplei bacteria may cause diarrhea in infants. This study found young Ghanaian children (0-12 months) with diarrhea were twice as likely to carry T. whipplei, suggesting a link in first-time infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Tropheryma whipplei is a bacterium with a hypothesized link to diarrhea.
  • Limited data exists on T. whipplei's role in causing diarrhea in young children.
  • Understanding causative agents of pediatric diarrhea is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of Tropheryma whipplei in stool samples from children in rural Ghana.
  • To determine if T. whipplei carriage is associated with diarrhea in different age groups of children.
  • To explore the potential role of T. whipplei in causing diarrhea, particularly in infants.

Main Methods:

  • A hospital-based case-control study was conducted.
  • Stool samples were collected from 534 children aged 2 months to 15 years.
  • Tropheryma whipplei presence was analyzed using molecular methods.

Main Results:

  • The overall prevalence of T. whipplei in stool samples was high at 27.5%.
  • No significant difference in T. whipplei carriage was observed between overall cases and controls.
  • Infants aged 0-12 months with diarrhea (cases) were twice as likely to carry T. whipplei compared to controls.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest Tropheryma whipplei may cause diarrhea in infants during their first infection.
  • High prevalence indicates T. whipplei is common in this population.
  • Further research is warranted to confirm the etiological role of T. whipplei in pediatric diarrhea.

Keywords:
AfricaTropheryma whippleichildrendiarrhoeagastroenteritissub-Saharanunder-five-mortality

More Related Videos

Trichuris muris Infection: A Model of Type 2 Immunity and Inflammation in the Gut10:05

Trichuris muris Infection: A Model of Type 2 Immunity and Inflammation in the Gut

Published on: May 24, 2011

16.9K
Comparative Analysis of Automatic Fecal Analyzer versus Direct Wet Smear Microscopy for Detecting Parasitic Infections in Stool Samples04:57

Comparative Analysis of Automatic Fecal Analyzer versus Direct Wet Smear Microscopy for Detecting Parasitic Infections in Stool Samples

Published on: April 25, 2025

1.2K

Related Concept Videos

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
716
Bacterial Gastroenteritis01:18

Bacterial Gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis, characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and vomiting, is often caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water and is frequently associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. These microbes exploit two principal mechanisms to inflict disease.Shiga toxin–producing E. coli, also referred to as STEC—notably O157:H7—release Shiga toxins that target ribosomes, blocking protein synthesis. The B subunit of the toxin binds the host glycolipid...
36
Cholera01:25

Cholera

Cholera is an acute gastrointestinal disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.Vibrio cholerae is a motile, Gram-negative bacterium of the family Vibrionaceae, primarily associated with waterborne outbreaks in areas with inadequate sanitation. Although over 200 serogroups of V. cholerae exist, only O1 and O139 are responsible for epidemic cholera. The O1 serogroup,...
44
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents01:18

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents

Acute diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal disturbance, is characterized by the rapid evacuation of fluid stools, leading to an excessive weight in fluid. This condition typically arises from disorders affecting intestinal water and electrolyte transport. It can be triggered by an increased osmotic load within the intestine, excessive secretion of electrolytes and water, mucosal exudation of protein and fluid, or altered intestinal motility. The primary risks of acute diarrhea are dehydration...
544
Sexually Transmitted Infections01:26

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
1.6K
Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV01:26

Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV

Tuberculosis, more commonly referred to as TB, is an infectious disease stemming from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it primarily impacts the lungs, TB can also affect other body areas. Given its severity and global impact, timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for controlling its spread and improving patient outcomes.
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...
704