Intestinal Spirochetosis in an HIV-positive Patient

We present the case of an HIV-positive patient admitted because of costal pain secondary to neoplasia. During investigations, a colonoscopy showed non-specific ulcerations. Histological examination resulted in a diagnosis of intestinal spirochetosis. This infection can be asymptomatic or cause non-specific symptoms such as diarrhoea or abdominal pain. Intestinal spirochetosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of colon lesions in patients with HIV infection.

Intestinal spirochetosis is associated with chronic diarrhoea and often with normal colonoscopy.This infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of HIV patients with digestive symptomatology in the absence of other more frequent causes.