Tropheryma whipplei

Tropheryma whipplei is a Gram-positive, aerobic rod-shaped bacterium from the Cellulomonadaceae family.

Tropheryma whipplei can cause a very rare multi-systemic disease called Whipple’s disease. Disease symptoms include:

  • Arthralgia (joint pain)

  • Diarrhea

  • Abdominal pain

  • Malabsorption syndrome

  • Gaze palsy

  • Endocarditis (inflammation of the heart’s inner lining)

Tropheryma whipplei is widespread in the environment, e.g., in wastewater. Regionally, antibodies to the pathogen are detectable in up to 70% of the population. The rarity of disease is due to the fact that Whipple’s disease only occurs when there is a defect in cellular immunity.

Relevance of pathogen in transmission in endoscopy

  • Gastroenterology: Low

  • Pulmonology: Not relevant

  • Ear, nose, and throat: Not relevant

  • Urology: Not relevant

Relevance for endoscope surveillance

  • Low or moderate concern organism

Transmission route

Transmission is presumed to be fecal-oral and via contaminated water.

Resistance to antibiotics

Resistance to fluoroquinolones is described.