Dongyou Liu

Chapter 69 – Tropheryma whipplei

Tropheryma whipplei is the causal agent of Whipple’s disease – a systemic chronic infection affecting predominantly Caucasian middle-aged men and involving multiple organ systems. Although T. whipplei is ubiquitously present in the environment, only a small percentage of human individuals are affected, suggesting a role for host weaknesses such as inefficient cell-mediated immune responses in the disease process. Given Whipple’s disease can be fatal without prompt antibiotic treatment, rapid and accurate diagnosis plays a vital role in implementing appropriate therapeutic regimens and reducing unnecessary human suffering. Future elucidation on the key elements in the initiation and progression of Whipple’s disease will lead to the design of novel countermeasures for the improved control and prevention of T. whipplei infections in susceptible human population groups.