Intestinal spirochaetes in a Gulf Arab population.
Barrett SP.
Microbiology Department, Southend Hospital, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.
Spirochaetal bacteria were isolated from the faeces of 11.4% of 1000 hospital patients and 26.7% of 292 healthy local nationals in the Muscat area of the Sultanate of Oman. A case-control study of patient records showed the isolation of the spirochaete to be associated with Omani nationality, age in excess of 2 years and attendance at self-referral health-care facilities. No association was found with symptomatic intestinal disease or microscopic abnormalities of the stool.
PMID: 2323359 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]