Tropheryma whipplei

Paul Auwaerter, M.D.

MICROBIOLOGY

Agent of Whipple’s disease (WD), distant relationship to actinomyces by 16s rDNA sequencing.
Detected in multiple environmental samples, including soil and sewerage. Considered ubiquitous.
Fastidious organism, 0.25µm rods may appear Gram-positive upon staining.
- Has a characteristic trilaminar cell membrane on electron microscopy [Fig 1].
Correct nomenclature: Tropheryma whipplei (not T. whippelii).

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