Intestinal spirochetosis presenting as acute appendicitis

Acute appendicitis is a frequent pathology encountered by general surgeons. On the differential of aetiologies that can lead to this diagnosis lies the spectrum of infectious disease. We present a case report of a patient who presented to our institution as a classic acute appendicitis. Upon histological analysis it became evident that he had spirochetosis of the cecum and appendix. This paper reviews the literature on this rare infectious aetiology. A synopsis of the microbiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations and treatments for intestinal spirochetosis is described. At large, the aim of this paper is to heighten awareness of this disease amongst clinicians and specifically surgeons.