An earlier report described the discovery of a micro-organism in the form o
f a double helix in human small bowel biopsies. Mucosal biopsies of the sto
mach and small bowel obtained from patients with rheumatic diseases and dys
pepsia by enteroscopy and gastroscopy were fixed for scanning electron micr
oscopy to investigate the organism further. In 62% of biopsies, an organism
in the form of a double helix with bifid ends, 5-30 mu m long, was found l
ying free on the surface of the mucosa, The organism has been demonstrated
in the stomach, duodenum and small bowel. Flagella were never seen to be as
sociated with the organism. In spite of its helical form, the organism lack
s many of the factors associated with spirochaete morphology, It is suggest
ed that this, as yet unnamed organism, may be found throughout the length o
f the digestive tract, Its pathological significance is not known.