Tropheryma whipplei in the skin of patients with classic Whipple's disease.

Positive Tropheryma whipplei PCR results in skin biopsies were frequent in patients with classic Whipple's disease without skin manifestations. The bacterium was alive, as a strain was successfully cultured. The skin may be a reservoir for T. whipplei and may be helpful in the non-invasive diagnosis of the disease.