<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> I, too, am interested in knowing of the relationship between tropical and non-tropical sprue. I had no symptoms of sprue disease or gluten intollerance and was healthy in every seeming aspect until after a short vacation trip to Indonesia (Bali & Jakarta). My life has not been the same since. Tests for bacteria and parasites have been negative many times over, and I even had a negative biopsy in 1994. I nearly always responded favorably to a high-powered antibiotic called Flagil, but the symptoms always reoccurred within 8 months to a year. My last biopsy in Dec. 96 showed damage to the intestinal villi. Hence, a new diet. I am better than before the GF diet, but have not responded as quickly as is expected says my GI doc. Any information will be helpful. Thanks... Cal in California