What condition is suggested by biopsies of colonic mucosa showing intracellular inclusion bodies?

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The presence of intracellular inclusion bodies in biopsies of colonic mucosa is indicative of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. CMV colitis typically presents with ulcerative lesions in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with HIV/AIDS or organ transplant recipients. The distinctive feature of CMV is the formation of large cells with intranuclear inclusions, which are often referred to as "owl-eye" inclusions due to their appearance.

In contrast, other conditions such as HIV colitis may be associated with opportunistic infections but do not specifically present with the characteristic inclusion bodies. Clostridium difficile infection leads to pseudomembranous colitis and primarily shows necrotizing inflammation rather than inclusion bodies. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by mucosal inflammation and ulceration but does not feature the intracellular inclusion bodies typical of a viral infection like CMV.

Thus, the findings described in the biopsies align specifically with CMV colitis, highlighting its role as the correct answer in this scenario.

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