title: Molecular identification and epidemiological tracing of Pasteurella multocida meningitis in a baby.
abstract: We report a case of Pasteurella multocida meningitis in a 1-month-old baby exposed to close contact with two dogs and a cat but without any known history of injury by these animals. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the isolate from the baby allowed identification at the subspecies level and pointed to the cat as a possible source of infection. Molecular typing of Pasteurella isolates from the animals, from the baby, and from unrelated animals clearly confirmed that the cat harbored the same P. multocida subsp. septica strain on its tonsils as the one isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of the baby. This case stresses the necessity of informing susceptible hosts at risk of contracting zoonotic agents about some basic hygiene rules when keeping pets. In addition, this study illustrates the usefulness of molecular methods for identification and epidemiological tracing of Pasteurella isolates.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. patrick.boerlin@vbi.unibe.ch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boerlin
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Siegrist
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Burnens
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuhnert
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Prétat
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lienhard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nicolet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission; D004285:Dogs; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000382:microbiology; D010326:Pasteurella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary*; D016979:Pasteurella multocida / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012424:Rural Population; D013557:Switzerland; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S