[Meningitis due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus without dog bite].
BACKGROUND
Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a fusiform and filamentous gram-negative rod, part of the normal oral flora of dogs and cause rare human febrile acute meningitis, usually severe but curable.


METHODS
A sixty years old man presented a severe acute meningitis with fever and confusion. CSF show 4,000 cells/mm3 with 83% neutrophilis, increased protein level (5,02 g/L), very low glucose and positive Gram stain result. The patient fully and quickly recovered with antibiotherapy for 22 days. Bacteriological diagnosis was made by genomic study from CSF culture. The patient has a close contact with his dog without being recently bitten.


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnosis, suggested by bites or contact with dog or cat, gram-negative bacilli with gram stain of CSF specimen, is possible by prolonged culture of CSF or blood sample, with if necessary genomic study. Antibioprophylaxis is strongly recommended in cases of deep bite wounds and for immunocompromised patients.
Drouet
Alain
A
Service de Neurologie, HIA Desgenettes, Lyon. drouetalain@yahoo.fr
Smati
Salim
S
Ferrer
Marie-Hélène
MH
Martinez
Jean-Yves
JY
Guilloton
Laurent
L
Felten
Dominique
D
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002206:Capnocytophaga / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004285:Dogs; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents