title: Infection of the thyroid gland caused by Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus.
abstract: We report what we consider to be the first case of an abscess of the thyroid gland due to Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus (C. fetus) in a patient suffering from hyperthyroidism. C. fetus is known as a rare and opportunistic pathogen in humans, causing a broad variety of systemic infections. Acquisition by humans is thought to occur through contact with animals or animal products and to start as a gastro-intestinal colonization. The detection of C. fetus in stool is challenging, since culture efforts are generally directed in order to fulfil growth requirements of C.jejuni, a much more common enteric pathogen. Detection of C. fetus in non-stool samples is even more challenging since routine culture doesn't imply prolonged incubation (>72h), selective media and microaerophilic conditions. It is therefore not unlikely that human infections caused by C. fetus occur more often than generally assumed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorium KLinische Biologie, Heilig Hartziekenhuis Roeselare-Menen vzw, Wilgenstraat 2, 8800 Roeselare, België.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Goegebuer
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verlinde
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Laere
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Surmont
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000368:Aged; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002168:Campylobacter fetus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*