Primary tooth abscess caused by Mycobacterium bovis in an immunocompetent child.
Bovine tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease, and although its incidence has dramatically decreased in developed countries where effective control measures are applied, it still remains a potential health hazard in the developing world. Tuberculosis of the oral cavity is extremely rare and is usually secondary to pulmonary involvement. We present the unusual case of an immunocompetent 6-year-old child residing in an urban area with primary oral tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis, which was confirmed by the application of a molecular genetic approach. M. bovis belongs to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex which comprises species with close genetic relationship, and for this reason, the use of new molecular techniques is a useful tool for the differentiation at species level of the closely related members of this complex.
Maragou
Chrysoula
C
First Department of Pediatrics, P and A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece. chrysa_mar@hotmail.com
Theologie-Lygidakis
Nadia
N
Ioannidis
Panayotis
P
Stenou
Antonia
A
Kanavaki
Sophia
S
Iatrou
Ioannis
I
Tsolia
Maria N
MN
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*; D011859:Radiography; D014070:Tooth / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014393:Tuberculosis, Oral / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology