Isolation of Brucella melitensis biotype 3 from epidural empyema in a Bosnian immigrant in Germany.
Brucellosis is a regionally emerging infectious disease in Mediterranean countries with an increasing number of human cases and high morbidity rates. Here, we describe a case of severe B. melitensis biotype 3 infection in an immigrant who had contact with ruminants during a short-term stay in Bosnia before he returned to Germany. The patient developed thoracic spondylodiscitis accompanied by a large epidural empyema and neurological deficits. The isolated strain was characterized and compared to other strains from the Mediterranean region by multiple locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis, showing minor differences between emerging strains from neighbouring geographical areas.
Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
Dennis
D
Tappe
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Falk
F
Melzer
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Gernot
G
Schmoock
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany.
Mandy
M
Elschner
Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
Thiên-Trí
TT
Lâm
Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
Marianne
M
Abele-Horn
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 11, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.
Christian
C
Stetter
D000328:Adult; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina; D017347:Brucella melitensis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D015299:Discitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D004653:Empyema / Q000382:microbiology*; D020802:Epidural Abscess; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000382:microbiology*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male