title: Fatal alveolar echinococcosis of the lumbar spine.
abstract: For the last 10 years, the southern part of Belgium has been recognized as a low-risk area of endemicity for alveolar echinococcosis. This infection, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, usually induces a severe liver condition and can sometimes spread to other organs. However, alveolar echinococcosis involving bones has been described only very rarely. Here, a fatal case of spondylodiscitis due to E. multilocularis contracted in southern Belgium is reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Aurore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keutgens
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simoni
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Detrembleur
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frippiat
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Giot
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spirlet
authors.forename: Saro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aghazarian
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Descy
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meex
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huynen
authors.forename: Pierrette
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Melin
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gottstein
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Carlier
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Hayette
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium; D001706:Biopsy; D004443:Echinococcosis; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D048210:Echinococcus multilocularis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology*; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography