title: Cervical spondylitis and spinal abscess due to Actinomyces meyeri.
abstract: Human actinomycosis with involvement of the spine is a rare condition although it has been first described a long time ago. It is probably underrecognized since its clinical presentation is often misleading and accurate bacteriological diagnosis is challenging. We herein report a rare case of cervical actinomycosis with paravertebral abscess and spondylitis imputed to an infection by Actinomyces meyeri in a 52-year-old immunocompetent Caucasian man. A. meyeri should be considered as a potential cause for subacute or chronic spondylitis, even in immunocompetent subjects. Modern diagnostic tools such as Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization Time of Flight mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA sequencing are efficient for accurate microbiological identification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Tropical Diseases, Hôpital Saint-André, Bordeaux Cedex, France. Electronic address: alex.duvignaud@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duvignaud
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Tropical Diseases, Hôpital Saint-André, Bordeaux Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Centre René Labusquière, Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Bordeaux Segalen University, Bordeaux Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moynet
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Tropical Diseases, Hôpital Saint-André, Bordeaux Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Maïté
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Longy-Boursier
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Tropical Diseases, Hôpital Saint-André, Bordeaux Cedex, France; Centre René Labusquière, Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Bordeaux Segalen University, Bordeaux Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malvy
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D000190:Actinomyces / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013166:Spondylitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: 16S rRNA; Actinomyces; MALDI–TOF mass spectrometry; Spondylitis