title: [Salmonella meningitis in an infant due to a pet turtle].
abstract: In humans, Salmonella most often causes self-limiting gastroenteritis, but more severe symptoms such as sepsis and meningitis can also occur and can sometimes have a fatal outcome. Even if the meningitis is not fatal, sequelae such as epilepsy, cranial nerve palsies, and hydrocephalus can occur. In the United States, it has been estimated that approximately 6% of the human cases of salmonellosis can be attributed to contact with reptiles or amphibians. The infection may take place by direct contact between reptile and human or indirectly via contact with an environment contaminated with Salmonella from a reptile. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Vitkin is a common gut inhabitant of reptiles. Though human cases due to this organism are exceedingly rare, it may infect young infants and immunocompromised individuals with a history of intimate associations with reptiles. Gastroenteritis is the most common presentation ; others include peritonitis, meningitis and bacteremia. We report a case of meningitis caused by S. enterica subsp. enterica serotype Vitkin in a 1-month-old child due to a pet turtle.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de bactériologie, centre hospitalier de Douai, route de Cambrai, 59507 Douai, France. Electronic address: celinericard@orange.fr.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricard
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de bactériologie, centre hospitalier de Douai, route de Cambrai, 59507 Douai, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mellentin
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine et chirurgie de l'enfant, centre hospitalier de Douai, route de Cambrai, 59507 Douai, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ben Abdallah Chabchoub
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine et chirurgie de l'enfant, centre hospitalier de Douai, route de Cambrai, 59507 Douai, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kingbede
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine et chirurgie de l'enfant, centre hospitalier de Douai, route de Cambrai, 59507 Douai, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heuclin
authors.affiliation: Service d'imagerie médicale, centre hospitalier de Douai, route de Cambrai, 59507 Douai, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramdame
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de bactériologie, centre hospitalier de Douai, route de Cambrai, 59507 Douai, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouquet
authors.affiliation: Service de médecine et chirurgie de l'enfant, centre hospitalier de Douai, route de Cambrai, 59507 Douai, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Couttenier
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de bactériologie, centre hospitalier de Douai, route de Cambrai, 59507 Douai, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hendricx
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D057805:Pets / Q000382:microbiology; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014426:Turtles / Q000382:microbiology