Second reported case of human infection with Streptococcus equi subsp. ruminatorum.
Abstract: The field of zoonoses changes constantly. Streptococcus equi subsp. ruminatorum is a group C Streptococcus subspecies first identified in 2004. The first case of human infection with this agent was reported in 2007. Here, we report a second case. A 70-year-old man had acute spondylodiscitis and endocarditis involving the anterior mitral valve leaflet. S. equi subsp. ruminatorum was identified in the blood cultures. Antibiotic therapy was successful in eradicating the infection. The workup showed hypogammaglobulinemia with stage I myeloma. He reported frequent contacts with horses including two that exhibited symptoms of upper airway infection a few days before his symptoms started. Serological tests indicated S. equi infection in both animals. This unusual case confirms that S. equi subsp. ruminatorum can cause human disease. In addition, our patient was probably contaminated via the skin, a mode of transmission that has not been described previously. It also highlights the usefulness of molecular biology tests, which should be performed routinely in patients with group C streptococcus infections and evidence suggesting a zoonosis.
Copyright © 2010 Société française de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2011-01-26 PubMed ID: 21273109DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2010.12.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The article details the second known case of a human contracting Streptococcus equi subsp. ruminatorum, a bacteria typically found in horses. This case is particularly significant, as it suggests a new potential mode of transmission: through the skin.
Introduction to Zoonoses and Streptococcus Equi Subsp. Ruminatorum
- Zoonoses include diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans. The landscape of zoonoses is constantly evolving, presenting new challenges.
- Streptococcus equi subsp. ruminatorum is one such challenge. This species of Group C Streptococcus was first identified in 2004 and the first case of human infection was reported in 2007.
- This paper presents the second reported case of a human being infected by this bacterial species.
Patient Case and Diagnosis
- The patient in this case is a 70-year-old man who was diagnosed with acute spondylodiscitis (an infection in the spine) and endocarditis, an inflammation of the heart valves.
- The man’s blood cultures revealed the presence of S. equi subsp. ruminatorum. He achieved full recovery after antibiotic treatment.
Probable Source of Infection and Unusual Transmission Mode
- The man was found to have hypogammaglobulinemia with stage I myeloma, conditions that could make him more susceptible to infection.
- He reported close frequent contacts with horses, including two that had shown symptoms of an upper respiratory infection, suggesting a zoonotic transmission.
- The researchers speculate that the man may have been infected through his skin, which is a previously undescribed transmission mode for S. equi.
Scientific Implications of the Study
- This study confirms that S. equi subsp. ruminatorum is indeed capable of causing illness in humans. It’s an important contribution to our understanding of zoonotic transmission of diseases.
- This case also underscores the importance of implementing molecular biology tests in diagnosing Group C Streptococcus infections, especially those which show signs suggesting zoonosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Meyer A, Messer L, De Briel D, Moreau P.
(2011).
Second reported case of human infection with Streptococcus equi subsp. ruminatorum.
Joint Bone Spine, 78(3), 303-305.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2010.12.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Service de Rhumatologie, CHU Hautepierre, 1, avenue Molière, 67200 Strasbourg, France.
MeSH Terms
- Acute Disease
- Aged
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Discitis / diagnosis
- Discitis / drug therapy
- Discitis / microbiology
- Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnosis
- Endocarditis, Bacterial / drug therapy
- Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horses
- Humans
- Immunocompromised Host
- Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / administration & dosage
- Male
- Mitral Valve / microbiology
- Mitral Valve / pathology
- Multiple Myeloma / immunology
- Multiple Myeloma / pathology
- Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
- Streptococcal Infections / drug therapy
- Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
- Streptococcus equi / isolation & purification
- Zoonoses
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Waśniewska-Włodarczyk A, Pepaś R, Janowicz R, Konopka W. Streptococcus equi subsp. equi in Retropharyngeal Abscess: Case Report and Review of Literature. Microorganisms 2022 Oct 14;10(10).
- Daubié AS, Defrance C, Renvoisé A, Barreda E, D'Alessandro C, Brossier F, Jarlier V, Aubry A. Illustration of the difficulty of identifying Streptococcus equi strains at the subspecies level through a case of endocarditis in an immunocompetent man. J Clin Microbiol 2014 Feb;52(2):688-91.
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