Neurobrucellosis presenting as clinically definite amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Purpose/Aim: We describe the first case of a patient with neurobrucellosis presenting with clinically-definite ALS.

A 48-year old male patient, in whom the diagnoses of systemic brucellosis and clinically definite ALS were undoubtedly confirmed and were eventually causally interrelated. The disease-specific antibiotic therapy was unsuccessful to slow the evolution of the motor neuron disease and the patient became non ambulatory over time.

Considering the close temporal association of ALS onset with the systemic Brucella infection and consequent antigenic stimuli, we might suggest that human brucellosis might have triggered a process of motor neuron degeneration in keeping with neurobrucellosis, primarily due to parainfectious mechanism.

Our case helps to shed light on the factors that may trigger or only fasten motor neuron disease manifestations.