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Endocarditis caused by Thalassospira sp

Laurène Deconinck1, Rémi Gschwind2, Marie Petitjean2

  • 1AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat, Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, F-75018 Paris, France.

Idcases
|May 5, 2021
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of infective endocarditis caused by Thalassospira bacteria was identified in a French Polynesian fisherman. DNA sequencing confirmed the pathogen, highlighting its role in valvular heart disease.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious infection of the heart valves.
  • Valvular heart disease increases susceptibility to IE.
  • Geographic location and occupation can influence exposure to specific pathogens.

Observation:

  • A 53-year-old fisherman from French Polynesia presented with symptoms suggestive of IE.
  • The patient had a history of pre-existing valvular lesions.
  • A rare bacterial species, Thalassospira sp., was implicated in the infection.

Findings:

  • DNA sequencing successfully identified the causative agent as Thalassospira sp.
  • Mass spectrometry methods were unable to identify the bacterium.
  • This case represents a novel association between Thalassospira sp. and infective endocarditis.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of advanced molecular techniques like DNA sequencing for pathogen identification in complex cases.
  • Suggests Thalassospira sp. as a potential etiological agent for infective endocarditis, particularly in specific geographic and occupational settings.
  • Warrants further investigation into the prevalence and pathogenicity of Thalassospira species in human infections.
Keywords:
Infective endocarditisNanopore sequencingNext-Generation SequencingThalassospira

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