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Fever of unknown origin, blood and cerebrospinal fluid involvement: a leprosy case report

Huan Chen1, Yumeng Jiang2, Ying Shi2

  • 1Dermatology and leprosy department, Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Frontiers in Immunology
|September 11, 2024
PubMed

Insights

This study reports a leprosy case with Mycobacterium leprae detected in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma, suggesting potential central nervous system invasion. This highlights the importance of considering disseminated infection in leprosy patients.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves.
  • Severe cases can lead to significant deformities and disabilities, impacting multiple organs.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing leprosy and preventing complications.

Observation:

  • A 39-year-old male presented with unexplained fever, headache, and rash.
  • Histopathological examination and slit skin smear analysis were performed on skin lesions.
  • Mycobacterium leprae (M.leprae) nucleic acid sequences were detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma.

Findings:

  • M.leprae gene targets were identified in skin lesion tissue and blood samples.
  • The patient was diagnosed with multibacillary leprosy and a type II leprosy reaction.
  • Detection of M.leprae DNA in CSF suggests potential central nervous system involvement.

Implications:

  • These findings indicate a possibility of bacteremia in leprosy patients.
  • The presence of M.leprae genetic material in CSF warrants further investigation into neuroinvasion.
  • This case underscores the need for comprehensive diagnostic approaches in complex leprosy presentations.
Keywords:
cerebrospinal fluidfeverleprosynested PCRnext-generation sequencing

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