Corynebacterium bovis as a cause of human disease

Corynebacterium bovis is a gram-positive rod which can cause bovine mastitis and rancidity in cream. On only one occasion has this organism been reported to cause human disease. Six further cases are described in which infections were caused by C. bovis. In two patients the nervous system was involved; two patients had bacterial endocarditis; one had chronic otitis media; and one had a persistent leg ulcer. Five patients recovered completely from the infection; the other died from endocarditis.