Use of Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA in a Case of Pasteurella multocida Meningitis That Occurred Following a Cat Scratch on the Head

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 24; no. 5; pp. 1004 - 1006
• Main Authors: Schuur, P. M. H., Haring, A. J. P., van Belkum, A., Draaisma, J. M. Th, Buiting, A. G. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.05.1997; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the nervous system. Bacterial myositis; Bacterial meningitis; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Cats; Cats - microbiology; Claws; Craniocerebral Trauma - complications; DNA Fingerprinting; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; Female; Genetic polymorphism; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infant; Infections; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Meningitis; Meningitis, Bacterial - diagnosis; Meningitis, Bacterial - drug therapy; Meningitis, Bacterial - etiology; Meningitis, Bacterial - microbiology; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Pasteurella Infections - diagnosis; Pasteurella Infections - drug therapy; Pasteurella Infections - etiology; Pasteurella Infections - microbiology; Pasteurella multocida; Pasteurella multocida - genetics; Pasteurella multocida - isolation & purification; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism, Genetic; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; Wounds, Penetrating - complications; Human; Fissipedia; Carnivora; Nervous system diseases; Head; Fontanel; Infant; Pasteurellosis; Trauma; Pasteurella multocida; Infection; Pasteurellaceae; Case study; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Central nervous system disease; Cat; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Complication; Meningitis
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1093/clinids/24.5.1004

We cultured Pasteurella multocida from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a 4-month-old infant who presented with meningitis. The patient had been scratched on the head by a cat. Culture of the cat's claws also yielded P. multocida. The isolates had identical biochemical patterns. Analysis of both strains by random amplification of polymorphic DNA and comparison of these strains with P. multocida strains isolated from other cats showed that the two strains were identical and completely different from the unrelated isolates. Our patient's meningitis most likely resulted from direct inoculation of P. multocida into the CSF.