Precursor T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma and acute biphenotypic leukemias

Session 4 of the 2005 Society of Hematopathology/European Association for Haematopathology Workshop focused on case presentations of precursor T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (pre-T ALL/LBL) and acute biphenotypic leukemia. Pre-T ALL represents approximately 15% of childhood and 25% of adult ALL cases. Pre-T LBL comprises 85% to 90% of LBL and frequently manifests as a mediastinal mass. Gene expression studies have shown distinct subtypes of LYL1+, HOX11+, TAL1+, and MLL+ pre-T ALL/LBL. HOX11 overexpression may correlate with a good prognosis in adult pre-T ALL. ABL gene amplification and NOTCH1 gene mutations in subsets of pre-T ALL/LBL suggest patients may benefit from therapy with tyrosine kinase and gamma-secretase inhibitors, respectively. Acute biphenotypic leukemias are characterized by a single population of blasts that express myeloid, T- or B-lineage antigens in various combinations and account for fewer than 4% of all acute leukemias. The blasts have a high incidence of chromosome abnormalities. An accurate diagnosis of pre-T ALL/LBL and acute biphenotypic leukemia requires a multiparametric approach, including examination of morphologic features, immunophenotype, clinical characteristics, and cytogenetic and molecular findings.     

Biphenotypic acute leukemia with coexpression of CD79a and markers of myeloid lineage

Acute leukemias demonstrating immunophenotypic features of more than 1 cell lineage are referred to as acute leukemias of ambiguous lineage in the new World Health Organization classification system. A subtype of leukemia of ambiguous lineage is biphenotypic acute leukemia in which the malignant cell population expresses markers of 2 different lineages, most commonly myeloid and either B- or T-lymphoid lineages. This entity has been defined by a scoring system proposed by the European Group for the Immunological Characterization of Acute Leukemias (EGIL), with various markers assigned a score of 2, 1, or 0.5 depending on their specificity for myeloid or lymphoid lineage. Those cases having a score greater than 2 for the myeloid and either the B- or T-lymphoid lineages are biphenotypic acute leukemia in this system. One marker, CD79a, has been so clearly associated with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by some researchers that its expression in the presence of blast markers is considered indicative of B-ALL. We describe an unusual case of acute leukemia meeting the criteria for biphenotypic acute leukemia in which CD79a expression was observed in the blast population.     

流式细胞术在我院急性白血病免疫分型中的应用

目的探讨本实验室所用13种单抗对白血病免疫分型的应用价值。方法应用流式细胞术（FCM）使用13种单抗对99例急性白血病进行免疫分型,与形态学分型相比较。结果使用13种单抗从99例急性白血病中分出髓系白血病（AML）59例、淋系白血病（ALL）27例、混合型（MAL）5例、未分化型（AUL）2例,诊断率达93.9%（93/99）。AML中各抗原表达情况：CD13〉CD33〉CD14、CD7〉CD2、CD19〉CD10〉CD5〉CD20,其中多表达CD13、CD33;ALL中各抗原表达情况：CD19〉CD13〉CD10〉CD20〉CD33〉CD5〉CD7〉CD2、CD14,其中CD10、CD13、CD19、CD20表达率较高。免疫分型与形态学分型结果相比较,AML二者的吻合率为90.5%（57/63）、ALL二者的吻合率为76.5%（26/34）;其中1例M0免疫分型为B/M混合、1例M1免疫分型为T/M混合、1例M2a免疫分型为T/M混合、1例L1免疫分型为B/M混合、1例L2免疫分型为T/B混合、1例L2免疫分型为Ly＋-AML、2例L2免疫分型为AUL;1例形态学为浆细胞白血病的免疫分型为AML、1例淋单混合型白血病CD7、CD13、CD14阳性。结论白血病细胞、免疫分型各具特征,形态学相同的白血病免疫分型未必相同,形态学不同的白血病免疫分型未必不同;本实验室所选单抗组合基本能满足白血病的免疫分型,对于一些混合型和未分化型白血病的诊断亦能明确。     

Lupus et grossesse : expérience d’un service de médecine interne à propos de 26 cas et revue de la littérature

Objective

To study the maternal and fetal outcomes in women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Patients and methods

A retrospective study of 26 pregnancies in 15 systemic erythematosus patients diagnosed before or during pregnancy regarding to American College of Rheumatology criteria in a single reference center.

Results

The mean patient age was 31.52 years (24–39 years). The mean interval from the diagnosis of the systemic lupus erythematosus to pregnancy was 4.2 years. Eight pregnancies were planned. The flare rate of lupus during pregnancy was 31%, life birth rate was 65% and fetal loss rate was 35%.

Discussion and conclusion

As an increase in disease activity can occur during pregnancy and because of a higher rate of obstetrical complications in patients with lupus, it is important to carefully plan pregnancy. Pregnancy in lupus patients must be closely monitored by a multispeciality care of the patients.     

The ultrastructure of hybrid acute leukemia: a study of 15 cases

The objective of this study was to investigate the ultrastructural characteristics of hybrid acute leukemia (HAL). Fifteen cases of HAL were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), focusing on organelles and myeloperoxidase (MPO) reaction of leukemic cells. By TEM, 5 out 15 cases of HAL were consistent with immunophenotyping (3 cases of biphenotypic type, and 2 cases of biclonal type with granulocytes and lymphocytes); 2 cases were suspected as HAL. On other hand, 5 cases of HAL were assigned to ALL, and 2 cases were misinterpreted as M5a and 1 as M4b. Most of the blast cells of biphenotypic HAL showed lymphoid features, except some cases containing MPO positive granules in blasts, while a few cases exhibited monocytic or nonspecific features. TEM offers advantages in the diagnosis of biclonal type HAL and biphenotypic HAL positive for MPO. However, it is difficult to differentiate MPO-negative cases of biphenotypic HAL from ALL and a few cases may be misinterpreted as M5 by TEM.     

急性白血病患者骨髓细胞形态和免疫表型同步检测的比较分析

目的 探讨骨髓细胞免疫表型在急性双表型白血病中的诊断价值以及与骨髓细胞形态学的比对研究.方法 利用流式细胞仪四色免疫荧光直接标记技术对230例急性白血病患者进行细胞免疫表型、骨髓细胞形态学分型检测及分析.采用流式细胞术四色免疫荧光直接标记技术与CD45/SSC设门分析技术检测13例双表型急性白血病患者,根据欧洲白血病免疫分类组(EGIL)积分标准进行免疫学分型.结果 230例急性白血病患者免疫分型诊断结果与骨髓细胞形态学和组织化学诊断具有高符合率,其中免疫分型诊断为急性双表型白血病的13例(5.7％).此外,急性双表型白血病患者高表达CD34胞膜抗原(84.6％),提示预后不良.结论 急性双表型白血病发病率较低,骨髓细胞免疫表型对诊断及鉴别双表型急性白血病极为特异,以髓系和B淋巴系抗原共表达为主.应用骨髓细胞形态学和流式细胞术联合检测急性双表型白血病可以提高诊断的准确性,有效地指导临床制定治疗方案和预后判断.     

Recombinaison génétique chez le poliovirus vaccinal : étude comparative chez les souches excrétées en cours de vaccination par le vaccin poliomyélitique oral et les souches circulantes

Aim of study

Recombination is one of the major mechanisms of evolution in poliovirus. In this work, recombination was assessed in children during vaccination with OPV and among circulating vaccine strains isolated in Tunisia during the last 15 years in order to identify a possible role of recombination in the response to the vaccine or the acquisition of an increased transmissibility.

Material and methods

This study included 250 poliovirus isolates: 137 vaccine isolates, excreted by children during primary vaccination with OPV and 113 isolates obtained from acute flaccid paralytic (AFP) cases and healthy contacts. Recombination was first assessed using a double PCR-RFLP, and sequencing.

Results

Nineteen per cent of recombinant strains were identified: 20% of strains excreted by vaccinees among 18% of circulating strains. The proportion of recombinant in isolates of serotype1 was very low in the two groups while the proportions of recombinants in serotypes 2 and 3 were different. In vaccinees, the frequency of recombinants in serotype3 decreased during the course of vaccination: 54% after the first dose, 32% after the second and 14% after the third dose.

Conclusion

These results suggest that recombination enhances the ability of serotype3 vaccine strains to induce an immune response. Apart from recent vaccination, it may contribute to a more effective transmissibility of vaccine strains among human population.     

Profil épidémiologique de 290 cas d’échinococcose kystique humaine diagnostiqués au CHU Mustapha d’Alger (2006 à 2011)

The aim of the study

This study reports a series of 290 cases of hydatidosis confirmed by the surgery and/or the imagery with a positive immuno-diagnosis collected between 1st January 2006 and 31 March 2011 at parasitology-mycology laboratory of hospital university center of Mustapha of Algiers. Our aim is to specify, through the listed cases, the epidemiological aspects of this affection and compared with those obtained in two previous Algerian epidemiological investigations carried out, between 1963–1964 and 1966–1975.

Patients and methods

It is a retrospective (2006–2008) and prospective (2008–2011) study. The parasitological diagnosis was carried out by the direct macroscopic and/or microscopic identification of the parasite and indirect diagnosis based on four techniques: passive hemagglutination, Elisa IgG “Echinococcus granulosus”, Western Blot IgG “Echinococcus” and electrophoresis.

Results

The study shows that this affection is still prerogative of the young adult. It bring out also in this study that the child of school age (ten years), in particular the boy, pays a heavy tribute. At the child, the preferential pulmonary seat of the hydatic disease is not devoid of risk. At adult, this parasitic disease mainly affect the active woman.

Conclusion

Generally, the epidemiological and clinical characteristics join the endemic countries data and confirmed the row of our country among them. The transmission seems as strong as in the past, in spite of a much better social educational level.     

Déficit immunitaire commun variable (DICV) : caractéristiques cliniques et immunologiques de 29 patients algériens

Purpose

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the commonest symptomatic primary immunodeficiency. It is characterized by a defect of antibody production, recurrent respiratory tract infections and increased occurrence of auto-immune discords and lymphoproliferative disease.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted on 29 patients fulfilling the classical CVID definition. Blood tests included immunoglobulin measurement and lymphocyte subpopulations phenotyping.

Results

This study includes 29 patients. The mean age at diagnosis was 23 years. Recurrent upper and lower bacterial respiratory tract infections were common in almost all patients. Five patients developed auto-immune conditions and six had lymphoproliferative disease. Decreased IgG was found in almost all patients. Low IgA and IgM levels were found in 89.6 % and 65.5 % of cases respectively. Abnormal T and/or B phenotype was found in 75 % of cases; the most common abnormalities were decreased circulating B (54.2 %) and T CD4+ (41.7 %) cells and inversion of the CD4/CD8 ratio (70.8 %). Patients with decreased circulating B and T CD4+ cells were significantly more likely to have auto-immune cytopenias and lymphoproliferative disease.

Conclusions

Our study confirms the heterogeneity of CVID. A patient's classification is necessary to define homogeneous groups of patients and to characterize specific molecular abnormalities in each group.     

多参数流式细胞术对外周血白血病免疫分型的研究

目的 :探讨多参数流式细胞术、CD45/SCC设门技术和三色荧光标记抗体 ,检测外周血在白血病免疫分型中的临床应用及其意义。方法 :对检测标本以CD45- Percp/SSC设门技术及流式细胞仪多参数分析技术 ,采用单克隆抗体三色标记对白血病患者的细胞群体进行免疫表型分析。结果 :195例白血病患者 ,其中急性白血病 14 4例 ,慢性白血病 51例。 14 4例急性白血病患者中 ,13 7例出现可供分析的白血病细胞独立群体。免疫分型结果ALL 66例 ,AML 67例 ,未能分型 4例。 2 7例AL表达 2个不同系列的免疫标记 (2 0 % )。分析了各类白血病的免疫表型的特征 ,AL共表达不同系列的抗原是一种常见现象。结论 :利用CD45 Percp/SSC设门技术及流式细胞仪多参数分析技术 ,可对白血病细胞群体进行准确的免疫表型检测和研究 ,有助于指导临床治疗及判断预后     

Immunophenotyping of acute leukemias: diagnostic and pronostic utility in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

Flow cytometry is nowadays the first-line method for immunophenotypic identification of blast cells but is not so usual in limited-resources countries. We have investigated on the usefulness of this tool in Abidjan, C?te d'Ivoire. Bone marrow sample from 13 patients with acute leukemia identified by cytology and cytochemical analysis was immunophenotyped by using monoclonal antibodies directed to: T lymphoid cells (CD3, CD5, CD7); B lymphoid cells (CD10, CD19, CD20, CD22, HLA-DR) and myeloid cells (CD13, CD33). Immunophenotyping allowed us to confirm the diagnosis of 6 de novo acute leukemias (2 acute myeloid leukaemias, 4 acute lymphoid leukemias) and 7 acute leukaemias resulting from chronic myeloid leukaemias. Immunophenotyping also characterizes the atypical/aberrant lineage essential for the prognosis: 2 biphenotypic acute leukemias (myeloid/lymphoid T) were identified. Our results suggest that flow cytometry may be a useful additional tool to identify the specific leukemic cell, to make a better classification as well as a prognosis evaluation of patients with acute leukemias.     

Acute leukemias with unusual immunophenotypes.

Over a two-year period, immunophenotypic patterns of 266 acute leukemia cases were analyzed using a panel of tests including TdT, SmIg and 9 surface antigens by the immunofluorescence stains for the assessment of the incidence and grade of phenotypic ambiguity (lineage infidelity) and the possible clinical significance of unusual immunophenotypes. Immunophenotypes were classified into four groups according to the degree of ectopic antigen expression. We classified as Group A (91.7%, 244 of 266 cases) those expressing conventional pattern without ectopic antigen. Group B (3.0%, 8 of 266 cases) was defined to have at least two lineage specific markers and single ectopic antigen. Such a "low grade deviation" did not prevent a definite immunodiagnosis. Group C (4.2%, 11 of 266 cases) revealed a promiscuous coexpression of markers related to different lineages, including two cases (0.8%, 2 cases) of biphenotypic leukemia. Group D (1.1%, 3 cases) included unclassifiable immunophenotypes with no antigen or HLA-DR only expression. Both patients with biphenotypic leukemia and one patient with unclassifiable immunophenotypes failed to respond to induction chemotherapy, suggesting a poor prognosis in these patients. The incidence of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cases with one or more ectopic surface antigens was 10 (8.1%) of the 124 AML cases. Ectopic antigen expression was seen in 5 (4%) of the 125 B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases and 3 (25%) of the 12 T-ALL cases. It is concluded that nearly 95% of cases of acute leukemia cases can be diagnosed accurately with immunophenotyping alone including patients with a mild degree of deviation from expected antigenic patterns.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Anti-CD10 immunoperoxidase staining of paraffin-embedded acute leukemias: comparison with flow cytometric immunophenotyping

CD10 is common in B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) but is rare in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, until recently, analysis for CD10 has generally required fresh or frozen tissue. 56C6 is a monoclonal antibody that is now commercially available for the detection of CD10 in routinely processed paraffin-embedded tissue. Immunoperoxidase stains for CD10 on paraffin-embedded bone marrow core biopsy specimens (B5-fixed, decalcified) and marrow aspirate clots (formalin-fixed) were compared with flow cytometric immunophenotyping for CD10 on fresh cell suspensions in 20 cases of AML and in 30 cases of ALL. CD10 detection by immunohistochemistry agreed with CD10 by flow cytometry in 98% (49 of 50) of acute leukemias. The results matched in 100% (20 of 20) of AML. Five percent (1 of 20) of AMLs expressed CD10. Two of the AMLs with monocytoid differentiation were interpreted as negative for CD10 by flow cytometry, although these had nonspecific dim immunofluorescence for multiple markers, including CD10, and these cases were negative by immunohistochemistry. CD10 detection by immunohistochemistry agreed with CD10 by flow cytometry in 97% (29 of 30) of ALL. Eighty-four percent (21 of 25) of B-precursor ALL and 40% (2/5) of T-lineage ALL expressed CD10 by immunohistochemistry. In 1 case of B-precursor ALL, CD10 was dimly positive in 24% of the blasts by flow cytometry but negative by immunohistochemistry. We conclude that immunohistochemical staining of paraffin-embedded tissue, either B5- or formalin-fixed, is an effective method for the detection of CD10 in acute leukemia. This technique is useful in distinguishing AML from ALL.     

Dépistage de la Leptospirose : performance de la trousse Sérion Elisa classic Leptospira IgM

Aim of the study

Evaluate the sensitivity and the specificity of anti-Leptospira IgM detection with the Serion Elisa classic kit in comparison to the Panbio Elisa kit.

Methods

Twenty-three sera of patients whom Taqman probe real time PCR is positive and 19 sera positive by the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) are studied for sensitivity. Specificity is evaluated with 49 pairs of sera negative by MAT and with sera positive in IgM to EBV, to syphilis, to Borrelia and positive to influenza virus antibodies.

Results

14/23 (61%) of the sera positive by PCR and 27/30 (90%) of the sera positive at significant level by MAT are positive by Serion IgM Elisa. Serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae, Grippotyphosa, Australis, Tarassovi, Canicola, Sejroe, Patoc and Cynopteri are detected. 40/49 sera (82%) negative by MAT are negative by Serion IgM Elisa. Agreement with the Panbio kit is 61% (30/49). Results are discrepant in 19/49 cases corresponding to a positive result by Panbio IgM and to a negative result by Serion IgM. Serological cross-reactions are more frequent with IgM to syphilis and to Borrelia than with IgM to EBV and to influenza virus antibodies.

Conclusion

A similar sensitivity is observed between the two kits but specificity is higher with Serion. Positivity in IgM is 61% in cases of leptospirosis diagnosed by PCR.     

The immunophenotype of 325 adult acute leukemias: relationship to morphologic and molecular classification and proposal for a minimal screening program highly predictive for lineage discrimination

Bone marrow cells of 325 adults with acute leukemia were immunophenotyped using a panel of monoclonal antibodies proposed by the European Group for the Immunological Characterization of Leukemias (EGIL). Of these, 97.2% could be assigned clearly to myeloid or lymphoid lineage (254 acute myeloid leukemias [AMLs], 48 B-cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemias [ALLs], 14 T-cell lineage ALLs), 1.8% as biphenotypic, and less than 1% as undifferentiated. Immunologic subtyping of ALLs revealed an association between early precursor phenotypes and coexpression of myeloid antigens, particularly CD15/CD65s coexpression and pre-pre-B cell-specific phenotypes and genotypes. The common ALL phenotype was associated with BCR-ABL translocation. Among AMLs, CD2 coexpression was almost exclusively restricted to French-American-British subtypes M3 variant and M4Eo and related molecular aberrations. The most valuable markers to differentiate between myeloperoxidase-negative AML subtypes M0 and ALLs were CD13, CD33, and CD117, typical of M0, and intracytoplasmic CD79a, intracytoplasmic CD3, CD10, and CD2, typical of B cell- or T cell-lineage ALL. Our results confirm excellent practicability of the EGIL proposalfor immunologic classification of acute leukemias. For myeloperoxidase-negative AMLs, we suggest a scoring system based on markers most valuable to distinguish between AML-M0 and ALLs.     

Enquête sur la perception de la gastro-entérite et de l’infection à Rotavirus par les mères en France

Aim

To describe the perception of the acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and the interest for the vaccination of the AGE due to Rotavirus.

Material and methods

Observational investigation realized by phone by the IPSOS institute, with 1002 French women of 18 years and more, constituting a representative national sample, having at least a child below 2 years, between 7 and January 31st, 2008.

Results

AGE is mainly considered by the mothers questioned as a grave pathology (43.1%) or very grave (51.3%) for the children below 2 years. This perception is bound to the symptoms and to the complications known for the disease. For the questioned mothers, the AGE comes along very often or often with diarrheas (97.2%), vomits (94.3%) or dehydration (94%). Hospitalizations are also perceived as frequent. The quasi-totality of the questioned women (98.3%) considers finally that it is about a very contagious disease (75.4%) or rather contagious (22.8%). The AGE at the child below 2 years provoke very frequently a medical consultation (91.8%), during which some solutions of oral rehydration are prescribed in six cases on 10 (62%). The questioned mothers are for the greater part favorable (86.3%) to a drinkable vaccine to prevent the AGE due to Rotavirus, and 88.1% say that they would intend to protect their child with this vaccine.

Conclusion

The questioned mothers know the potential gravity of the AGE and a very wide majority of them (86.3%) declare themselves favorable to the prevention of the AGE at Rotavirus by the vaccination.     

Étude parasitologique de 78 cas d’échinococcose kystique humaine colligés entre 2005 et 2012 au CHU Mustapha d’Alger

Aim

The aim of this work is to know the fertility rate of the metacestodes resulting from patients suffering from hydatidosis, the one of protoscoleces's viability and by comparing the results obtained with those found elsewhere. It reports, also, the epidemiological, clinical and diagnostically aspects of the studied patients.

Materials and methods

This study has carried on 78 hydatics samples resulting from 78 patients collected between 2005 and 2012 at the laboratory of parasitology of the Mustapha hospital center of Algiers. A questionnaire on the epidemiological context (contact with an animal-host of the cycle, place of residence, presence of family cases reached of hydatidosis and knowledge on the hydatic disease) concerned 69 patients. For each sample, a direct microscopic examination is made with or without vital staining. The presence of protoscoleces made qualified the fertile cyst. Those visualized moving or resistant to eosin at 0.2% are considered viables. Indirect diagnosis is based on the techniques: passive hemagglutination, electrophoresis, Elisa IgG Echinococcus granulosus and immunoblotting IgG “Echinococcus”. Molecular analysis is based on PCR and sequencing the partials fragments of two mitochondrial genes with the primers COX1 and ND1.

Results

The results obtained show that the surgical frequency of hydatidosis is significant at the young adult and at the child. The epidemiological context associated at the disease is the conjointly presence of a dog and herbivores. The fertility rate of human hydatid cysts is 88.4% and the ones of viability of the protoscoleces is 74.5%. In this series, the serology shows global positivity at 70%. The molecular characterization of five samples identify the species: E. granulosus ss.

Conclusion

Finally, the viability and fertility rates found here are raised. Sometimes viables protoscoleses are found after use of scolicidal solution. In front of these results, the parasitical treatment is more than necessary in order to minimize the risk of occurred of secondary echinococcosis or the relapses postoperatives.     

Involvement of the MLL gene in adult T‐lymphoblastic leukemia

While the MLL “recombinome” is relatively well characterized in B‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP ALL), available data for adult acute T‐lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL) are scarce. We performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for an MLL split signal on 223 adult T‐ALL samples obtained within the framework of the German Multicenter ALL 07/2003 therapy trial. Three biphenotypic leukemias (T‐ALL/AML) were also included in the analysis. Samples showing any alteration by FISH were further investigated to characterize the MLL aberration. In addition, they were investigated for common genetic lesions known in T‐ALL. Twenty‐two cases (9.5%) showed an abnormal MLL signal by FISH analysis. Most of these appeared to be deletions or gains but in five cases (2.1%) a chromosomal translocation involving the MLL gene was identified. The translocation partners and chromosomal breakpoints were molecularly characterized. Three T‐ALLs had an MLL‐AF6/t(6;11) and two biphenotypic leukemias had an MLL‐ELL/t(11;19). The chromosomal breakpoints in two of the MLL‐AF6‐positive cases were located outside the classical MLL major breakpoint cluster known from BCP ALL. In conclusion, the spectrum of MLL translocation partners in adult T‐ALL much more resembles that of AML than that of BCP ALL and thus the mechanisms by which MLL contributes to leukemogenesis in adult T‐ALL appear to differ from those in BCP ALL. Proposals are made for the diagnostic assessment of MLL fusion genes in adult T‐ALL. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Méningo-encéphalite à Bartonella quintana chez un sujet immunocompétent : une observation rare

Introduction

Bartonella quintana (Bq) is responsible of various clinical pictures. Neuromeningeal complications are rarely reported.

Case

A 20-year-old woman was admitted for fever, headache lasting for 5 days. On admission, she was febrile at 39.3 °C and had a stiff neck. Symptoms, contact with animals, biological tests and lumbar puncture (PL) rendered viral meningitis a likely diagnosis. She had received symptomatic treatment and the outcome was favorable. Three days later, the patient had headache, agitation and confusion with fever. The PL noted 130/mm³ whites, 90% lymphocytes. The albuminorachie was 0.98 g/L, glucorachie was normal. The patient was treated with 400 mg of ofloxacine/day, seven days. Serologic tests for B. quintana were reactive. The outcome was favorable.

Conclusion

B. quintana infection should be considered in neurological symptoms of unknown etiology.