An Unusual Case of Brucellosis

Abstract

A patient with brucellosis was a unique example of host-parasite relationship. Initially, the patient had peripheral bleeding, thrombocytopenia, and blood cultures positive for Brucella abortus without signs of any systemic infection. Prednisone alone produced a return of the platelet count to normal in a period of 17 days. As an outpatient, symptoms and spinal fluid findings of meningitis developed, with sterile cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures. Blood cultures for Brucella abortus were positive, but the thrombocytopenia did not recur. The meningitis responded to appropriate antibiotic treatment. The literature has reported thrombocytopenia as a manifestation of brucellosis.