A case of human diarrhea caused by Gallibacterium anatis: a case report

Abstract

Abstract Background Gallibacterium anatis (G. anatis) is a gram-negative bacterium of the Pasteurellaceae family that resides normally in the reproductive and respiratory tracts in poultry. It is an opportunistic pathogen previously associated with deaths in poultry and is also a pathogen that rarely causes human diseases. G. anatis has only been reported twice in France as the causative agent of a human disease. Here, we report a case of diarrhea caused by this bacterium in a patient with hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Case presentation We reported a 62-year-old male patient with hypertension and type 2 diabetes who suffered from acute watery diarrhea 7–8 times per day caused by G. anatis. He took belladonna sulfamethoxazole and trimerhoprim tablets for 3 days by himself without the guidance of a doctor. However, there was no improvement. One day after receiving ciprofloxacin lactate combined with clindamycin as antimicrobial treatment in the community hospital, there was no significant improvement. After admission to the EICU in our hospital, the stool culture was positive for G. anatis, which was identified by MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA sequencing. Based on antibiotic susceptibility and symptoms, amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium were administered as antimicrobial agents, and methylprednisolone sodium succinate was administered as an anti-inflammatory agent. The patient was cured and discharged after 8 days of treatment. Conclusion This case shows that clinicians should consider that G. anatis may be a possible infectious source of human diarrhea in immunosuppressive populations.