Brucellosis relapse seven years after first infection in a COVID-19 patient: A case report


Ayhan M., Kalem A., Guner H. R.

Kuwait Medical Journal, cilt.54, sa.4, ss.507-509, 2022 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 54 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Dergi Adı: Kuwait Medical Journal
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.507-509
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: brucellosis, COVID-19, leucopenia, lymphopenia
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in China and then has spread worldwide. It has been seen in Turkey since March. Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease which is observed in Turkey endemically. Here, we report the firstcase of Brucellosis relapse in a COVID-19 patient. A 39-year-old female had cough, dispnea, fatigue and backpain and miyalgia for one week was admitted. She had leucopenia and lymphopenia in whole blood count. She had a contact history with her COVID-19 positive sister. COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test resulted positive. She received hydroxychloroquine treatment for five days. Her COVID-19 PCR became negative and laboratory improved. Her miyalgia, back pain and fatigue got worse. When her medical history was elaborated, she had a brucellosis history seven years ago. She was completely treated and her Brucella serology tests were negative in 2015. She stated that she didn’t consume any unpasteurized milk product recently. Rose-Bengal and Coombs agglutination tests were positive (1:320 titers). She was initialized on treatment and symptoms started to resolve after 15 days of treatment. Severe COVID-19 patients show lymphopenia, particularly reduction of T-cells. Cell mediated immunity is crucial against brucellosis. During pandemic, endemic infections like brucellosis can be observed in patients due to lymphopenia. Further immunological studies are needed.