Comparative Analysis of the Euroimmun CXCL13 Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and the ReaScan Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Diagnosis of Lyme Neuroborreliosis.

Diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is challenging, as long as -specific intrathecal antibodies are not yet detectable. The chemokine CXCL13 is elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of LNB patients. Here, we compared the performances of the Euroimmun CXCL13 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CXCL13 ELISA) and the ReaScan CXCL13 lateral flow immunoassay (CXCL13 LFA), a rapid point-of-care test, to support the diagnosis of LNB.

Comparative whole genome analysis of three consecutive Salmonella diarizonae isolates.

Infections of very young children or immunocompromised people with Salmonella of higher subspecies are a well-known phenomenon often associated with contact to cold-blooded animals. We describe the molecular characterization of three S. enterica subsp.

Late-Onset Aspergillus Fumigatus Infection of an Aortic Stent Graft in an Immunocompetent Patient.

Aspergillus fumigatus as a clinical entity is difficult to diagnose. We present a case, which could facilitate diagnosis and management of the aforementioned disease. A 60-year-old man with stent graft implantation in the descending aorta (6 years ago) presented with fever, night sweats, and weight loss over 5 months.

Confocal laser endomicroscopy for in vivo diagnosis of Clostridium difficile associated colitis - a pilot study.

Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most dreaded causes of hospital-acquired diarrhea. Main objective was to investigate whether confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) has the capability for in vivo diagnosis of C. difficile associated histological changes.

Oropharyngeal tularemia--a differential diagnosis of tonsillopharyngitis and cervical lymphadenitis.

Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, has been recognized as a human and zoonotic pathogen for almost 100 years. The increasing number of tularemia outbreaks in regions of Europe outside the classic endemic areas in recent years has prompted renewed interest in this rare infectious disease. We report on a case of oropharyngeal tularemia in an 18-year-old girl from Bavaria (Germany) who presented with tonsillopharyngitis and cervical lymphadenitis.

Borrelia-associated crystalline keratopathy with intracorneal detection of Borrelia garinii by electron microscopy and polymerase chain reaction.

Purpose: First report of a patient with Borrelia-associated crystalline keratopathy with intracorneal evidence of Borrelia garinii by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electron microscopy (EM).

Methods: Report of a 67-year-old patient with medical history of recurrent iridocyclitis and arthritis presented with a bilateral, progressive, asymmetric crystalline keratopathy, which was particularly pronounced in the peripheral temporal superior cornea. After penetrating keratoplasty, crystalline keratopathy with stromal haziness recurred.

Acute syphilitic chorioretinitis after a missed primary diagnosis: a case report.

Introduction: Syphilis is well known as an infectious disease which can present with a large variety of symptoms. Clinical diagnosis can be difficult and may be complicated in modern medicine by immunosuppressive treatment and possible side effects of medication.

Case Presentation: We describe a rare case of placoid chorioretinitis due to Treponema pallidum which developed after the primary symptom of proteinuria was not recognized as a rare manifestation of syphilis.

Ureaplasma urealyticum meningitis in an adult patient.

A 38-year-old patient developed meningitis after a complicated kidney transplantation and organ rejection. Ureaplasma urealyticum was identified as the etiological agent by molecular and microbiological analyses of the cerebrospinal fluid. The patient was successfully treated with doxycycline and chloramphenicol.

Fatal bioprosthetic aortic valve endocarditis due to Cardiobacterium valvarum.

Cardiobacterium valvarum was isolated from the blood of a 71-year-old man with fatal aortic valve endocarditis. The API NH system was used for phenotypic characterization of the C. valvarum strain.

Tuboovarian abscess caused by Atopobium vaginae following transvaginal oocyte recovery.

A 39-year-old woman with tubarian sterility fell ill with acute pelvic inflammatory disease 2 months after transvaginal oocyte recovery. Laparotomy revealed a large tuboovarian abscess, from which Atopobium vaginae, an anaerobic gram-positive coccoid bacterium of hitherto unknown clinical significance, was isolated. The microbial etiology and the risk of pelvic infections following transvaginal punctures are discussed.