Comprehensive pathogen detection associated with four recurrent episodes of Kawasaki disease in a patient during a single year using next-generation sequencing.

Introduction: Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common multisystem vasculitis in childhood. Pathogens can be associated with the onset of KD. However, a lack of consistency prevails among reports about this disease.

Case Presentation: For this case of a 1-year-old boy with four recurrent episodes of KD within a year, we analysed profiles of pathogen reads in his serum and pharynx specimens using next-generation sequencing. Comparative analysis of the identified bacterial reads from serum samples found significant correlation of bacteria such as and spp. with the first and fourth episodes ( = 0.9506) before treatment. In the first convalescent phase, the number of spp. was reduced remarkably ( < 0.0001). From sequencing of the pharynx specimen from the fourth episode, a similar correlation was found with serum from the fourth episode ( = 0.6633).

Conclusion: In this case, spp. may have been associated with onset of KD. Further studies must be undertaken to evaluate the putative association of micro-organism infection with KD pathogenesis.