Neurological manifestations revealing brucellosis.

Eight patients presented neurological signs secondary to Brucella infection . The clinical presentation was a meningoencephalitis in three cases, a men ingoencephalomyelitis in one case, an epiduritis with spinal cord compressi on in one case, an acute polyradiculoneuritis in two cases and a chronic po lyradiculoneuritis in one case. Acoustic nerve was impaired in seven cases. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed a lymphocytic meningitis and a high protein concentration in all cases. The agglutination test titers wer e elevated in the serum and in the CSF of seven patients (greater than or e qual to 1/80) and two patients respectively. Brucella melitensis culture wa s disclosed in the blood of one patient and in the CSF of two patients. Thr ee patients were treated by the association cycline and rifampicin whereas a tritherapy including cycline, rifampicin and TMP-SMZ was used in the othe r cases. Outcome was favorable in seven cases. This study outlines the polymorphism or neurological manifestations due to brucellosis, even in familial cases and this diagnostic must be especially done in Middle East and South Mediterranean countries.