Medical Microbiology

Table 1 2. 7 Continued:NervousSystem

Infection Mostimportantpathogens Laboratorydiagnosis

Protozoa Naegleriafowleri

Acanthamoebaspp.

Microscopy(cerebrospinal

fluid),culture,DNAdetection

Toxoplasmagondii Serology,microscopy,culture,

DNAdetection(cerebrospinal

fluid)

Trypanosomabrucei

gambiense

Trypanosomabrucei

rhodesiense

Microscopy(cerebrospinal

fluid);

Serology

Plasmodiumfalciparum Microscopy(blood);

Serology

Helminths Taeniasolium(cysticercosis

oftheCNS)

Serology

Echinococcusgranulosus

Echinococcusmultilocularis

Serology

Toxocaracanis

Toxocaramystax

Serology

Cerebralabscess

Epiduralabscess

Subduralempyema

Streptococcusmilleri

Gram-negativeanaerobes

Enterobacteriaceae

Staphylococcusaureus

Microscopyandculturefor

bacteriafrompus

Mucorales

Aspergillusspp.

Candidaspp.

Microscopyandculturefor

fungifrompus;serology

Toxoplasmagondii Serology.Microscopy;DNAtest

(incerebrospinalfluid)

Tetanus Clostridiumtetani Toxin(animaltest,PCR)in

materialexcisedfromwound.

Trymicroscopyandculture

fromexcisedmaterial

Botulism Clostridiumbotulinum Toxindetectioninbloodor

food(animaltest,PCR)

Leprosy

(peripheralnerves)

Mycobacteriumleprae Microscopyofbiopsyspecimen

orscrapingsfromnasalmucosa

646 12 EtiologicalandLaboratoryDiagnosticSummariesinTabularForm

12

Kayser, Medical Microbiology © 2005 Thieme