Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible corpus callosum lesion associated with listeria infection with meningoencephalitis: a case report

BackgroundCurrently, Listeria monocytogenes (LM) meningoencephalitis is rare in immunocompetent individuals, and its association with mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is even more uncommon.Case presentationWe report a case of an immunocompetent adult female p...

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Main Authors: Jiahua Liang, Gang Peng, Yiyi Luo, Jiayu Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1568219/full
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author Jiahua Liang
Gang Peng
Yiyi Luo
Jiayu Tang
Jiayu Tang
author_facet Jiahua Liang
Gang Peng
Yiyi Luo
Jiayu Tang
Jiayu Tang
author_sort Jiahua Liang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundCurrently, Listeria monocytogenes (LM) meningoencephalitis is rare in immunocompetent individuals, and its association with mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is even more uncommon.Case presentationWe report a case of an immunocompetent adult female presenting with headache, fever, and vomiting, accompanied by hyponatremia and atypical splenial lesions of the corpus callosum on brain MRI. Both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and culture confirmed LM infection, leading to a diagnosis of LM meningoencephalitis. The patient recovered completely after treatment with meropenem.ConclusionThis case highlights distinct clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, imaging features, and therapeutic responses in immunocompetent patients compared to immunocompromised populations. The atypical radiological presentation and favorable outcome underscore the importance of early pathogen identification via advanced diagnostics like mNGS. Our findings provide valuable insights into the heterogeneity of LM infections and emphasize the need for heightened clinical vigilance even in immunologically normal hosts.
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spelling doaj-art-3acff757ca574f00a0818bf1e47f32372025-08-20T02:35:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-07-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15682191568219Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible corpus callosum lesion associated with listeria infection with meningoencephalitis: a case reportJiahua Liang0Gang Peng1Yiyi Luo2Jiayu Tang3Jiayu Tang4The School of Clinical Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaThe School of Clinical Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaThe School of Clinical Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaThe School of Clinical Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Neurology, Brain Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaBackgroundCurrently, Listeria monocytogenes (LM) meningoencephalitis is rare in immunocompetent individuals, and its association with mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is even more uncommon.Case presentationWe report a case of an immunocompetent adult female presenting with headache, fever, and vomiting, accompanied by hyponatremia and atypical splenial lesions of the corpus callosum on brain MRI. Both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and culture confirmed LM infection, leading to a diagnosis of LM meningoencephalitis. The patient recovered completely after treatment with meropenem.ConclusionThis case highlights distinct clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, imaging features, and therapeutic responses in immunocompetent patients compared to immunocompromised populations. The atypical radiological presentation and favorable outcome underscore the importance of early pathogen identification via advanced diagnostics like mNGS. Our findings provide valuable insights into the heterogeneity of LM infections and emphasize the need for heightened clinical vigilance even in immunologically normal hosts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1568219/fullListeria monocytogenesmeningoencephalitisMERSadult patients with normal immunitycase report
spellingShingle Jiahua Liang
Gang Peng
Yiyi Luo
Jiayu Tang
Jiayu Tang
Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible corpus callosum lesion associated with listeria infection with meningoencephalitis: a case report
Frontiers in Medicine
Listeria monocytogenes
meningoencephalitis
MERS
adult patients with normal immunity
case report
title Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible corpus callosum lesion associated with listeria infection with meningoencephalitis: a case report
title_full Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible corpus callosum lesion associated with listeria infection with meningoencephalitis: a case report
title_fullStr Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible corpus callosum lesion associated with listeria infection with meningoencephalitis: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible corpus callosum lesion associated with listeria infection with meningoencephalitis: a case report
title_short Mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible corpus callosum lesion associated with listeria infection with meningoencephalitis: a case report
title_sort mild encephalitis encephalopathy with reversible corpus callosum lesion associated with listeria infection with meningoencephalitis a case report
topic Listeria monocytogenes
meningoencephalitis
MERS
adult patients with normal immunity
case report
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1568219/full
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