Published in:
Open Access
01-09-2010 | Short Report
Primary tooth abscess caused by Mycobacterium bovis in an immunocompetent child
Authors:
Chrysoula Maragou, Nadia Theologie-Lygidakis, Panayotis Ioannidis, Antonia Stenou, Sophia Kanavaki, Ioannis Iatrou, Maria N. Tsolia
Published in:
European Journal of Pediatrics
|
Issue 9/2010
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Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis is a zoonotic disease, and although its incidence has dramatically decreased in developed countries where effective control measures are applied, it still remains a potential health hazard in the developing world. Tuberculosis of the oral cavity is extremely rare and is usually secondary to pulmonary involvement. We present the unusual case of an immunocompetent 6-year-old child residing in an urban area with primary oral tuberculosis due to Mycobacterium bovis, which was confirmed by the application of a molecular genetic approach. M. bovis belongs to Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex which comprises species with close genetic relationship, and for this reason, the use of new molecular techniques is a useful tool for the differentiation at species level of the closely related members of this complex.