Vibrio Fetus Meningoencephalitis

Introduction  Since 1909, Vibrio fetus has been known to cause abortion in sheep and cattle.⁷ Medical interest in V fetus has increased over the last 15 years in view of sporadic reports of human infection with this organism. Transient symptoms strongly suggestive of central nervous system involvement have been described in patients with V fetus septicemia. These are paralysis⁴ and confusion and cervical pain.³ No correlative pathologic evidence, however, has yet demonstrated that these symptoms are directly caused by V fetus. The purpose of this paper is to present the clinical and pathologic findings of meningoencephalitis due to V fetus in an 8-dayold infant.

Report of a Case 

Clinical History.—  The mother, a para 0, gravida 1, 17-year-old female of Pureto Rican descent, was first seen in the antepartum clinic of The New York Hospital in her 28th week of gestation on Dec 4, 1958. Her past