Acute renal failure with need for renal replacement therapy as a complication of zoonotic S. zooepidemicus infection: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Streptococcus zooepidemicus is an animal commensal with the potential of zoonotic transmission through ingestion of contaminated dairy products, leading to outbreaks of Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis (PSGN). We report for the first time acute renal failure with need for renal replacement therapy, as a complication of S. zooepidemicus bacteremia resulting from direct horse to human transmission in a young adult. Both clinical disease course and immunohistochemical staining patterns on renal biopsy had some atypical features of PSGN suggesting persistent activation of the alternative complement pathway but no known complement factor dysregulations could be identified.

Keywords:

• Streptococcus zooepidemicus
• Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis
• Renal failure