CASE REPORT article
Front. Med.
Sec. Infectious Diseases: Pathogenesis and Therapy
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1652671
This article is part of the Research TopicPathogenic microorganisms and biosafetyView all 19 articles
Diagnostic Value of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in Atypical Brucellosis: A Case Report.
Provisionally accepted
Dungaowa Ao1
Li Xinle2
Guo liang Zhang1Hui yu Ma1Li juan Yang1hui Tian1Shu xia Ao1jin Feng3
Wan ru Geng1*- 1Affiliated hospital, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao, China
- 2The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- 3Tongliao Mongolian Medical Hospital, Tongliao, China
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Background:Brucellosis with atypical presentations, such as submandibular abscess without fever, is frequently misdiagnosed.Methods:Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was applied to pus samples from a 47-year-old female with a treatment-refractory submandibular abscess and a history of livestock exposure; results were confirmed serologically. Results:Within 48 hours, mNGS identified Brucella suis—representing, to our knowledge, the first reported afebrile submandibular infection caused by this pathogen. Targeted therapy with doxycycline and rifamycin led to symptom resolution within 6 days.Conclusion:This case highlights that mNGS, combined with a thorough epidemiological history, can resolve diagnostic dilemmas in atypical brucellosis, guide precise treatment, and mitigate antibiotic misuse.
Keywords: Brucellosis, Submandibular space infection, metagenomic next-generation sequencing, Brucella suis, high-throughput sequencing
Received: 24 Jun 2025; Accepted: 25 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ao, Xinle, Zhang, Ma, Yang, Tian, Ao, Feng and Geng. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Wan ru Geng, gengwanru@imun.edu.cn
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