THE ROLE OF CAPNOCYTOPHAGA SPP. IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFECTIOUS PROCESSES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/1681-2727.2026.1.16168Keywords:
Capnocytophaga spp., tonsillitis, low-grade fever, pregnancy, miscarriageAbstract
SUMMARY. The genus Capnocytophaga comprises more than nine species of Gram-negative facultative anaerobic bacteria that are commensals of the oral cavity in humans and animals. Under certain conditions, particularly immunodeficiency states, these microorganisms may exhibit pathogenic properties, causing severe infectious processes such as sepsis, meningitis, endocarditis, bacteremia, chorioamnionitis, miscarriage, and preterm birth. However, the role of Capnocytophaga spp. in oropharyngeal pathology and reproductive disorders in immunocompetent individuals remains insufficiently studied.
Objective – to present a clinical case of prolonged low-grade fever and clinical manifestations of tonsillitis with isolation of Capnocytophaga spp. in a 38-year-old female patient, and to analyze the possible association of this infection with reproductive losses and other pathological conditions.
Case report. A 38-year-old patient, O., presented to a reproductive specialist with a seven-year history of infertility and two previous reproductive losses. During the examination, prolonged low-grade fever (37.2–37.6 °C), signs of tonsillitis, and hyperemia of the tonsils with a lace-like coating were noted. Bacteriological analysis of tonsillar mucus revealed Gram-negative rods identified by the Vitek-2 system as Capnocytophaga spp. Based on the antibiotic susceptibility profile, treatment with levofloxacin was prescribed. Body temperature normalized on day 8 of therapy, and the clinical manifestations of tonsillitis resolved. Two months after treatment, due to persistent infertility, two pregnancy losses, decreased ovarian reserve, and the patient’s age, in vitro fertilization was performed. The pregnancy progressed without complications and resulted in term delivery. The patient’s medical history also included a lower-lobe pneumonia of unknown etiology, which might have been associated with the persistence of Capnocytophaga spp. Two years after the episode of tonsillitis, the patient was diagnosed with tonsillar cancer; however, the direct etiological role of Capnocytophaga spp. in this process has not been established.
Conclusion. This case demonstrates the possibility of tonsillitis associated with Capnocytophaga spp. in an immunocompetent patient, as well as the potential association of this infection with pregnancy loss and possibly other chronic pathological processes. Considering the difficulties of microbiological identification and the wide range of clinical presentations, Capnocytophaga spp. should be regarded as a possible etiological factor in prolonged low-grade fever, unexplained tonsillitis, and cases of reproductive loss or pneumonia of unknown origin.
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Accepted 2026-04-18
Published 2026-04-20
