We report a case of Listeria rhombencephalitis in a previously healthy 
60-year-old man. Listeria rhombencephalitis is a rare but well-defined clinical 
syndrome of lower brain-stem involvement caused by Listeria monocytogenes. 
Contrary to other listerioses, rhombencephalitis has been mainly observed in 
patients without predisposing conditions. In our case, however, findings of a 
detailed immunologic study, performed three months and one year, respectively, 
after clinical onset of Listeria rhombencephalitis manifestations, showed a 
transient cellular immunity defect, not associated with any other apparent 
disease.