OBJECTIVES: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is one of the most common etiologies of viral meningitis/encephalitis. The early clinical manifestations and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) changes of VZV meningitis/encephalitis lack specificity, and it is easy to be misdiagnosed as other viral encephalitides or tuberculous meningitis. This study aims to investigate whether the clinical characteristics, CSF analysis findings, and CSF cytokine levels could distinguish VZV meningitis/encephalitis from central nervous system (CNS) herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infections. METHODS: The medical records from 157 CNS infections, including 49 HSV (45 HSV-1, 4 HSV-2), 55 VZV, and 53 MTB infections between January 2018 and June 2021 in the Cytology Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University were retrospectively reviewed. The data of 3 groups included demographic characteristics, laboratory results, radiographic findings, and outcomes. The levels of 12 cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17, IFN-γ, IFN-α, and TNF-α) in the CSF of 68 patients (13 HSV, 22 VZV, and 33 MTB infection cases) were quantified. Clinical and laboratory data were compared among the 3 groups. RESULTS: The most common clinical manifestations in the 3 groups were fever, headache, vomiting, and neck stiffness. The clinical manifestations of HSV and VZV CNS disease were similar, although fever and altered consciousness were less common in the VZV group than those in the HSV and MTB groups (63.6% vs 87.8% vs 96.2%, P<0.001, and 14.5% vs 26.5% vs 47.2%, P=0.004, respectively). Seven patients (7/55, 12.7%) presented cutaneous zoster in the VZV group. CSF leukocyte count was significantly higher in the VZV group (230×10⁶ cells/mL) and MTB groups (276×10⁶ cells/mL) than that in the HSV group (87×10⁶ cells/mL, P=0.002). CSF protein level was significantly higher in the VZV than that in the HSV group (1 034 mg/L vs 694 mg/L, P=0.011) but lower than that in the MTB group (1 744 mg/L, P<0.001). IL-6 (VZV vs HSV vs MTB: 2 855.93 pg/mL vs 2 128.26 pg/mL vs 354.77 pg/mL, P=0.029) and IL-8 (VZV vs HSV vs MTB: 4 001.46 pg/mL vs 1 578.11 pg/mL vs 1 023.25 pg/mL, P=0.046) levels were significantly different among the 3 groups and were elevated in the VZV group.Post hoc analysis revealed that IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly higher in the VZV group than those in the MTB group (P=0.002 and P=0.035, respectively), but not in the HSV group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS VZV meningitis/encephalitis presents with CSF hypercellularity and proteinemia, challenging the classical view of CSF profiles in viral encephalitis. CSF IL-6 and IL-8 levels are elevated in patients with VZV meningitis/encephalitis, indicating a more intense inflammatory response in these patients.
Humans ; Central Nervous System Infections ; Encephalitis ; Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster/diagnosis* ; Encephalitis, Viral/diagnosis* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Meningitis ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Encephalitis is an inflammation affecting brain parenchyma. At the time of presentation, it may be difficult to differentiate between viral encephalitis and altered mental status or seizures during febrile illness. The aim of the present study is to identify the predictive factors and to determine the prognostic factors of viral encephalitis in children presenting as seizure with fever. METHODS: From the retrospective review of the medical records, children with seizures or altered mental status during febrile illness who presented to Samsung Medical Center between January 2008 and May 2013 were included in the study. RESULTS: 81 patients were enrolled in this study (female:male=32:49). The mean age at admission was 4.9±4.3 years (range 0–14 years old). The patients were categorized into two groups according to the clinical diagnosis: (1) Viral encephalitis (VIRAL ENC, n=66), (2) Complex febrile seizures imitating viral encephalitis(C-FS, n=15). The predictive factors of viral encephalitis were focal and/or lateralized abnormalities in electroencephalography (EEG) (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: EEG can be helpful to predict the viral encephalitis, in pediatric patient who shows delayed restoration of consciousness after seizure during febrile illness.
Brain ; Child ; Consciousness ; Diagnosis ; Electroencephalography ; Encephalitis ; Encephalitis, Viral* ; Fever ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Encephalitis, Viral ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

The World Health Organization declared that a new strain of novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus was responsible for the pandemic infection in June 2009. We report a case of encephalitis diagnosed as the H1N1 virus infection. We describe a 17-year-old patient who had a seizure attack, diagnosed with a H1N1 virus infection via real time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The H1N1 virus infection can be causative of the encephalitis, as with other influenza virus infections. Careful monitoring is essential for reducing complications.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Encephalitis, Viral/*diagnosis/*virology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/*pathogenicity ; Male ; Swine/*virology

Objective: To investigate the distribution patterns of mosquitoes, midges and related arboviruses in Sichuan province. Methods: Blood-sucking insects were collected from houses and pens, using the ultraviolet lights. Mosquito samples were classified according to morphologic characteristics and then stored at liquid nitrogen. All samples were incubated with BHK-21 and C6/36 cells for virus isolation and then detected for their viral genes. Sequences of the virus were identified and analyzed by molecular biological software, such as BioEdit 7.0.5.3, MEGA 6.0. Results: In total, 17 019 mosquitoes from 3 genera and 4 species and 12 700 midges were collected from the southeast regions of Sichuan province in 2016 and 2017. Among them, 79.4% (13 519/17 019) belonged to Culex tritaeniorhynchus with 11.1% (1 897/17 019) as Armigeres subalbatus, 5.5% (930/17 019) were Anopheles sinensis and 4.0% (673/17 019) were Anopheles sinensis 3 virus strains that isolated from Culex tritaeniorhynchus were identified as typeⅠ Japanese encephalitis virus. Seven pools of mosquitoes isolated from Hejiang county were identified Japanese encephalitis virus gene positive through PCR amplification. With 4 pool midges were detected positive for Akabane virus through PCR gene amplification while midges samples didn't have virus isolates. Conclusions: Culex tritaeniorhynchus appeared the predominant species in the southeast regions of Sichuan. Japanese encephalitis virus transmitted by mosquitoes and Akabane virus by midges were prevalent in southeast Sichuan province.
Animals ; Arboviruses ; Culicidae ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/isolation & purification* ; Encephalitis, Japanese/diagnosis* ; Genes, Viral ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Adolescent ; Brain ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Encephalitis, Viral ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the value of serum Cystatin C (Cyst C) in the evaluation of glomerular filtration function in children with viral encephalitis.

METHODSSerum levels of Cyst C, urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) were measured in 92 children with viral encephalitis and in 50 healthy children as a control group. According to glomerular filtration rate (GFR), the encephalitis group was subdivided into normal renal function, renal insufficiency in the compensatory or decompensatory stage, and renal failure /end-stage groups.

RESULTSSerum levels of Cyst C, BUN and Cr in the encephalitis group increased and GFR decreased significantly compared with those in the control group (P<0.01). With the decline of renal function, GFR decreased and serum levels of Cyst C, BUN and Cr increased gradually. Serum levels of Cyst C and GFR were significantly different among the encephaitis subgroups (P<0.01). For serum levels of BUN and Cr, there were significant differences among the subgroups except between the normal renal function and the compensatory renal insufficiency groups. Serum Cyst C level was positively correlated with serum BUN and Cr levels, and negatively correlated with GFR.

CONCLUSIONSThe children with viral encephalitis have different degrees of renal impairments. Cyst C appears to be superior to BUN and Cr as a marker for the evaluation of glomerular filtration function. Measurement of serum Cyst C levels is very valuable in renal function monitoring in children with viral encephalitis.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cystatin C ; blood ; Encephalitis, Viral ; blood ; physiopathology ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Renal Insufficiency ; diagnosis

One step TaqMan reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using TaqMan probe was developed for detection of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). Real-time RT-PCR was optimized to quantify JEV using the detection system (Rotor Gene 2000 detector) and dual-labeled fluorogenic probes. The gene specific labeled fluorogenic probe for the 3' non-translated region (3' NTR) was used to detect JEV. When the specificity of the assay using specific JEV primers was evaluated by testing three different JEV strains, other swine viruses and bovine viral diarrhea virus, no cross-reactions were detected with non-JE reference viruses. A single tube TaqMan assay was shown to be 10-fold more sensitive than the conventional two-step RT-PCR method. Detection limits of two step and real-time RT-PCR for JEV were 112 TCID50 /ml and 11.2 TCID50 /ml, respectively. Quantification of JEV was accomplished by a standard curve plotting cycle threshold values (Ct ) versus infectivity titer. Real-time RT-PCR assay using single tube method could be used as a sensitive diagnostic test, and supplied the results in real time for detection and quantification of JEV. We could detect JEV RNA genome in plasma samples of pigs inoculated with KV1899 strain at 2 days post inoculation, but couldn't in 41 fetus samples. This assay was sensitive, specific, rapid and quantitative for the detection of JEV from laboratory and field samples.
Animals ; DNA Primers/chemistry ; DNA Probes/chemistry ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/genetics/*isolation&purification ; Encephalitis, Japanese/diagnosis/*veterinary/virology ; RNA, Viral/analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods/*veterinary ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*diagnosis/virology ; *Taq Polymerase

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical features and treatment of serious brainstem encephalitis caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection.

METHODSThe clinical data of 32 hospitalized children with serious brainstem encephalitis caused by EV71 infection between May and December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSThe children whose age was younger than 3 years old accounted for 88% (22 cases). Fever(>38.5 degrees centigrade)lasting at least 3 days, frequent vomiting and limb twitch were presented as the main manifestations in the 32 children. Cyanosis, tachypnea, tachycardia and cold extremities were observed, and pulmonary edema or even pulmonary hemorrhage occurred in 8 children 3 to 4 days after the onset. The 32 children received a medical treatment: reduction of intracranial pressure with mannitol or frusemide, inhibition of inflammation reactivity with gamma globulin and methylprednisolone, and improvement of cardiac function and pulmonary edema with innotropic agents, fluid restriction and positive mechanical ventilation.

CONCLUSIONSVegetative nerve functional disturbance is the main clinical feature of brainstem encephalitis caused by EV71 infection in children. An early identification and treatment of pulmonary edema or hemorrhage is of great importance.

Brain Stem ; pathology ; Child, Preschool ; Encephalitis, Viral ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Enterovirus A, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; complications ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Edema ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

To explore the clinical features of viral encephalitis with acute retinal necrosis syndrome.
 Methods: Clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, treatment and prognosis for 6 patients with viral encephalitis and acute retinal necrosis syndrome, who admitted to Xiangya Hospital from October 2013 to March 2015, were retrospectively analyzed.
 Results: Clinical features of the six cases are similar. Anti-virus treatment and anti-inflammation therapy can improve the prognosis. 
 Conclusion: Viral encephalitis with acute retinal necrosis syndrome is common and the neurological physicians need to strengthen the understanding of this disease.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Encephalitis, Viral ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies