No abstract

Enteroviruses (EVs) and human herpesviruses (HHVs) are involved frequently in acute neurological disorders of viral etiology. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of herpes simplex virus types-1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and human enteroviruses (EVs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of Tunisian immunocompetent patients with neuromeningeal disorders. The patients had been hospitalized at the Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital (Monastir, Tunisia) between September 2007 and June 2009. At least one viral genome was detected in 58 (46%) out of 126 CSF samples collected. Enterovirus was detected in 31 of the positive samples (53.4%), CMV in 20 (34.5%), HSV-1 in 3 (5.2%), HSV-2 in 6 (10.3%), VZV in 4 (6.9%), HHV-6 in 2 (3.4%). More than one viral genome was detected in seven CSF samples, including CMV DNA in six of the samples. The high frequency of enteroviral infections in aseptic meningitis was confirmed. The detection of CMV DNA only suggests a direct role of this virus in the etiology of acute neuromeningeal disorder.

ARN carries poor visual prognosis in Tunisia.

BK polyomavirus (BKV) is a ubiquitous virus in humans that remains latent in the urogenital tract after a primary infection during childhood. The virus, which is reactivated frequently and excreted in urine, can cause nephropathy in renal transplant recipients. BKV sequences are classified into four subtypes (I-IV). Subtype I and IV are divided further into four and six subgroups, respectively. To characterize the subtypes of BKV prevalent in Tunisia, the presence of the virus was investigated by real-time PCR in urine samples from 77 renal transplant recipients. For subtype identification, a DNA fragment in the VP1 coding region, amplified by nested PCR from positive samples, was sequenced and a phylogenetic analysis was performed. In the studied population, subtype I (75.5%), II (14.5%), and IV (2.5%) were identified with a clear predominance of subtype Ib-2 (73%) as observed in European population. This study suggests that in North Africa, the BKV genotype distribution is similar to that of Europe and different from that of sub-Saharan Africa.