Saint Louis encephalitis virus and other arboviruses in the differential diagnosis for dengue

Encephalitis by dengue virus and other arboviruses

“…Dengue outbreaks have been reported in most parts of Brazil in the last 15 years and there is serological evidence of other flavivirus infections, such as Saint Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and Rocio virus (ROCV), in horses bred in Brazil. These findings, coupled with the fact that positive serological tests for dengue may also show cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses, indicate the possibility that numerous cases of meningoencephalitis that occurred during recent dengue epidemics could have been incorrectly assigned to the disease 3 . Northeastern, southeastern and southern Brazil are infested with Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex, which are important arbovirus vectors.…”

Where there is no overlap, there is a gap

“…Symptoms of CHIKV and MAYV are similar to those of other common infectious agents, such as the dengue virus (DENV), and less common agents, such as Rocio, Oropouche, Saint Louis encephalitis, and yellow fever viruses 4 . Importantly, the availability of rapid and efficient assays precisely identifying viral agents is crucial to diagnose patients and analyze epidemiological data.…”

“…For instance, dengue fever is difficult to distinguish from other acute febrile illnesses, which emphasizes the importance of a differential diagnosis [4][5][6] . Indeed, most diagnoses in the country are made on clinical and epidemiological grounds.…”

Descoberta e caracterização de vírus emergentes e reergentes em áreas peri-florestais.

“…Louis encephalitis, and Yellow Fever viruses (6). Importantly, the availability of rapid and efficient assays precisely identifying viral agents is crucial to diagnose patients and analyze epidemiological data.…”

“…In addition, for medical personnel to follow proper treatment protocols, diagnostics should be readily available, accurate, sensitive, and economical to differentiate between these agents without a "coincidental" assumption It has previously been argued that many arbovirus infections have been neglected in Brazil, with few epidemiological studies conducted to understand their distribution. For instance, dengue fever is difficult to distinguish from other acute febrile illnesses, which emphasizes the importance of a differential diagnosis (6,8). Indeed, most diagnoses in the country are made on clinical and epidemiological grounds.…”