Detection of herpes simplex virus (1 and 2), varicella‐zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6 and enterovirus in immunocompetent tunisian patients with acute neuromeningeal disorder

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.

Etiology of aseptic meningitis and clinical characteristics in immune‐competent adults

“…The present results, showing that viral etiology could be identified by PCR in more than 50% of patients with aseptic meningitis, were consistent with previous findings [Nowak et al, ; Kupila et al, ; Nahdi et al, ; de Ory et al, ]. Our results showed that EV was the most frequent cause of aseptic meningitis followed by VZV.…”

The spectrum of aseptic central nervous system infections in southern Germany – demographic, clinical and laboratory findings

“…In our cohort, EV was the most common cause of meningitis, which is consistent with recent studies from northern and southern Europe , North America , North Africa and South Korea . Interestingly, EV infection seems to be more prevalent in southern Europe compared to central or northern Europe (Tables S2–S5).…”

“…Accordingly, here symptoms such as nausea and vomiting were more often observed corresponding to an assumed portal of entry of EV in the gastrointestinal region. It was found that inflammatory signs in CSF are rather low, which is consistent with the findings of other studies [2,11]. The latency between onset of symptoms and admission to hospital was shorter than in any other virus group suggesting that EV meningitis has a more rapid onset a more rapid onset.…”

Detection ofHerpesvirus,Enterovirus, andArbovirusinfection in patients with suspected central nervous system viral infection in the Western Brazilian Amazon

“…However, it has also been demonstrated that detection of CMV DNA in CSF samples were not necessarily correlated with a latent CMV infection [Studahl et al, 1995]. CMV was detected in 5 CSF samples of immunocompetent patients, a result similar to that observed by two studies [Mendoza et al, 2007;Nahdi et al, 2012]. These findings also underline an important role of CMV in acute CNS infection in immunocompetent individuals.…”