Journal Article

Herpesvirus encephalitis diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction at the National Institute of Neurology of Mexico

de la Cruz, Verónica Pérez, Figueroa, Rubén, Salazar, Aleli, Fajardo, Quetzalina Flores, Sotelo, Julio, Garcia, Esperanza, Chavarría, Víctor, Pineda, Benjamín, Castañeda, Arely Vergara

2021

Overview

The frequency of central nervous system infections due to herpesvirus have been studied in various populations; however, studies in Mexican mestizo patients are scant. This paper documents the frequency of herpesvirus encephalitis in Mexican mestizo patients from the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (NINN) of Mexico. To study the frequency of herpetic viral encephalitis at the NINN in the period from 2004 to 2009. We reviewed clinical records from patients with clinically suspected encephalitis; polymerase chain reaction assays were done for detection of herpesviruses in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. The total number of patients studied was 502; in 59 (12%), the diagnosis of herpetic encephalitis was confirmed by PCR-based testing of CSF. Of them, 21 (36%) were positive for herpes simplex virus type 1, 15 (25%) for Epstein–Barr virus, 10 (17%) for varicella zoster virus, 8 (14%) for cytomegalovirus, 3 (5%) for human herpesvirus 6, and 2 (3%) for herpes simplex virus 2. Our results show a varied frequency of viral encephalitis in mestizo patients due to herpesviruses in a tertiary neurological center and point out the importance of modern molecular technology to reach the etiological diagnosis in cases of encephalitis.

• Publisher: Springer International Publishing
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Aged / Aged, 80 and over / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Cross-Sectional Studies / Cytomegalovirus - genetics / Cytomegalovirus - pathogenicity / Cytomegalovirus Infections - diagnosis / Cytomegalovirus Infections - epidemiology / Cytomegalovirus Infections - ethnology / Cytomegalovirus Infections - virology / Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster - diagnosis / Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster - epidemiology / Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster - ethnology / Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster - virology / Encephalitis, Viral - diagnosis / Encephalitis, Viral - epidemiology / Encephalitis, Viral - ethnology / Encephalitis, Viral - virology / Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - diagnosis / Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - epidemiology / Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - ethnology / Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - virology / Ethnicity / Female / Herpes Genitalis - diagnosis / Herpes Genitalis - epidemiology / Herpes Genitalis - ethnology / Herpes Genitalis - virology / Herpes Simplex - diagnosis / Herpes Simplex - epidemiology / Herpes Simplex - ethnology / Herpes Simplex - virology / Herpesvirus 1, Human - genetics / Herpesvirus 1, Human - pathogenicity / Herpesvirus 2, Human - genetics / Herpesvirus 2, Human - pathogenicity / Herpesvirus 3, Human - genetics / Herpesvirus 3, Human - pathogenicity / Herpesvirus 4, Human - genetics / Herpesvirus 4, Human - pathogenicity / Herpesvirus 6, Human - genetics / Herpesvirus 6, Human - pathogenicity / Humans / Immunology / Incidence / Infectious Diseases / Male / Mexico - epidemiology / Middle Aged / Neurology / Neurosciences / Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods / Retrospective Studies / Roseolovirus Infections - diagnosis / Roseolovirus Infections - epidemiology / Roseolovirus Infections - ethnology / Roseolovirus Infections - virology / Virology