Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Detection of Infectious Virus from Field-collected Mosquitoes by Vero Cell Culture Assay
07:23

Detection of Infectious Virus from Field-collected Mosquitoes by Vero Cell Culture Assay

Published on: June 9, 2011

The pathology of human West Nile Virus infection

B A Sampson1, C Ambrosi, A Charlot

  • 1Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York, NY 10016, USA.

Human Pathology
|June 3, 2000
PubMed

Insights

West Nile Virus (WNV) caused four fatal encephalitis cases in elderly New York City residents in 1999. Autopsies revealed widespread brain inflammation, particularly in the brainstem, guiding WNV fatality autopsy evaluations.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Virology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • West Nile Virus (WNV) emerged as a significant public health concern in New York City in 1999.
  • Encephalitis fatalities in elderly individuals with comorbidities presented a diagnostic challenge.

Observation:

  • Four elderly patients with underlying conditions died from WNV encephalitis.
  • Clinical signs included fever and severe muscle weakness.
  • Autopsies revealed mononuclear inflammation in the brain, predominantly in the brainstem.

Findings:

  • Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed WNV as the causative agent.
  • Pathological findings included encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, microglial nodules, and perivascular clusters.
  • Cranial nerve root inflammation and acute pancreatitis were noted in some cases.

Implications:

  • This study highlights the neuropathological features of WNV encephalitis.
  • Recommendations are provided for autopsy evaluation in suspected WNV fatalities.
  • Understanding WNV's impact on the central nervous system is crucial for public health.

More Related Videos

In Vitro Analysis of Myd88-mediated Cellular Immune Response to West Nile Virus Mutant Strain Infection10:39

In Vitro Analysis of Myd88-mediated Cellular Immune Response to West Nile Virus Mutant Strain Infection

Published on: November 27, 2014

Isolation and Quantification of Zika Virus from Multiple Organs in a Mouse10:31

Isolation and Quantification of Zika Virus from Multiple Organs in a Mouse

Published on: August 15, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Rabies01:28

Rabies

Rabies is a lethal zoonotic disease caused by a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus of the Lyssavirus genus, within the family Rhabdoviridae. Its primary mode of transmission to humans is through bites or saliva-contaminated scratches from infected mammals such as dogs, bats, raccoons, or foxes. Transmission can also occur if infectious saliva contacts abraded skin or intact mucous membranes, including the conjunctiva.Viral Entry and Early ReplicationOnce introduced at the bite or scratch...
Arboviral Encephalitis01:25

Arboviral Encephalitis

Arboviral encephalitis refers to brain inflammation caused by arthropod-borne viruses, particularly those transmitted through mosquito vectors. Among these, West Nile virus (WNV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, is a significant public health concern. WNV is an enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. Human infection typically begins when an infected mosquito introduces the virus into the dermis during feeding. The primary transmission cycle involves birds as amplifying hosts...
Yellow Fever01:18

Yellow Fever

Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV), a member of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted primarily by Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and South America. After transmission through a mosquito bite, the virus initially replicates in skin-resident immune cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages. These cells then migrate to the lymph nodes, where viral replication increases, eventually leading to...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology01:26

Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma caused by direct viral invasion or immune-mediated mechanisms triggered by infections or tumors. Both processes lead to neuronal injury, disrupted neurotransmission, and diverse neurological symptoms, often with overlapping clinical and pathological features.Autoimmune EncephalitisIn autoimmune encephalitis, antibodies target neuronal antigens on cell surfaces, synapses, or within neurons. A key example is anti-NMDAR encephalitis, which can...