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Japanese encephalitis virus in meningitis patients, Japan

Masaru Kuwayama1, Mikako Ito, Shinichi Takao

  • 1Division of Microbiology II, Hiroshima Prefectural Institute of Health and Environment, Minami-machi 1-6-29, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 734-0007, Japan. kuwasan928@yacht.ocn.ne.jp

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|March 11, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was detected in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with meningitis in Japan. This finding suggests JEV is a cause of some aseptic meningitis cases in the region.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Meningitis is a serious infection affecting the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
  • Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus known to cause severe neurological illness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and etiological role of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in patients diagnosed with meningitis in Japan.

Main Methods:

  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected from 57 patients with meningitis.
  • Total RNA was extracted and amplified from CSF specimens.
  • Amplified products were analyzed for homology to known JEV strains.

Main Results:

  • Two amplified products showed high homology to the Nakayama strain of JEV.
  • Two other products exhibited highest homology to the Ishikawa strain of JEV.

Conclusions:

  • The detection of JEV RNA in CSF suggests that JEV is a causative agent in some cases of aseptic meningitis in Japan.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering JEV in the differential diagnosis of meningitis in endemic areas.

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