Meningoencephalitis in a neonate congenitally infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

A newborn infant born to a mother infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 had acute meningoencephalitis on the second day of life. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 was isolated from the plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Specific IgM for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 was detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay antibody-capture technique in cord blood and in serum obtained 3 weeks later. We believe that the meningoencephalitis was caused by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 acquired in utero.