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Chikungunya virus and central nervous system infections in children, India

Penny Lewthwaite1, Ravi Vasanthapuram, Jane C Osborne

  • 1University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. pennylewthwaite@doctors.org.uk

Emerging Infectious Diseases
|February 6, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was detected in children with suspected central nervous system infections in India. Real-time PCR identified CHIKV in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid, confirming its role in pediatric neurologic disease.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Neuroscience
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus.
  • CHIKV infection commonly presents with fever, rash, and arthralgia.
  • Neurologic complications can occur in CHIKV cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of CHIKV in children with suspected central nervous system (CNS) infections.
  • To determine the diagnostic utility of detecting CHIKV in pediatric neurologic disease.

Main Methods:

  • Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed.
  • Plasma samples from 58 children were analyzed.
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were also tested.

Main Results:

  • CHIKV was detected in 8 (14%) of 58 plasma samples.
  • CHIKV RNA was identified in the CSF of 3 children.
  • This indicates CHIKV can infect the CNS in pediatric patients.

Conclusions:

  • CHIKV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of CNS infections in children, especially in endemic areas.
  • RT-PCR is a valuable tool for detecting CHIKV in both plasma and CSF.
  • Further research is needed to understand the pathogenesis of CHIKV-associated neurologic disease.

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