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Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain
Published on: July 24, 2016
Fatal neonatal parechovirus encephalitis.
Arjen L van Zwol1, Maarten Lequin, Coranne Aarts-Tesselaar
1Erasmus Medical Centre, Sophia Children's Hospital, Neonatology, Dr Molewaterplein 60, 3015 GJ Rotterdam, Rotterdam, 3015GJ, Netherlands.
BMJ Case Reports
|December 16, 2011
Summary
Human parechovirus type 3 (HPeV-3) caused fatal encephalitis in two neonates, leading to intractable seizures. Early polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for HPeV-3 is crucial for diagnosing severe neonatal meningoencephalitis.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Neonatal Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Human parechovirus type 3 (HPeV-3) is an emerging pathogen.
- Neonatal encephalitis presents with severe symptoms and high mortality.
- Early diagnosis is critical for managing neonatal neurological infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report two cases of fatal neonatal encephalitis caused by HPeV-3.
- To highlight the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and neuropathology.
- To emphasize the importance of timely HPeV-3 detection.
Main Methods:
- Clinical case reports of two neonates with encephalitis.
- Detection of HPeV-3 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in various biological samples.
- Neuroimaging (ultrasound and MRI) and postmortem neuropathological examination.
Main Results:
- Both infants presented with severe sepsis-like symptoms and encephalitis.
- HPeV-3 was confirmed by PCR in cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and tissue samples.
- Neuropathology revealed white matter injury, gliotic edema, bronchopneumonia, and splenic inflammation.
- Intractable seizures led to death in both cases.
Conclusions:
- HPeV-3 can cause severe, fatal encephalitis in neonates.
- Prompt PCR testing for HPeV-3 is essential in neonates with meningoencephalitis.
- Understanding HPeV-3's neuropathogenesis is vital for developing therapeutic strategies.
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