Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction

Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...

Viral Meningitis

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

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: Introduction

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...

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a...

Arboviral Encephalitis

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Oropharyngeal Colonization by Kingella kingae and Septic Arthritis in Children 6-48 Months of Age: A Portuguese Multicenter Case-control Study.

The Pediatric infectious disease journal·2026

Same author

Laryngeal Tuberculosis in the Modern Era: Diagnostic Challenges.

The Pediatric infectious disease journal·2026

Same author

Molecular Detection of <i>Bartonella henselae</i> in Healthy Cats from Portugal (2015-2025): One Health Context and Implications for Transfusion Medicine.

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Same author

Multifocal Osteoarticular Infection by Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus in the Neonatal Period: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Cureus·2026

Same author

miR-21-5p dysregulation is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and pro-oncogenic markers in primary sclerosing cholangitis with concomitant inflammatory bowel disease.

Experimental and molecular pathology·2025

Same author

Increasingly Frequent Parapneumonic Empyema by Group A Streptococcus Is More Severe Than by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The Pediatric infectious disease journal·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines

An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines

Published on: October 11, 2022

Rickettsial meningitis.

Inês Salva¹, Rita de Sousa, Catarina Gouveia

¹Department of Pediatrics, Hospital de Dona Estefânia, Lisbon, Portugal.

BMJ Case Reports

|March 12, 2014

Summary

Mediterranean spotted fever, a Rickettsia conorii infection, can cause rare neurological complications like meningitis. Early doxycycline treatment is crucial for favorable outcomes in suspected cases.

Area of Science:

Infectious Diseases
Neurology
Public Health

Background:

Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF), caused by Rickettsia conorii, is prevalent in Southern Europe.
MSF typically presents with fever, eschar, and rash, usually mild in children.
Neurological complications of MSF are uncommon.

Observation:

An 18-year-old male presented with fever and persistent headache during summer.
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed increased cells, low glucose, and high protein.
Rickettsial infection was confirmed via serology.

Findings:

The patient was diagnosed with Rickettsia conorii meningitis.
Treatment with doxycycline resulted in a favorable outcome.
A pet squirrel and/or vectors may have been involved in transmission.

More Related Videos

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery

Published on: November 5, 2019

Induction of Leptomeningeal Cells Modification Via Intracisternal Injection

Induction of Leptomeningeal Cells Modification Via Intracisternal Injection

Published on: May 7, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 2, 2026

An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines

An Electroporation Method to Transform Rickettsia spp. with a Fluorescent Protein-Expressing Shuttle Vector in Tick Cell Lines

Published on: October 11, 2022

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery

Inducing Meningococcal Meningitis Serogroup C in Mice via Intracisternal Delivery

Published on: November 5, 2019

Induction of Leptomeningeal Cells Modification Via Intracisternal Injection

Induction of Leptomeningeal Cells Modification Via Intracisternal Injection

Published on: May 7, 2020

Implications:

This case highlights the importance of considering Rickettsial infections in meningitis differentials.
High clinical suspicion and early empirical doxycycline treatment are vital.
Understanding transmission routes, including potential zoonotic links, is crucial for prevention.