Mumps-associated meningitis and encephalitis in patients with no suspected mumps infection

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Mumps virus (MuV) is a known cause of meningitis and encephalitis.
• Neurological complications can occur during mumps virus outbreaks.
• Diagnosis of MuV in neurological patients can be challenging without typical symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the presence of Mumps virus in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with neurological conditions during mumps epidemics.
• To assess the potential of MuV as an etiological agent in meningitis and encephalitis cases presenting without overt mumps symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of CSF samples from 158 patients with meningitis or encephalitis.
• Detection of Mumps virus RNA using molecular methods (e.g., RT-PCR).
• Correlation of positive findings with clinical presentation and epidemiological context (mumps epidemics).

Main Results:

• Mumps virus RNA was detected in the CSF of 6 out of 158 patients (3.8%).
• These positive cases occurred in the context of mumps epidemics.
• Clinical mumps symptoms were absent in the majority of patients where MuV RNA was detected in CSF.

Conclusions:

• Mumps virus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of meningitis and encephalitis, particularly during mumps outbreaks.
• Testing for MuV RNA in CSF is warranted for neurological patients presenting with meningitis or encephalitis, even in the absence of characteristic mumps symptoms.
• These findings underscore the importance of molecular diagnostics for identifying non-classical presentations of mumps virus infections.