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Rapid Detection of Powassan Virus in a Patient With Encephalitis by Metagenomic Sequencing
Anne Piantadosi1,2,3, Sanjat Kanjilal1,2, Vijay Ganesh4
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital.
Abstract:
We describe a patient with severe and progressive encephalitis of unknown etiology. We performed rapid metagenomic sequencing from cerebrospinal fluid and identified Powassan virus, an emerging tick-borne flavivirus that has been increasingly detected in the United States.
Insights
Rapid metagenomic sequencing identified Powassan virus, a tick-borne flavivirus, as the cause of severe encephalitis in a US patient. This finding highlights the virus as an emerging cause of neurological disease.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
Background:
- Encephalitis is a severe neurological condition often with unknown causes.
- Tick-borne flaviviruses are an increasing public health concern in the United States.
