Human encephalitis caused by pseudorabies virus infection: a case report
Di Wang1, Xiaogen Tao2, Mingming Fei1
1Department of Intensive Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230036, Anhui, China.
Journal of Neurovirology
|January 4, 2020
Summary
Pseudorabies virus (PRV) can cause human encephalitis, confirmed by next-generation sequencing in a pork vendor. This highlights the risk of zoonotic PRV infection and the need for improved self-protection.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Genomic Medicine
Background:
- Pseudorabies virus (PRV), typically infecting swine, poses a potential zoonotic risk.
- Human infection with PRV, particularly causing encephalitis, remains diagnostically challenging due to difficulties in detecting viral DNA.
Observation:
- A male pork vendor presented with fever and seizures, indicative of neurological distress.
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples were analyzed using advanced genomic techniques.
Findings:
- Next-generation sequencing (NGS) detected PRV sequences in the patient's CSF and blood.
- Sanger sequencing confirmed PRV DNA in CSF, alongside positive PRV antibodies in both CSF and blood.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed multiple inflammatory lesions in the brain hemispheres.
Implications:
- This case provides strong evidence for human PRV encephalitis, underscoring the virus's ability to cross the species barrier.
- The findings emphasize the diagnostic utility of NGS in identifying PRV in human neurological infections.
- Individuals with occupational exposure to swine should enhance protective measures against potential PRV transmission.
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