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Investigating the etiologic agents of aseptic meningitis outbreak in Iranian children
Abdolkarim Ghadimi Moghadam1, Eslam Yousefi1, Mohamad Amin Ghatie2
1Department of Pediatrics, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
Introduction:
This study aimed to determine the viral agent (s) and their genome burden associated with an aseptic meningitis outbreak that occurred in Yasuj, Iran.
Materials And Methods:
During April to August 2015, 104 CSF samples from 104 patients under 14 years old admitted to the hospital of Yasuj, Iran, with aseptic meningitis associated clinical signs were collected. 200 μl CSF specimens was prepared for DNA and RNA viral genome extraction each and then subjected to diagnostic Taq-man real time PCR assays for the present of Enteroviruses, HSV, VZV, mumps, measles and rubella in the samples.
Results:
The majority of them had experienced clinical meningitis sign. Primary laboratory differentiated tests were in favor of viral meningitis. Among a total of 104 patients diagnosed with clinically aseptic meningitis, enterovirus as the most significant viral agent was detected in 53 subjects. However, mumps, HSV and VZV, as the endemic causes of viral meningitis, were detected in 6, 6 and 2 of the affected patients. It was revealed that two HSV and one VZV affected patients were co-infected with enteroviruses. All affected children with relatively variable viral load recovered without any sequels.
Conclusion:
The present study revealed enterovirus as the main predominant cause of pediatric aseptic meningitis that broke out in Yasuj-Iran. Also, the co-circulation of mumps, HSV and VZV, as the endemic cause during the same aseptic meningitis outbreak, was demonstrated in some cases.
Insights
Enterovirus was the primary cause of aseptic meningitis in a 2015 Yasuj, Iran outbreak among children. Other viruses like mumps, HSV, and VZV were also detected, sometimes co-infecting patients.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Background:
- An aseptic meningitis outbreak occurred in Yasuj, Iran, between April and August 2015.
- The study aimed to identify the viral agents and their genome burden responsible for this outbreak.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the predominant viral etiology of aseptic meningitis in pediatric patients during the Yasuj outbreak.
- To investigate the presence and genome burden of various viruses, including Enteroviruses, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV), mumps, measles, and rubella.
Main Methods:
- Collected 104 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from pediatric patients with aseptic meningitis.
- Utilized Taq-man real-time PCR assays for viral genome extraction and detection of Enteroviruses, HSV, VZV, mumps, measles, and rubella.
Main Results:
- Enterovirus was identified as the most significant viral agent, detected in 53 out of 104 patients.
- Mumps, HSV, and VZV were detected in 6, 6, and 2 patients, respectively.
- Coinfections with Enteroviruses were observed in two HSV and one VZV patient; all children recovered without sequelae.
Conclusions:
- Enterovirus was confirmed as the predominant cause of pediatric aseptic meningitis during the Yasuj outbreak.
- The study demonstrated the co-circulation of endemic viruses such as mumps, HSV, and VZV during the outbreak.
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