Neurological Manifestations in Oropouche Virus Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Arbovirology
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• Oropouche virus (OROV) is an emerging arbovirus prevalent in tropical/subtropical regions.
• While OROV typically causes febrile illness, neurological complications are increasingly recognized but understudied.
• Understanding the prevalence of neurological manifestations is crucial for public health management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the prevalence of neurological manifestations in Oropouche virus infections.
• To identify common neurological symptoms associated with OROV.
• To inform diagnostic and surveillance strategies for OROV-related neurological syndromes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search following PRISMA 2020 guidelines in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase.
• Data extraction and quality assessment using Nested Knowledge software and a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
• Meta-analysis of pooled prevalence rates using R software, with heterogeneity and publication bias assessed.

Main Results:

• Ten studies from Brazil, Peru, and Colombia involving 2872 patients were included.
• High pooled prevalence of neurological symptoms: headache (89.16%), myalgia (70.71%), and eye pain (52.87%).
• Significant heterogeneity observed, necessitating further research into geographic and diagnostic variations.

Conclusions:

• Neurological manifestations are common in OROV infections, with headache, myalgia, and eye pain being most frequent.
• Clinical overlap with other arboviruses complicates diagnosis, emphasizing the need for improved diagnostic tools.
• Enhanced surveillance of arboviral neurological syndromes in endemic and emerging regions is critical.