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An unseasonable winter outbreak of echovirus type 30 meningitis
I Mori1, K Matsumoto, M Hatano
1Department of Pediatrics, Mikuni Hospital, Japan.
Abstract:
During the winter of late October, 1990 to March, 1991, echovirus type 30 meningitis affected 10 children aged 3-9 years of age in Mikuni, Japan. Five patients presented with constipation, four had diarrhoea, while five complained of severe abdominal pain, in addition to typical symptoms and signs compatible with aseptic meningitis. Echovirus type 30 was isolated from the CSF of nine, from the faeces of 10, and from the throats of eight children. All showed a significant antibody response to echovirus type 30 in paired samples of serum. Antigenic variation and thermostability of a representative isolate indicated some changes in virus structural proteins, possibly reflecting an altered tropism for tissues in the gastrointestinal tract.
Insights
Echovirus type 30 caused aseptic meningitis in 10 children, with gastrointestinal symptoms. Virus isolates showed potential changes, possibly altering its gastrointestinal tract tissue tropism.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Echovirus type 30 outbreaks can cause meningitis in children.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms are sometimes associated with echovirus infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate an echovirus type 30 outbreak in children in Mikuni, Japan.
- To characterize the clinical presentation and viral properties.
Main Methods:
- Case identification and clinical data collection.
- Echovirus isolation from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), feces, and throat swabs.
- Serological testing for antibody response.
- Analysis of viral antigenic variation and thermostability.
Main Results:
- Ten children aged 3-9 years were diagnosed with echovirus type 30 meningitis.
- Common symptoms included constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain alongside meningitis signs.
- Echovirus type 30 was detected in CSF, feces, and throat samples.
- A significant antibody response to echovirus type 30 was observed.
- Viral analysis suggested changes in structural proteins and altered gastrointestinal tropism.
Conclusions:
- Echovirus type 30 can cause aseptic meningitis with prominent gastrointestinal symptoms in children.
- Observed viral variations may contribute to altered tissue tropism, impacting disease presentation.