Detection of herpes simplex virus (1 and 2), varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6 and enterovirus in immunocompetent tunisian patients with acute neuromeningeal disorder

• Published in: Journal of medical virology 2012-02, Vol.84 (2), p.282-289
• Main Authors: Nahdi, Imen, Boukoum, Hanen, Nabil Ben Salem, Abid, Ben Romdane, Fouad, Hammami, Saber, Chebel, Saber, Mahbouba, Frih-Ayed, Guediche, Mohamed Neji, Chakroun, Mohamed, Aouni, Mahjoub, Imbert-Marcille, Berthe-Marie, Bressollette-Bodin, Celine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acute neuromeningeal disorder; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus - isolation & purification; DNA, Viral - cerebrospinal fluid; Enterovirus; Enterovirus - immunology; Enterovirus - isolation & purification; Enterovirus Infections - cerebrospinal fluid; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Herpes simplex virus 1; Herpes simplex virus 2; Herpesviridae - immunology; Herpesviridae - isolation & purification; Herpesviridae Infections - cerebrospinal fluid; Herpesviridae Infections - epidemiology; Herpesviridae Infections - virology; herpesvirus; Herpesvirus 1, Human - isolation & purification; Herpesvirus 2, Human - isolation & purification; Herpesvirus 3, Human - isolation & purification; Herpesvirus 6, Human - isolation & purification; Human cytomegalovirus; Human herpesvirus 6; Human viral diseases; Humans; immunocompetent; Infant; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Meninges - pathology; Meninges - virology; Meningitis - cerebrospinal fluid; Meningitis - pathology; Meningitis - virology; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; RNA, Viral - cerebrospinal fluid; Tunisia; Tunisia - epidemiology; Varicella-zoster virus; Viral diseases; Virology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.23192

Enteroviruses (EVs) and human herpesviruses (HHVs) are involved frequently in acute neurological disorders of viral etiology. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of herpes simplex virus types‐1 (HSV‐1) and 2 (HSV‐2), varicella‐zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) and human enteroviruses (EVs) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of Tunisian immunocompetent patients with neuromeningeal disorders. The patients had been hospitalized at the Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital (Monastir, Tunisia) between September 2007 and June 2009. At least one viral genome was detected in 58 (46%) out of 126 CSF samples collected. Enterovirus was detected in 31 of the positive samples (53.4%), CMV in 20 (34.5%), HSV‐1 in 3 (5.2%), HSV‐2 in 6 (10.3%), VZV in 4 (6.9%), HHV‐6 in 2 (3.4%). More than one viral genome was detected in seven CSF samples, including CMV DNA in six of the samples. The high frequency of enteroviral infections in aseptic meningitis was confirmed. The detection of CMV DNA only suggests a direct role of this virus in the etiology of acute neuromeningeal disorder. J. Med. Virol. 84:282–289, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.