Multi-assay investigation of viral etiology in pediatric central nervous system infections

Aylin Altay-Kocak; Gulendam Bozdayi; Janine Michel; Meltem Polat; Saliha Kanik-Yuksek; Hasan Tezer; Aykut Ozkul; Kamruddin Ahmed; Andreas Nitsche; Koray Ergunay

doi:10.3855/jidc.12327

Multi-assay investigation of viral etiology in pediatric central nervous system infections

Authors

Aylin Altay-Kocak Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey
Gulendam Bozdayi Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
Janine Michel Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
Meltem Polat Paediatric Infections Unit, Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
Saliha Kanik-Yuksek Department of Paediatric, Ministry of Health Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Education Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
Hasan Tezer Paediatric Infections Unit, Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara,
Aykut Ozkul Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
Kamruddin Ahmed Department of Pathobiology and Medical Diagnostics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Andreas Nitsche Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens 1 (ZBS-1), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
Koray Ergunay Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.12327

Keywords:

Encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, viral, enterovirus, herpesvirus

Abstract

Introduction: In an attempt to identify a wide spectrum of viral infections, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were collected from pediatric cases with the preliminary diagnosis of viral encephalitis/meningoencephalitis in two reference hospitals, from October 2011 to December 2015.

Methodology: A combination of nucleic acid-based assays, including in house generic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for enteroviruses, flaviviruses and phleboviruses, a commercial real-time PCR assay for herpesviruses and a commercial real time multiplex PCR, enabling detection of frequently-observed viral, bacterial and fungal agents were employed for screening.

Results: The microbial agent could be characterized in 10 (10%) of the 100 specimens. Viral etiology could be demonstrated in 7 (70%) specimens, which comprises Human Herpesvirus 6 (4/7), Herpes Simplex virus type1 (2/7) and Enteroviruses (1/7). In 3 specimens (30%), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were detected via the multiplex PCR, which were also isolated in bacteriological media. All specimens with detectable viral nucleic acids, as well as unreactive specimens via nucleic acid testing remained negative in bacteriological cultures.

Conclusions: Herpes and enteroviruses were identified as the primary causative agents of central nervous system infections in children. Enterovirus testing must be included in the diagnostic work-up of relevant cases.

Downloads

Published

2020-06-30

How to Cite

Altay-Kocak A, Bozdayi G, Michel J, Polat M, Kanik-Yuksek S, Tezer H, Ozkul A, Ahmed K, Nitsche A, Ergunay K (2020) Multi-assay investigation of viral etiology in pediatric central nervous system infections. J Infect Dev Ctries 14:572–579. doi: 10.3855/jidc.12327

Download Citation

Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 06: June 2020

Section

Original Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).