Is the West Nile virus infection diagnosed correctly?

Czech version

Authors: P. Chalupa
Authors‘ workplace: 1. LF UK a FN Na Bulovce, Praha ; III. klinika infekčních a tropických nemocí
Published in: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2007; 70/103(5): 544-546
Category: Short Communication

Overview

West Nile fever (WNF) is one of the emerging infectious diseases, caused by mosquito-borne West Nile virus (WNV). The most serious form of WNF is encephalitis. Countries with WNV transmission are in Africa, Eurasia, Australia and, since 1999, also in North America. Activity of WNV was also detected in the Czech Republic in 1997 after the floods (5 patients) and one import of WNV infection from USA to the Czech Republic was reported in 2002. Significant plasmocytosis, moderate pleocytosis in cerebrospinal fluid in patiens with meningitis and/or encephalitis should alert to the possibility of WNV infection.

Key words:
West Nile virus – West Nile fever – CNS infection – encephalitis – plasmocytosis – CSF

Sources

1. Hubálek Z, Halouzka J. Emerg Infect Dis 1999; 5: 643-650.

2. Lásiková Š, Moravcová L, Pícha D, Horová B. Virus západonilské horečky (West Nile virus). Epidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol 2006; 55(2): 59-62.

3. Hubálek Z, Kříž B. Západonilská horečka. Klin Mikrobiol Infekt Lék (KMIL) 2003; 9(2): 59-68.

4. Hubálek Z, Halouzka J, Juřicová Z, Šebesta O. First isolation of mosquite-borne West Nile virus in the Czech republic. Acta virologica 1998; 42: 119-120.

5. Hubálek Z. Comparative symptomatology of West Nile fever. Lancet 2001; 358: 254-255.

6. Juricova Z, Hubalek Z, Halouzka J, Machacek P. Virologic detection of arboviruses in greater cormorants. Vet Med (Praha) 1993; 38(6): 375-379.

7. Hubálek Z, Halouzka J, Juřicová Z, Příkazský Z, Žáková J, Šebesta O. Surveillance virů přenosných komáry na Břeclavsku v povodňovém roce 1997. Epidem Mikrobiol Imunol 1999; 48(3): 91-96.

8. Hubálek Z, Lukáčová L, Halouzka J, Širůček P, Januška J, Přecechtělová J et al. Import of West Nile virus infection in the Czech Republic. Europ J Epidemiol 2006; 21: 323-324.

9. Carson PJ, Konewko P, Wold KS, Mariani P, Goli S, Bergloff P et al. Long-Term Clinical and Neuropsychological Outcomes of West Nile Virus Infection. Clin Infect Dis 2006; 43(6): 723-730.

10. Carson PJ, Steidler T, Patron R, Tate JM, Tight R, Smego RA Jr. Plasma cell pleocytosis in CSF in patients with West Nile virus encephalitis. Clin Infect Dis 2003; 37: e12-15.