Evidence for an enterovirus as the cause of encephalitis lethargica.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The epidemic of encephalitis lethargica (EL), called classical EL, was rampant throughout the world during 1917-1926, affecting half a million persons. The acute phase was lethal for many victims. Post-encephalitic parkinsonism (PEP) affected patients for decades. Our purpose was to investigate the cause of classical EL by studying the few available brain specimens. Cases of PEP and modern EL were also studied. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunohistochemistry were employed to examine brain from four classical EL cases, two modern EL cases and one PEP case.

Methods

Standard methods for TEM, immunohistochemistry and RTPCR were applied.

Results

27 nm virus-like particles (VLP) were observed in the cytoplasm and nuclei of midbrain neurons in all

SUBMITTER: Dourmashkin RR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3448500 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature