Investigation of Japanese encephalitis virus as a cause of acute encephalitis in southern Pakistan, April 2015-January 2018.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Japanese encephalitis (JE) occurs in fewer than 1% of JE virus (JEV) infections, often with catastrophic sequelae including death and neuropsychiatric disability. JEV transmission in Pakistan was documented in 1980s and 1990s, but recent evidence is lacking. Our objective was to investigate JEV as a cause of acute encephalitis in Pakistan.

Methods

Persons aged ≥1 month with possible JE admitted to two acute care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan from April 2015 to January 2018 were enrolled. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or serum samples were tested for JEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) using the InBios JE DetectTM assay. Positive or equivocal samples had confirmatory testing using plaque reduction neutralization tests.

Results

Among 227 patients, testing was performed o

SUBMITTER: Fatima T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7292402 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature