Journal of neurovirology
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Journal of neurovirology · Jun 2018
ReviewZika virus outbreak: a review of neurological complications, diagnosis, and treatment options.
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus transmitted mainly by mosquitos of Aedes species. The virus has emerged in recent years and spread throughout North and South Americas. The recent outbreak of ZIKV started in Brazil (2015) has resulted in infections surpassing a million mark. ⋯ Given the seriousness of ZIKV infections, WHO declared the development of safe and effective vaccines and new antiviral drugs as an urgent global health priority. Rapid work in this direction has led to the identification of several vaccine and antiviral drug candidates. Here, we review the remarkable progress made in understanding the molecular links between ZIKV infections and neurological irregularities, new diagnosis methods, potential targets for antiviral drugs, and the current state of vaccine development.
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Journal of neurovirology · Dec 2017
Case ReportsClinical manifestations and treatment outcomes of parvovirus B19 encephalitis in immunocompetent adults.
Parvovirus B19 (PVB19) has rarely been identified as a cause of encephalitis in immunocompetent adults, in whom clinical information regarding PVB19 encephalitis has remained unclear. Herein, we report the clinical presentations, laboratory and imaging findings, and treatment outcomes of five immunocompetent adults with PVB19 encephalitis. Although none of the patients showed any distinctive features of PVB19 infection, they showed various clinical manifestations, including one instance of brainstem involvement. Additionally, immunotherapy can be considered an effective approach, especially in immunocompetent adults with PVB19 encephalitis who are resistant to the initial management.
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Journal of neurovirology · Jun 2017
ReviewMolecular and cellular insights into Zika virus-related neuropathies.
Zika virus (ZIKV), a relatively elusive Aedes mosquito-transmitted flavivirus, had been brought into spotlight until recent widespread outbreaks accompanied by unexpectedly severe clinical neuropathies, including fetal microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in the adult. In this review, we focus on the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms by which vertically transmitted microorganisms reach the fetus and trigger neuropathies.
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Journal of neurovirology · Feb 2017
ReviewRoseolovirus-associated encephalitis in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.
The roseoloviruses, human herpesvirus (HHV)-6A, HHV-6B, and HHV-7, can cause severe encephalitis or encephalopathy. In immunocompetent children, primary HHV-6B infection is occasionally accompanied by diverse clinical forms of encephalitis. Roseolovirus coinfections with heterologous viruses and delayed primary HHV-7 infection in immunocompetent adults result in very severe neurological and generalized symptoms. ⋯ Intrathecal glial cell destruction due to virus replication, overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines, and viral mimicry of chemokines all contribute to brain dysfunction. High virus load in the cerebrospinal fluid, hippocampal astrogliosis, and viral protein expression in HHV-6B-associated cases and multiple microscopic neuronal degeneration in HHV-7-associated cases are typical laboratory findings. Early empirical therapy with ganciclovir or foscarnet might save the life of a patient with roseolovirus-associated encephalitis.
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Journal of neurovirology · Feb 2017
Case ReportsAdult-onset opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome due to West Nile Virus treated with intravenous immunoglobulin.
A 63-year-old female with no significant past medical history was presented with a 5-day history of progressive opsoclonus-myoclonus, headaches, and fevers. Her workup was significant only for positive West-Nile Virus serum serologies. ⋯ Adult-onset opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome is a rare condition for which paraneoplastic and infectious causes have been attributed. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported of opsoclonus-myoclonus secondary to West-Nile Virus treated with intravenous immunoglobulin monotherapy.