Deadly Neuroinvasive Mosquito-Borne Virus: A Case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

None: Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is a rare and potentially fatal neuroinvasive disease with a high mortality rate of > 30%. It is an uncommon vector-borne illness, with an average of 8 cases reported in the United States annually. Alarmingly, in 2019 alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 38 cases of EEE virus in the United States, reported from 10 states. In this report, we describe a 42-year-old man who worked primarily in wooded areas and presented to a hospital in southern New Jersey with an intractable headache and global facial paraesthesia. He reported multiple tick bites in the weeks prior to his presentation. Based on high clinical suspicion, cerebrospinal samples were sent to the CDC, which confirmed the diagnosis of EEE. The patient was treated with supportive care, and, after spending 9 days on mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit, he was extubated and subsequently had some improvement of his symptoms with the implementation of an extensive physical therapy program. We hope this report will contribute to increasing awareness among the public health and medical communities regarding the increasing number of EEE cases and the importance of following prevention measures, especially in areas with high prevalence and early recognition of the disease for treatment.

A Fatal Case of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis from Recreational Waters.

BACKGROUND: Naegleria Fowleri is a single-cell, thermophilic amphizoid amoeba, and a rare known causative agent for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis with >97% mortality rate. The amoeba resides in freshwater lakes and ponds but can also survive in inadequately chlorinated pools and recreational waters. The mode of infection includes activities such as diving or jumping into freshwater or submerging the head under the water. Although most commonly seen in the southern United States, it is essential to keep this clinical suspicion in mind regardless of geography, as presenting symptoms can be very similar to classic bacterial meningitis. Case Summary. We report the first-ever case in the state of New Jersey of a 29-year-old male presented after a visit to a recreational water park in Texas five days before his presentation with altered mental status. In ICU, his ICP remained refractory to multiple therapies, including antibiotics and antivirals, external ventriculostomy drain, hypertonic saline, pentobarbital-induced coma, and bilateral hemicraniectomies. The CSF analysis revealed trophozoites indicating a protozoan infection, which we diagnosed in the neurocritical unit, and the patient was then immediately started with treatment that included amphotericin B, rifampin, azithromycin, and fluconazole. This suspicion was promptly confirmed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Unfortunately, despite all the aggressive intervention by the multidisciplinary team, the patient did not survive. CONCLUSION: As per the CDC, only four people out of 143 known infected individuals in the United States from 1962 to 2017 have survived. Symptoms start with a median of 5 days after exposure to contaminated water. Given the rarity of this case and its very high mortality rate, it is crucial to diagnose primary amoebic meningoencephalitis accurately as its presentation can mimic bacterial meningitis. It is vital to obtain a careful and thorough history, as it can aid in prompt diagnosis and treatment.

A Rare Case of Intracranial Nongerminomatous Germ Cell Tumor in a 21-Year-Old Romanian Male.

Extragonadal germ cell tumors are a rare entity that is more prevalent in infants and young children, with preference to midline structures. The category of intracranial germ cell tumors is divided into pure germ cell tumors (GCTs) versus nongerminomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs). They are usually present in the second decade of life with a male preponderance. We present here a rare case of intracranial NGGCT in a 21-year-old Romanian male, who presented with complaints of emesis, ataxic gait, and diplopia. A computed tomography scan of the head in the emergency department revealed a pineal/suprapineal mass along with obstructive hydrocephalus and dilated lateral and third ventricles without any bleeding. MRI of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine showed no evidence of leptomeningeal metastasis. The patient had elevated serum markers of beta-hCG and AFP, which pointed towards a diagnosis of nongerm cell tumor, as in pure GCTs, these markers are normal. To relieve the obstruction from the mass effect, the patient had an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (EVT). However, after the procedure, he developed central diabetes insipidus as a complication with a triphasic response. Biopsy of the mass revealed atypical cells with granular architecture and atypical glands with positive immune histological markers for NGGCT. These findings supported the diagnosis of mixed germ cell tumor with yolk sac carcinoma and seminoma components. Patient's transient central diabetes resolved with normalization in his urine output. He was eventually stabilized and returned to Romania for further management. In summary, intracranial germ cell tumors are rare brain tumors that should be distinguished based on histology and tumor markers as they will help in the guidance of therapy. An initial evaluation with neuroimaging, tumor markers, cytology from CSF, and biopsy is a must to distinguish further treatment and prognosis.