Echovirus 30 associated with cases of aseptic meningitis in state of Pará, Northern Brazil.

Investigation of the aetiology of viral meningitis in Brazil is most often restricted to cases that occur in the Southern and Southeastern Regions; therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe the viral meningitis cases that occurred in state of Pará, Northern Brazil, from January 2005-December 2006. The detection of enterovirus (EV) in cerebrospinal fluid was performed using cell culture techniques, RT-PCR, nested PCR and nucleotide sequencing. The ages of the 91 patients ranged from < one year old to > 60 years old (median age 15.90 years). Fever (87.1%), headache (77.0%), vomiting (61.5%) and stiffness (61.5%) were the most frequent symptoms. Of 91 samples analyzed, 18 (19.8%) were positive for EV. Twelve were detected only by RT- PCR followed by nested PCR, whereas six were found by both cell culture and RT-PCR. From the last group, five were sequenced and classified as echovirus 30 (Echo 30). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Echo 30 detected in Northern Brazil clustered within a unique group with a bootstrap value of 100% and could constitute a new subgroup (4c) according to the phylogenetic tree described by Oberste et al. (1999). This study described the first molecular characterization of Echo 30 in Brazil and this will certainly contribute to future molecular analyses involving strains detected in other regions of Brazil.

Echovirus 30 associated with cases of aseptic meningitis in state of Pará, Northern Brazil

Investigation of the aetiology of viral meningitis in Brazil is most often restricted to cases that occur in the Southern and Southeastern Regions; therefore, the purpose of this study is to describe the viral meningitis cases that occurred in state of Pará, Northern Brazil, from January 2005-December 2006. The detection of enterovirus (EV) in cerebrospinal fluid was performed using cell culture techniques, RT-PCR, nested PCR and nucleotide sequencing. The ages of the 91 patients ranged from < one year old to > 60 years old (median age 15.90 years). Fever (87.1 percent), headache (77.0 percent), vomiting (61.5 percent) and stiffness (61.5 percent) were the most frequent symptoms. Of 91 samples analyzed, 18 (19.8 percent) were positive for EV. Twelve were detected only by RT- PCR followed by nested PCR, whereas six were found by both cell culture and RT-PCR. From the last group, five were sequenced and classified as echovirus 30 (Echo 30). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Echo 30 detected in Northern Brazil clustered within a unique group with a bootstrap value of 100 percent and could constitute a new subgroup (4c) according to the phylogenetic tree described by Oberste et al. (1999). This study described the first molecular characterization of Echo 30 in Brazil and this will certainly contribute to future molecular analyses involving strains detected in other regions of Brazil.

Pesquisa de enterovírus em casos de síndrome de meningite asséptica de Belém, PA / Investigation of enterovirus in cases of aseptic meningitis syndrome of Belém, PA

Com o objetivo de isolar e identificar os sorotipos de enterovírus, agentes etiológicos mais freqüentes da síndrome de meningite asséptica, foram estudadas amostras de líquor de pacientes da unidade de saúde de referência da Cidade de Belém-PA, do período de março de 2002 a março de 2003. As amostras foram inoculadas em cultivos celulares RD e HEp-2, e as positivas identificadas por neutralização ou imunofluorescência indireta. De 249 amostras, 33 (13,2 por cento) foram positivas sendo 57,6 por cento (n=19) em pacientes menores de 11 anos (p<0,03) e predominantemente (72,7 por cento) naqueles do sexo masculino (p<0,008). Os sorotipos isolados foram: Echovírus 30 (n=31), Coxsackievírus B5 (n=1) e Echovírus 30 e 4. Em conclusão, estudos deste tipo servem também para melhor compor o quadro nacional, ainda pouco definido, sobre os agentes enterovirais mais prevalentes em casos de SMA.

[Investigation of enterovirus in cases of aseptic meningitis syndrome of Belém, PA]. / Pesquisa de enterovírus em casos de síndrome de meningite asséptica de Belém, PA.

With the objective of isolating and identifying enteroviral serotypes, which are the most frequent etiologic agents of aseptic meningitis syndrome, cerebrospinal fluid samples were studied from patients referred to the health unit in the City of Belém (State of Pará, Brazil), from March 2002 to March 2003. The samples were inoculated in RD and HEp-2 cells line, and the positive were identified by neutralization test or indirect immunofluorescence. Out of 249 samples, 33 (13.2%) were positive 57.6% (n = 19) in patients under 11 years of age (p < 0.03) and predominantly (72.7%) in males (p < 0.008). The serotypes isolated were: Echovirus 30 (n = 31), Coxsackievirus B5 (n = 1) and Echovirus 30 and 4. In conclusion, this type of study also serves to determine the national picture, which is still little defined, regarding the most prevalent viral agents in AMS cases.