Enteric viruses circulating in undiagnosed central nervous system infections at tertiary hospital in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

Enterovirus (EV) is commonly associated with central nervous system (CNS) syndromes. Recently, gastroenteric viruses, including rotavirus (RVA), human astrovirus (HAstV), and norovirus (NoV), have also been associated with CNS neurological disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of EV, RVA, HAst, and NoV associated to CNS infections with undiagnosed etiology in Northwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil, and to conduct the molecular characterization of the positive samples detected. A total of 288 cerebrospinal fluid samples collected from July to December 2017 were tested for EV and NoV by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), HAstV by conventional RT-PCR, and RVA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Positive-EV samples were inoculated in cells lines, amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. RVA, NoV, and HAstV were not detected. EV infection was detected in 5.5% (16/288), and five samples successful genotyped: echovirus 3 (E3) (1/5), coxsackie virus A6 (CVA6) (1/5), and coxsackie virus B4 (CVB4) (3/5). Meningitis was the main syndrome observed (12/16; 75%). CVA6, CVB4, and E3 were identified associated with aseptic meningitis. Reports of CVA6 associated with aseptic meningitis are rare, E3 had not been previously reported in Brazil, and epidemiological data on CVB4 in the country is virtually unknown. The present investigation illustrates the circulation of diverse EV types in a small regional sample set and in a short period of time, highlighting the importance of an active EV surveillance system in CNS infections. Enhanced understanding of undiagnosed CNS infections will assist in public health and health care planning.

Arboviral Infections in Neurological Disorders in Hospitalized Patients in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

Arbovirus infections are increasingly important causes of disease, whose spectrum of neurological manifestations are not fully known. This study sought to retrospectively assess the incidence of arboviruses in cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with neurological symptoms to inform diagnosis of central and peripheral nervous system disorders. A total of 255 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected from January 2016 to December 2017 were tested for dengue virus (DENV 1-4), Zika virus (ZIKV), and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in addition to other neurotropic arboviruses of interest, using genetic and serologic assays. Of the 255 CSF samples analyzed, 3.53% (09/255) were positive for arboviruses presenting mainly as meningitis, encephalitis, and cerebrovascular events, of which ZIKV was detected in 2.74% (7/255), DENV in 0.78% (2/255), in addition to an identified ILHV infection that was described previously. All the cases were detected in adults aged 18 to 74 years old. Our findings highlight the scientific and clinical importance of neurological syndromes associated with arboviruses and demonstrate the relevance of specific laboratory methods to achieve accurate diagnoses as well as highlight the true dimension of these diseases to ultimately improve public health planning and medical case management.

Cryptococcal Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome: From Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers to Treatment Approaches.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) presents as an exaggerated immune reaction that occurs during dysregulated immune restoration in immunocompromised patients in late-stage human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who have commenced antiretroviral treatments (ART). Virtually any opportunistic pathogen can provoke this type of immune restoration disorder. In this review, we focus on recent developments in the identification of risk factors for Cryptococcal IRIS and on advancements in our understanding of C-IRIS immunopathogenesis. We overview new findings in blood and cerebrospinal fluid which can potentially be useful in the prediction and diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis IRIS (CM-IRIS). We assess current therapeutic regimens and novel treatment approaches to combat CM-IRIS. We discuss the utility of biomarkers for clinical monitoring and adjusting treatment modalities in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients co-infected with Cryptococcus who have initiated ART.

Fatal Outcome of Ilheus Virus in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of a Patient Diagnosed with Encephalitis.

Ilheus virus is an arbovirus with the potential for central nervous system involvement. Accurate diagnosis is a challenge due to similar clinical symptoms and serologic cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses. Here, we describe the first documented case of a fatal outcome following the identification of Ilheus virus in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a patient with cerebral encephalitis in Brazil.

Síndrome inflamatória da reconstituição imune associada à meningite criptococócica: fatores de risco e biomarcadores

Introdução: Síndrome Inflamatória da Reconstituição Imune (SIRI) se apresenta como uma resposta imune exagerada que ocorre durante uma restauração imune desregulada em pacientes imunocomprometidos em estágio avançado da infecção pelo HIV quando iniciam tratamento com antirretrovirais. Qualquer patógeno oportunista pode provocar este tipo de desordem durante a restauração imune. Objetivo: Identificar os recentes avanços nos fatores de risco e nos biomarcadores moleculares de prognóstico e diagnóstico da Síndrome Inflamatória da Reconstituição Imune associada à meningite criptococócica para melhor compreender sua imunopatogênese. Método: Revisão de escopo conforme a proposta de Joana Briggs Institute. A busca foi realizada por dois pesquisadores independentes, nas bases de dados PubMed e do Google Acadêmico, por meio de descritores e/ou seus sinônimos. Resultados: A busca resultou em 240 artigos. Destes, 36 foram excluídos por serem repetidos; 1 utilizou modelos animais; 3 eram sobre pacientes soronegativos para o HIV; 8 não eram sobre Cryptococcus; 3 falavam sobre tuberculose e 1 sobre criptococose pulmonar. Foram destacados estudos que analisaram fatores de risco e biomarcadores, no sangue / plasma e líquido cefalorraquidiano, que podem esclarecer a imunopatogênese da Síndrome Inflamatória da Reconstituição Imune associada à criptococose. Conclusão: Apresentamos uma revisão dos estudos realizados sobre fatores de risco em biomarcadores no sangue e líquido cefalorraquidiano que podem auxiliar no diagnóstico de Síndrome Inflamatória da Reconstituição Imune na meningite criptococócica. Esses fatores de risco e biomarcadores podem ser usados para identificar pacientes que seriam submetidos a um monitoramento clínico mais rigoroso e com ajuste dos protocolos de tratamento em pacientes com AIDS coinfectados com Cryptococcus.