Meningoencephalitis Associated with Zika Virus and Chikungunya Virus Infection

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Vol. 74; no. 6; pp. 584 - 586
• Main Authors: Gabriella de Almeida Oliveira Evangelista, Carvalho, Rejane Hughes, Menezes, Gabriela Sant’Ana, Abreu, Yara Carvalho de, Sardi, Silvia Ines, Campos, Gubio Soares
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases Editorial Committee 22-11-2021; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Central nervous system; Chikungunya virus; Encephalitis; Etiology; Immunology; Infections; Infectious diseases; Meningitis; Meningoencephalitis; Patients; Public health; Signs and symptoms; Vector-borne diseases; Viruses; Zika virus; Zika virus; chikungunya virus; Meningoencephalitis; etiology
• ISSN: 1344-6304; 1884-2836
• DOI: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2020.1000

The etiology of viral meningoencephalitis is frequently unidentified. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are known to affect the central nervous system and should therefore be considered in the diagnosis of meningoencephalitis, as its outcome may be influenced by the etiologic agent, age, and immunological condition of the patient. In this study, we aimed to determine whether CHIKV and ZIKV were the etiological agents of viral encephalitis in patients with meningoencephalitis admitted to the main hospital of infectious diseases in the city of Salvador, Brazil. Of the 1,049 patients with neurological symptoms who were admitted to the hospital during the study period, 149 were enrolled and 20 (13.34%) tested positive for ZIKV (12%) or CHIKV (1.34%). No specific clinical manifestations were observed to be associated with ZIKV or CHIKV infections. Determination of the etiological agent of meningitis and encephalitis is important for patient management and appropriate treatment.