Lack of usutu virus RNA in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with encephalitis of unknown etiology, Tuscany, Italy

Fabrizio Maggi; Paola Mazzetti; Daniele Focosi; Lisa Macera; Carolina Scagnolari; Aldo Manzin; Guido Antonelli; Luca Ceccherini Nelli

doi:10.1002/jmv.24149

Lack of usutu virus RNA in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with encephalitis of unknown etiology, Tuscany, Italy

J Med Virol. 2015 Jun;87(6):913-6. doi: 10.1002/jmv.24149. Epub 2015 Feb 24.

Authors

Fabrizio Maggi¹, Paola Mazzetti, Daniele Focosi, Lisa Macera, Carolina Scagnolari, Aldo Manzin, Guido Antonelli, Luca Ceccherini Nelli

Affiliation

¹ Virology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, Italy.

PMID: 25712912
DOI: 10.1002/jmv.24149

Abstract

Usutu virus (USUV) is an African mosquito-borne flavivirus associated with human neurological disorders in Europe. Recently, USUV introduction in Europe has been traced back to Eurasian blackbirds deaths in the Tuscany region of Italy in 1996. Ninety-six cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with encephalitis of unknown etiology diagnosed in 2010-2013 were screened to determine whether USUV circulates in humans in Tuscany. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, no positive patient was found. USUV does not seem to cause neuroinvasive disorders in humans in Tuscany.

Keywords: CSF; USUV; encephalitis; real-time PCR.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Animals
Chlorocebus aethiops
Encephalitis / cerebrospinal fluid*
Encephalitis / etiology*
Encephalitis / virology
Encephalitis Viruses, Japanese / genetics
Encephalitis Viruses, Japanese / isolation & purification*
Female
Flavivirus Infections / diagnosis*
Humans
Italy / epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
RNA, Viral / cerebrospinal fluid*
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Time Factors
Vero Cells

Substances

RNA, Viral