Polio-Like Manifestation of Powassan Virus Infection with Anterior Horn Cell Involvement, Canada

Emerg Infect Dis. 2019 Aug;25(8):1609-1611. doi: 10.3201/eid2508.190399. Epub 2019 Aug 17.

Abstract

Evidence of spinal cord involvement in Powassan virus infection is largely limited to mouse models. We report a case of a polio-like illness caused by Powassan virus infection in a 62-year-old man in Canada. Magnetic resonance imaging showed T2 hyperintensities in the anterior horns of the cervical spinal cord.

Keywords: Canada; Powassan virus; anterior horn cells; arboviruses; encephalitis viruses; magnetic resonance imaging; meningitis/encephalitis; poliomyelitis; tick-borne; vector-borne infections; viruses.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anterior Horn Cells / virology*
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electromyography
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne*
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / diagnosis*
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / drug therapy
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / epidemiology
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / virology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Poliomyelitis / diagnosis
  • Poliomyelitis / virology
  • Symptom Assessment