目的:脑炎是一种严重的神经系统综合征,疱疹病毒和肠道病毒是最常见的病因。虫媒病毒,种类繁多的病原体,也是与脑炎相关的重要流行病学因子。在巴西,对脑炎的致病因素知之甚少。
方法:我们在2020年至2022年之间进行了脑炎的医院监测。在从研究参与者获得的CSF和血清样品中进行分子(RT-PCR和qPCR)和血清学(病毒特异性IgM和病毒抗原)技术。
结果:在评估的43名参与者中,16例(37.2%)检测到病原体或存在IgM.9例(20.9%)基孔肯雅病毒阳性,三个(7.0%)用于登革热病毒,两种(4.7%)为人类腺病毒,1例(2.3%)水痘-带状疱疹病毒,1例(2.3%)为肠道病毒。全基因组测序显示,已鉴定的基孔肯雅病毒属于东/中/南非谱系。
结论:此处,CHIKV是脑炎病例中发现的常见病原体。我们的结果加强了先前的证据,即基孔肯雅热是CHIKV爆发和流行期间脑炎的重要原因,并增加巴西脑炎流行病学的现有信息。
OBJECTIVE: Encephalitis is a severe neurological syndrome for which herpesvirus and enteroviruses are the most common etiological agents. Arboviruses, a wildly diverse group of pathogens, are also critical epidemiological agents associated with encephalitis. In Brazil, little is known about the causative agents of encephalitis.
METHODS: We conducted a hospital surveillance for encephalitis between 2020 and 2022. Molecular (RT-PCR and qPCR) and serological (virus-specific IgM and viral antigens) techniques were performed in cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples obtained from study participants.
RESULTS: In the 43 participants evaluated, the etiologic agent or the presence of IgM was detected in 16 (37.2%). Nine (20.9%) cases were positive for chikungunya virus (CHIKV), three (7.0%) for dengue virus, two (4.7%) for human adenovirus, one (2.3%) for varicella-zoster virus, and one (2.3%) for enterovirus. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the CHIKV identified belongs to the East/Central/South African lineage.
CONCLUSIONS: Herein, CHIKV is a common pathogen identified in encephalitis cases. Our results reinforce previous evidence that chikungunya represents a significant cause of encephalitis during CHIKV outbreaks and epidemics and add to existing information on the epidemiology of encephalitis in Brazil.