Bidyut Kumar Das1, Sriprasad Mohanty1, Prakash Kumar Sahoo2. 1. Department of Medicine, SCB Medical College & Hospital, Manglabag, Cuttack 753007, Odisha, India. 2. ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar 751023, Odisha, India.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a major public health concern in India, causing febrile illness principally associated with viral infection. Bacteria-like scrub typhus and leptospirosis also cause acute febrile illness. Therefore, this study was conceived to address the possible etiological agents contributing to sporadic AES in a tertiary care center in Odisha, India. METHOD: This was a prospective hospital-based study that enrolled 92 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed AES whose blood/cerebrospinal fluid samples were tested for IgM antibodies to dengue, Japanese encephalitis (JE), herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), leptospirosis and scrub typhus. RESULTS: Viral antibodies to dengue were detected in three (3.26%) cases, HSV1 in four (4.34%) and HSV2 in three (3.26%) cases. Significantly, antibodies to EBV in 22 (23.591%) and to JE in 27 (29.34%) cases were detected. Notably, 30 (32.60%) and 11(12.0%) of patients had IgM antibodies to leptospirosis and scrub typhus, respectively. CONCLUSION: This observation indicates an association of leptospirosis and scrub typhus infection in sporadic cases of AES, besides other viruses.
BACKGROUND:Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a major public health concern in India, causing febrile illness principally associated with viral infection. Bacteria-like scrub typhus and leptospirosis also cause acute febrile illness. Therefore, this study was conceived to address the possible etiological agents contributing to sporadic AES in a tertiary care center in Odisha, India. METHOD: This was a prospective hospital-based study that enrolled 92 consecutive patients with clinically diagnosed AES whose blood/cerebrospinal fluid samples were tested for IgM antibodies to dengue, Japanese encephalitis (JE), herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), leptospirosis and scrub typhus. RESULTS: Viral antibodies to dengue were detected in three (3.26%) cases, HSV1 in four (4.34%) and HSV2 in three (3.26%) cases. Significantly, antibodies to EBV in 22 (23.591%) and to JE in 27 (29.34%) cases were detected. Notably, 30 (32.60%) and 11(12.0%) of patients had IgM antibodies to leptospirosis and scrub typhus, respectively. CONCLUSION: This observation indicates an association of leptospirosis and scrub typhus infection in sporadic cases of AES, besides other viruses.
Authors: Hisham Ahmed Imad; Aishath Azna Ali; Mariyam Nahuza; Rajan Gurung; Abdulla Ubaid; Aishath Maeesha; Sariu Ali Didi; Rajib Kumar Dey; Abdullah Isneen Hilmy; Aishath Hareera; Ibrahim Afzal; Wasin Matsee; Wang Nguitragool; Emi E Nakayama; Tatsuo Shioda Journal: Trop Med Infect Dis Date: 2021-12-08