Diagnosis and management of human B virus (Herpesvirus simiae) infections in Michigan.
Three men who had worked at the same animal research facility and had had contact with macaque monkeys were infected with B virus (Herpesvirus simiae). Their clinical presentations varied from self-limited aseptic meningitis syndrome to fulminant encephalomyelitis and death. Patient 1 was treated only after a respiratory arrest and other signs of advanced brain stem dysfunction had occurred. He died 8 days after hospital admission, despite treatment with acyclovir. Patient 2 presented with subtle signs and symptoms of brain stem encephalitis. He received antiviral therapy with intravenous ganciclovir. Patient 3 had a headache without meningismus and was also treated with acyclovir. Both patients 2 and 3 survived and did not have objective sequelae. Viral culturing, ELISA and western blot antibody testing, and magnetic resonance imaging all proved useful in the diagnosis of these patients' conditions.
Davenport
D S
DS
Michigan State University, Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, Kalamazoo.
Johnson
D R
DR
Holmes
G P
GP
Jewett
D A
DA
Ross
S C
SC
Hilliard
J K
JK
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006568:Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007757:Laboratory Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008251:Macaca; D008297:Male; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D008824:Michigan; D011859:Radiography
D015774:Ganciclovir; D000212:Acyclovir