title: Stealth virus epidemic in the Mohave Valley: severe vacuolating encephalopathy in a child presenting with a behavioral disorder.
abstract: An infectious illness, attributed to atypically structured cytopathic "stealth" viruses, occurred in 1996 in the Mohave Valley region of the United States. A stealth virus-infected child from this region has developed a severe noninflammatory, vacuolating (spongiform) en cephalopathy. The illness initially presented as a behavioral problem without overt neurological signs. Extensive investigations, including repeated magnetic resonance imaging, two brain biopsies, and stealth virus cultures, have helped define the disease process occurring in this child. Significant clinical benefit with apparent retardation of disease progression occurred during a 6-week course of ganciclovir therapy. The potential contributing role of stealth virus infections in children presenting with behavioral problems needs to be addressed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Complex Infectious Diseases, Rosemead, California 91770, USA.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology*; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015774:Ganciclovir