title: Polymerase chain reaction for the laboratory diagnosis of aseptic meningitis and encephalitis.
abstract: A protocol for testing cerebrospinal fluid specimens using a range of PCR assays for the diagnosis of central nervous system infection was developed and used to test prospectively 383 specimens. PCR assays were used for the detection of adenovirus, Borrelia burgdorferi, enteroviruses, Epstein Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, human herpes virus type 6, JC virus, Leptospira interrogans, Listeria monocytogenes, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, measles virus, mumps virus, Mycobacterium sp. , Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Toxoplasma gondii and varicella zoster virus. Of the 383 specimens tested in this study, 46 (12.0%) were found to be positive. The microorganisms detected were CMV, enterovirus, Epstein Barr virus, herpes simplex virus, human herpes virus type 6, JC virus, L. monocytogenes, Mycobacterium genus, Toxoplasma gondii and varicella zoster virus. The introduction of the PCR protocol described has improved the diagnosis of a range of central nervous system infections in our laboratory. We believe however that further evaluation of these assays in immunocompromised patients is necessary to better determine the predictive value of positive PCR results in these patient groups.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Unit, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chesky
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scalco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Failace
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Read
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Jobim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity