[Role of enteroviruses in aseptic meningitis in Tunisia].
Despite the favourable clinical outcome in most cases, viral meningitis can cause a serious public health problem especially when several cases occur during outbreaks. The first part of this work is a retrospective study conducted in three hospitals in Tunisia and covering a period of three years. It showed an incidence of viral meningitis 2.4. The second part of the study is a prospective one, it included 94 cases of aseptic meningitis notified during a period of 12 months. Virus isolation in cell culture was performed on CSF and stool samples, using cell lines sensitive to enteroviruses. A PCR to detect enteroviruses was also used in parallel. This study represents a first approach to viral meningitis in Tunisia. It highlights the importance of a regular surveillance of the disease and the contribution of molecular methods to a more sensitive diagnostic. However, cell culture remained necessary for viral isolation and serotyping.
Laboratoire de Virologie Clinique, Institut Pasteur de Tunis.
H
H
Abdallah
D
D
Rezig
O
O
Bahri
A
A
Ben Yahia
A
A
Kechrid
F
F
Khaldi
S
S
Barsaoui
S
S
Bousnina
F
F
Kanoun
N
N
Bouzouia
H
H
Triki
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004770:Enterovirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology
D004279:DNA, Viral