title: Dual infections of the central nervous system with Epstein-Barr virus.
abstract: We describe clinical and laboratory characteristics of 16 patients with central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and another pathogen. Seven of 10 immunocompromised patients had coinfection with viruses (3 with cytomegalovirus, 2 with JC virus, and 2 with varicella zoster virus) and 3 with nonviral pathogens (2 with pneumococcus and 1 with Cryptococcus species). Three of 6 immunocompetent patients had coinfections with viruses (1 each with herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, and West Nile virus), and 3 had coinfections with nonviral pathogens (2 with Ehrlichia chaffeensis and 1 with Mycoplasma pneumoniae). The EBV load was similar in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients and in patients with viral and nonviral coinfections. EBV lytic-cycle mRNA was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of 5 of 6 tested samples, indicating EBV replication in the CNS during coinfection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Medical School, Denver, CO 80262, USA. adriana.weinberg@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: Karen C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.forename: Shaobing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yi-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Tyler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020805:Central Nervous System Viral Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral