Fatal Human Case of Western Equine Encephalitis, Uruguay

Adriana Delfraro,Juan Arbiza,Alicia García,Juan Morelli,Héctor Chiparelli,Gabriel González,Noelia Morel,Walter Pérez,Analía Burgueño

doi:10.3201/eid1705.101068

Abstract

Fatal Human Case of Western Equine Encephalitis, Uruguay

Highlights

RNA was extracted from plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), followed by a generic nested reverse transcription–PCR (RT-PCR) for flaviviruses (6)
Alphavirus genome amplification was achieved for the CSF specimen collected at admission to the hospital
A 208bp amplicon, which corresponded to the expected size for WEEV, was obtained from plasma and the first CSF specimen

Summary

Introduction

A serologic study conducted in 1970 found antibodies to western (WEEV) and eastern equine encephalitis viruses by using complement fixation and hemagglutination inhibition tests in serum specimens from children (3). We report a fatal case of viral encephalitis in April 2009 in Montevideo, Uruguay, in a previously healthy 14-year-old boy. RNA was extracted from plasma and CSF, followed by a generic nested reverse transcription–PCR (RT-PCR) for flaviviruses (6).

Results

Conclusion