Year: 2017
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Acute meningoencephalitis (AME) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality in children in developing countries. Clinical specimens were collected from children presenting with AME at two Cambodian paediatric hospitals to determine the major aetiologies associated with AME in the country. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples were screened by molecular and cell culture methods for a range of pathogens previously associated with AME in the region. CSF and serum (acute and convalescent) were screened for antibodies to arboviruses such as Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), dengue virus (DENV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV). From July 2010 through December 2013, 1160 children (one month to 15 years of age) presenting with AME to two major paediatric hospitals were enroled into the study. Pathogens associated with AME were identified using molecular diagnostics, cell culture and serology. According to a diagnostic algorithm, a confirmed or highly probable aetiologic agent was detected in 35.0% (n=406) of AME cases, with a further 9.2% (total: 44.2%, n=513) aetiologies defined as suspected. JEV (24.4%, n=283) was the most commonly identified pathogen followed by Orientia tsutsugamushi (4.7%, n=55), DENV (4.6%, n=53), enteroviruses (3.5%, n=41), CHIKV (2.0%, n=23) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (1.6%, n=19). The majority of aetiologies identified for paediatric AME in Cambodia were vaccine preventable and/or treatable with appropriate antimicrobials.
Source: Emerging Microbes & Infections
DOI: 10.1038/emi.2017.15
Authors: Paul F Horwood, Veasna Duong, Denis Laurent, Channa Mey, Heng Sothy, Ky Santy, Beat Richner, Seiha Heng, Sopheak Hem, Justine Cheval, Christopher Gorman, Philippe Dussart, Menno D de Jong, Alexandra Kerleguer, Bertrand Guillard, Bernadette Murgue, Marc Lecuit, Xavier de Lamballerie, Jeremy J Farrar, Arnaud Tarantola, Marc Eloit, Philippe Buchy
Institutions: Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, World Health Organization, Inserm, Institut Pasteur, Biology of Infection, École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,643
OpenAlex ID: W2620144886