Encephalomyocarditis virus was isolated from the acute-phase serum of two patients with acute febrile illness in Peru, confirming its role as a human pathogen.
Case Report (n=2)
Detection of encephalomyocarditis virus in the serum of two febrile patients in Peru strongly supports its role in human infection and febrile illness.
Etiologic studies of acute febrile disease were conducted in sites across South America, including Cusco and Iquitos, Peru. Patients' clinical signs and symptoms were recorded, and acute- and convalescent-phase serum samples were obtained for serologic examination and virus isolation in Vero E6 and C6/36 cells. Virus isolated in Vero E6 cells was identified as encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) by electron microscopy and by subsequent molecular diagnostic testing of samples from 2 febrile patients with nausea, headache, and dyspnea. The virus was recovered from acute-phase serum samples from both case-patients and identified with cardiovirus-specific reverse transcription-PCR and sequencing. Serum samples from case-patient 1 showed cardiovirus antibody by immunoglobulin M ELISA (acute phase 1,024) and by neutralization assay (acute phase 1,280). Serum samples from case-patient 2 did not contain antibodies detectable by either assay. Detection of virus in serum strongly supports a role for EMCV in human infection and febrile illness.
Oberste et al. (Tue,) conducted a case report in Acute febrile illness (n=2). Encephalomyocarditis virus was isolated from the acute-phase serum of two patients with acute febrile illness in Peru, confirming its role as a human pathogen.