Key result
RNA deep sequencing identifies astrovirus VA1/HMO-C causing fatal encephalitis in an immunocompromised stem cell recipient.
Case Report (n=1)
No
RNA deep sequencing is a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying emerging opportunistic infections like astrovirus VA1/HMO-C in immunocompromised patients with unexplained encephalitis.
Astrovirus testing may be warranted in unexplained post-transplant encephalitis; extends neuroinvasive pathogen spectrum but leaves open diagnostic strategy validation.
Neuroinvasive astrovirus (VA1-HMO-C) is an emerging life-threatening infection in immunocompromised hosts. We describe an 8-month-old child who died of VA1/HMO-C encephalitis following bone marrow transplantation. The diagnosis was only made post-mortem using RNA deep sequencing of the brain. Repeat analysis of the post-mortem brain tissue using polymerase chain reaction specific primers for VA1/HMO-C was positive. Astrovirus VA1/HMO-C should be included in the evaluation of patients with similar encephalitis.
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Lum et al. (2016) conducted a case report in Astrovirus (VA1/HMO-C) encephalitis (n=1). RNA deep sequencing was evaluated on Pathogen identification. RNA deep sequencing of post-mortem brain tissue identified astrovirus VA1/HMO-C as the cause of fatal encephalitis in an 8-month-old immunocompromised stem cell transplant recipient.
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