[Detection of enterovirus RNA in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with aseptic meningitis and encephalitis and its clinical significance].

BACKGROUND

To study the pathogenicity of enterovirus (EV) infection in central nervous system and the method for its detection.

METHODS

Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and viral culture techniques to detect EV from 46 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of aseptic meningitis and encephalitis patients. The sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR for EV RNA detection was affirmed by specific RNA identification of 40 strains of prototype enterovirus.

RESULTS

By the virus culture method, 14 out of the 46 CSF sample were tested to beEV positive (26.1%) including 6 Echovirus type 2 (ECV2), 2 Coxackie virus type B2 (CVB2), 2CVB6, 1 ECV3 and 1 ECV11. By RT-PCR method, 31 of 46 CSF sample were tested EV RNA positive (67.4%) through amplified product agarose electrophoresis and northern blot hybridizition. The positive CSF included 14 samples that had been tested positive by virus culture and 17 samples that accounted for 53.9% of the 32 CSF samples which were negetive by virus culture. The sensitivity of RT-PCR was statistically higher than that of the virus culture method, Chi(2) =12.57, P <0.01.

CONCLUSIONS

EV is known as important etiological agents of aseptic meningitis and encephalitis. RT-PCR is sensitivity, specificity and rapidity, it may be popularized as an effective method to the detection of enterovirus.