Non-polio enteroviruses aseptic meningitis: embaba fever hospital admissions 2010-2011

Human enteroviruses [EV] cause a wide spectrum of both common and uncommon illnesses among all age groups. Enterically transmitted. The objective of this study was to identify non-poliovirus EV as a cause of viral aseptic meningitis [VAM] by two methods [cell culture and Real time PCR]. From October 2010 to August 2011 cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] samples were collected from 85 patients Embaba fever hospital admitted with symptoms of aseptic meningitis of any age and both sexes. The 85 CSF samples were inoculated into RD [human rhabdomyosarcoma] cell line in three blind passages to amplify isolates producing EV-like CPE. A total of 14 [16.5%] out of 85 CSF samples showed EV-like CPE. By Real time PCR 11 out of the 14 culture positive samples and 5 out of the 14 source of virus isolation original CSF were non polio EV positive. The frequency of non-polio EV meningitis hospital admissions was in the summer season [50%], spring [25%], late autumn [16.6%] and least frequency in winter [8.4%]. non-polio EV meningitis was detected in 6 out of 41 male patients [14.5%] and in 6 out of 44 female patients [13.5%]. Also non-polio EV meningitis was detected in all ages with marked increase of incidence in young children [41.6%] and old age [50%] and less in adult [8.4%]. Our data showed that the non-polioviruses EV was associated with the majority of VAM during 2010 - 2011 at the Embaba fever hospital which serves Embaba, Shoubra Elkheema, Qualyba and neighbors localities in Egypt. Rapid detection of non-polio EV meningitis is essential for making decisions about patient management and treatment

Studies on West Nile virus infection in Egypt

We conducted a prospective cohort study to determine prevalence and incidence of West Nile virus [WNV] in Egypt. Cohorts were established in Upper [UE], Middle [ME], and Lower [LE] Egypt. Additionally, a cross-sectional serosurvey was performed in the North [NS] and South [SS] Sinai. Cohorts were bled initially and 1 year later. Sera were tested for WNV-IgG by ELISA and positive sera were confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization test [PRNT]. Sentinel chicken flocks placed in the above sites were bled monthly for virus isolation and serology. Mosquitoes were collected monthly from the above sites and tested for WNV. Human seroprevalence rates were 35%, 27%, 14%, 1% and 7% in UE, ME, LE, NS and SS, respectively. Seroconversion rates were 18%, 17% and 7% in UE, ME and LE, respectively; 49% of the seroconverters reported undiagnosed febrile illness. Sentinel chickens showed seroconversion in all study sites. WNV was isolated from both sentinel chickens and mosquitoes in cohort sites. This study demonstrates that WNV was actively circulating during the study period in different areas in Egypt and causing febrile illness in a considerable proportion of individuals in the study sites