ABSTRACT
Viral infections of the central nervous system in infants and children are uncommon but potentially serious illnesses. Common causes have included the enteroviruses (particularly polioviruses and coxsackieviruses), herpes viruses (type 1 and type 2 herpes simplex, varicella, and cytomegalovirus), arboviruses, rubella, mumps, measles (including subacute sclerosing panencephalitis), and human immunodeficiency virus. Several of these viruses, such as cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, and vertically transmitted human immunodeficiency virus, may cause congenital infections. Others are acquired later in childhood. In recent years, immunization programs have significantly reduced the occurrence of some of these diseases. A brief survey of the clinical and pathological manifestations of these illnesses will be discussed along with current incidence data.
Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Infections/virology , Virus Diseases/complications , Central Nervous System Infections/congenital , Central Nervous System Infections/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Encephalitis, Viral/congenital , Encephalitis, Viral/epidemiology , Encephalitis, Viral/physiopathology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Meningitis, Viral/congenital , Meningitis, Viral/epidemiology , Meningitis, Viral/physiopathology , Virus Diseases/congenital , Virus Diseases/epidemiology , Virus Diseases/physiopathologySubject(s)
Herpes Genitalis/microbiology , Herpesviridae Infections/congenital , Herpesvirus 2, Human , Meningitis, Viral/congenital , Prenatal Care/legislation & jurisprudence , Adult , Cesarean Section , Female , Herpesviridae Infections/transmission , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Malpractice , Meningitis, Viral/microbiology , Meningitis, Viral/transmission , Obstetrics , Patient Compliance , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/microbiologyABSTRACT
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections occur worldwide and are responsible for severe damage to the child in from one to five newborns per 20,000 births. Animal models of congenital CMV infection resulting in disease have been developed in mice and guinea pigs. We report here the development of ventricular dilatation and leptomeningitis in rhesus monkeys, Macaca mulatta, following intrauterine infection with rhesus cytomegalovirus (RCMV). Central nervous system (CNS) lesions were associated with low cytomegalovirus fluorescent antibody titers in affected fetuses. In several infected animals, RCMV was isolated at necropsy from neural and nonneural tissues taken shortly after birth. This model allows investigators to study the pathogenesis and prevention of CNS changes following RCMV infection.
