1. A fatal neuroinvasive West Nile virus infection in a traveler returning from Madagascar: clinical, epidemiological and veterinary investigations.
- Author
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Larrieu S, Cardinale E, Ocquidant P, Roger M, Lepec R, Delatte H, Camuset G, Desprès P, Brottet E, Charlin C, and Michault A
- Subjects
- Aedes virology, Animals, Culex virology, Fatal Outcome, Female, Humans, Immunoglobulin M blood, Immunoglobulin M cerebrospinal fluid, Insect Vectors virology, Madagascar epidemiology, Middle Aged, Poultry, Poultry Diseases epidemiology, Poultry Diseases immunology, Poultry Diseases virology, Reunion, Travel, West Nile Fever epidemiology, West Nile Fever immunology, West Nile Fever veterinary, West Nile Fever diagnosis, West Nile virus
- Abstract
Abstract. A 58-year-old woman living in Reunion Island and returning from Madagascar was hospitalized for neuroinvasive encephalitis and died 1 month later. West Nile virus (WNV) infection was biologically confirmed by detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM) reactive with WNV antigens in both cerebrospinal fluid and serum, and weak neutralizing activity was also detected. A veterinary survey performed in her traveling area showed a seroprevalence of WNV of 28.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 21.1-36.3) in adult poultry, confirming an active circulation of the virus. Development of a severe form could be related to a weak antibody response, because the patient presented low IgM and IgG titers. This case report underlines the constant risk of emergence of West Nile in Indian Ocean territories, including Reunion Island where competent vectors are widely present during the whole year.
- Published
- 2013
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