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Prevalence and clinical manifestations of herpes simplex virus infection among suspected patients of herpes simplex encephalitis in Shiraz, Iran

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Abstract

Encephalitis has infectious and noninfectious etiology. Among infectious agents, viruses are the main causes of encephalitis; Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is known as the most common causative agent of viral encephalitis. In this current cross-sectional investigation, we aimed to assess the prevalence of HSV in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens of Herpes Simplex Encephalitis (HSE) suspected patients and also determining the clinical symptoms and laboratory findings of this viral complication. Two hundred consecutive HSE suspected patients with clinical diagnosis of encephalitis were included in the study and then the presence of HSV DNA in their CSF was applied by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay. Molecular detection of two hundred (117 males with mean age: 43 years, 83 females with mean age: 39 years) CSF samples showed that 22 (11.11%) cases were positive for HSV infection. 15(68.18%) of the positive samples were more than 50 years old, however, there was no significant correlation between age distribution, gender and HSE clinical manifestations. Fever (91%), headache (72.7%), seizer (59%), and weakness (59%) were the most common symptoms in positive patients and also mortality rate was (18.18%). CSF laboratory abnormalities of HSE cases were as follows; lymphocytic pleocytosis 19 (86.3%), leukocytosis 19 (86.3%), elevated protein level 16 (72.7%), and hypoglycorrhachia 3(13.6%). Screening of HSE suspected patients is crucial in the treatment of patients and reduce the mobility and morbidity of patients. Qualitative PCR as an available method in most developing countries could be a reliable method to monitor consecutive HSE suspected patients.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Abouzar Babaei, Neda Pirbonyeh & Afagh Moattari

  2. Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Abouzar Babaei & Somayeh Shatizadeh Malekshahi

  3. Burn and Wound Healing Research Center, Microbiology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Neda Pirbonyeh

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  1. Abouzar Babaei
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Correspondence to Afagh Moattari.

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Babaei, A., Shatizadeh Malekshahi, S., Pirbonyeh, N. et al. Prevalence and clinical manifestations of herpes simplex virus infection among suspected patients of herpes simplex encephalitis in Shiraz, Iran. VirusDis. 32, 266–271 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13337-021-00680-9

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