Detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus RNA in patient samples at different stages of infection
Language English Country England, Great Britain Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article
PubMed
40187691
DOI
10.1016/j.jinf.2025.106481
PII: S0163-4453(25)00075-1
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- Keywords
- Molecular diagnostics, Patient samples, RNA detection, RT-qPCR, Tick-borne encephalitis,
- MeSH
- Molecular Diagnostic Techniques methods MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Immunoglobulin G blood MeSH
- Encephalitis, Tick-Borne * diagnosis virology MeSH
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Child, Preschool MeSH
- Antibodies, Viral blood MeSH
- RNA, Viral * blood cerebrospinal fluid isolation & purification MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne * isolation & purification genetics MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Adolescent MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Child, Preschool MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic epidemiology MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Immunoglobulin G MeSH
- Antibodies, Viral MeSH
- RNA, Viral * MeSH
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of molecular diagnostics of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and to correlate viral RNA (vRNA) detection with the clinical and laboratory data. METHODS: Clinical samples from 1125 patients from South Bohemia, Czech Republic, a highly endemic TBE region, were screened for TBE virus (TBEV) RNA by RT-qPCR. Samples included blood, serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine. RESULTS: TBEV RNA was detected in 14 patients with clinically proven TBE. TBEV RNA was most frequently detected in sera during early infection (11/37 patients tested, 29.7%) but decreased with rising IgG antibody response (3/228, 1.3%). Detection in CSF and urine was infrequent (1/30, 3.3% and 1/52, 1.9%, respectively). Additionally, five patients initially not diagnosed with TBE were retrospectively found to have TBEV RNA in serum, indicating possible underdiagnosis, particularly in mild or atypical presentations. The study also highlighted the diagnostic challenge of an immunocompromised patient whose delayed antibody response hindered timely diagnosis. In such cases, RT-qPCR could significantly shorten the diagnostic timeline. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the value of early RNA detection in improving the diagnosis of TBE and may in the future facilitate the early administration of potential treatment, thereby improving patient outcomes.
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