Molecular investigations of viral meningitis among HIV-infected adults in Accra, Ghana

Emmanuel Frimpong Adjei, Theophilus Korku Adiku, Gifty Mawuli, Joseph Humphrey Kofi Bonney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: Meningitis is one of the leading causes of death among patients living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa. Based on clinical presentations alone, the different types of meningitis may not be distinguished from each other, consequently accurate laboratory diagnosis is extremely essential. Viruses such as Enteroviruses (EV), Mumps virus (MuV) and Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1) are implicated in cases of meningitis. We sought to detect and characterize viral aetiologies of meningitis among HIV-infected adults with the use of molecular tools. Results: As a subset of a main research work, cerebrospinal fluid specimens were collected from a cross-section of HIV patients at the Fevers Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital with clinical features suggestive of meningitis but without laboratory confirmation. Laboratory investigations were performed with the use of the real time polymerase chain reaction for pan EV, MuV and HSV-1. None of the viruses investigated in this study was found to be positive for meningitis. However, lymphocytic pleocytosis, normal glucose and elevated protein levels were observed in some of the study participants.

Original languageEnglish
Article number615
JournalBMC Research Notes
Volume11
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Aug 2018

Keywords

  • Cerebrospinal fluid
  • Human immunodeficiency virus
  • Meningitis
  • Viral aetiology

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