Shrews encephalitis?
A virus, which is transmitted from shrews to humans, could be responsible for previously unexplained deaths in Europe. This resulted in the analysis of brain tissue samples from people who have died of encephalitis or brain swelling in the past 20 years.
The current investigation by the University Clinic of Regensburg found that a shrew-borne virus appears to be responsible for several deaths in humans. The results of the study were published in the specialist journal “Lancet Infectious Diseases“Published.
Borna virus cause of unexplained encephalitis cases?
Examination of brain tissue samples from more than 50 patients who have died of encephalitis or brain swelling in the past 20 years has identified eight new cases of the Borna virus. The research results now published suggest that the virus could be the cause of the enigmatic cases of encephalitis.
Are shrews the main carriers?
Shrews are a small mammal and are widespread across Europe. The main carrier of the virus appears to be the two-colored, white-toothed shrew, which is found in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, for example.
All new cases occurred in southern Germany
All newly diagnosed patients lived in southern Germany. The data subjects died between 1999 and 2019. The researchers could not rule out that the virus is also responsible for less serious infections.
It should be tested more often for the Borna virus
The researchers are of the opinion that patients should be tested for Borna virus more frequently if they are affected by a rapidly developing and unexplainable nervous system disorder and the person may have come into contact with shrews.
What symptoms are triggered?
The symptoms in infected people often start with fever. a headache and confusion. A disease then continues with signs of brain disorders such as an insecure gait, memory loss, seizures, and progressive loss of consciousness.
Affected people died after 57 days in the hospital at the latest
In the new cases of the disease, the symptoms worsened quickly after hospitalization, which eventually led to coma and death. In all cases, those affected died within 16 to 57 days of hospital admission.
Even more undetected deaths from the virus?
The total number of reported cases of the human Borna virus in southern Germany now comprises at least 14 cases. In absolute terms, this value is relatively small, but the virus could be behind a larger proportion of unexplained severe to fatal encephalitis cases. Further tests on people with severe or even fatal encephalitis will show in the future whether this presumption is true.
Disease appears to have gone unnoticed for decades
An earlier diagnosis of the disease could be made possible by serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from living patients, the researchers report. It is not a newly emerging disease, but a disease that appears to have been unnoticed in humans for decades. The virus may also have triggered other inexplicable cases of encephalitis in regions with high shrew populations. (As)
Swell:
- Hans Helmut Niller, Klemens Angstwurm, Dennis Rubbenstroth, Kore Schlottau, Arnt Ebinger, et al .: Zoonotic spillover infections with Borna disease virus 1 leading to fatal human encephalitis, 1999-2019: an epidemiological investigation, in Lancet Infectious Diseases (published 07.01. 2020), Lancet Infectious Diseases
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Important NOTE:
This article contains general information only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.
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