Retrospective Screening for Zoonotic Viruses in Encephalitis Cases in Austria, 2019–2023, Reveals Infection with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus but Not with Rustrela Virus or Tahyna Virus

Zoonotic viruses may be neglected as etiologies of meningoencephalitis in humans. We performed retrospective testing of cerebrospinal fluid from encephalitis cases in biobank material for three zoonotic or potentially zoonotic viruses: rustrela virus (<i>Rubivirus strelense</i>, <i>...

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Main Authors: Jeremy V. Camp, Norbert Nowotny, Stephan W. Aberle, Monika Redlberger-Fritz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/3/300
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author Jeremy V. Camp
Norbert Nowotny
Stephan W. Aberle
Monika Redlberger-Fritz
author_facet Jeremy V. Camp
Norbert Nowotny
Stephan W. Aberle
Monika Redlberger-Fritz
author_sort Jeremy V. Camp
collection DOAJ
description Zoonotic viruses may be neglected as etiologies of meningoencephalitis in humans. We performed retrospective testing of cerebrospinal fluid from encephalitis cases in biobank material for three zoonotic or potentially zoonotic viruses: rustrela virus (<i>Rubivirus strelense</i>, <i>Matonaviridae</i>); Tahyna virus (<i>Orthobunyavirus tahynaense</i>, <i>Peribunyaviridae</i>); and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (“LCMV”, <i>Mammarenavirus choriomeningitidis</i>, <i>Arenaviridae</i>). The cohort consisted of 443 samples, received for routine diagnostic testing year-round between January 2019 and February 2023, and were negative for herpes simplex viruses, varicella zoster virus, and enteroviruses. Using published RT-qPCR protocols, we did not detect rustrela virus or Tahyna virus in any sample. Using a herein described RT-qPCR protocol, we detected LCMV in one sample. Partial genetic sequencing of the virus suggested that the virus was locally acquired. Our study provides information about the incidence of these viruses in humans in Austria when encephalitis is suspected.
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spelling doaj-art-90b1078615ae4e11a5ff0d9c22ad44dd2025-08-20T02:43:10ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-02-0117330010.3390/v17030300Retrospective Screening for Zoonotic Viruses in Encephalitis Cases in Austria, 2019–2023, Reveals Infection with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus but Not with Rustrela Virus or Tahyna VirusJeremy V. Camp0Norbert Nowotny1Stephan W. Aberle2Monika Redlberger-Fritz3Center for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1095 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, Center of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, AustriaCenter for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1095 Vienna, AustriaCenter for Virology, Medical University of Vienna, 1095 Vienna, AustriaZoonotic viruses may be neglected as etiologies of meningoencephalitis in humans. We performed retrospective testing of cerebrospinal fluid from encephalitis cases in biobank material for three zoonotic or potentially zoonotic viruses: rustrela virus (<i>Rubivirus strelense</i>, <i>Matonaviridae</i>); Tahyna virus (<i>Orthobunyavirus tahynaense</i>, <i>Peribunyaviridae</i>); and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (“LCMV”, <i>Mammarenavirus choriomeningitidis</i>, <i>Arenaviridae</i>). The cohort consisted of 443 samples, received for routine diagnostic testing year-round between January 2019 and February 2023, and were negative for herpes simplex viruses, varicella zoster virus, and enteroviruses. Using published RT-qPCR protocols, we did not detect rustrela virus or Tahyna virus in any sample. Using a herein described RT-qPCR protocol, we detected LCMV in one sample. Partial genetic sequencing of the virus suggested that the virus was locally acquired. Our study provides information about the incidence of these viruses in humans in Austria when encephalitis is suspected.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/3/300lymphocytic choriomeningitis virusTahyna virusrustrela viruszoonotic virusencephalitis
spellingShingle Jeremy V. Camp
Norbert Nowotny
Stephan W. Aberle
Monika Redlberger-Fritz
Retrospective Screening for Zoonotic Viruses in Encephalitis Cases in Austria, 2019–2023, Reveals Infection with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus but Not with Rustrela Virus or Tahyna Virus
Viruses
lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
Tahyna virus
rustrela virus
zoonotic virus
encephalitis
title Retrospective Screening for Zoonotic Viruses in Encephalitis Cases in Austria, 2019–2023, Reveals Infection with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus but Not with Rustrela Virus or Tahyna Virus
title_full Retrospective Screening for Zoonotic Viruses in Encephalitis Cases in Austria, 2019–2023, Reveals Infection with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus but Not with Rustrela Virus or Tahyna Virus
title_fullStr Retrospective Screening for Zoonotic Viruses in Encephalitis Cases in Austria, 2019–2023, Reveals Infection with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus but Not with Rustrela Virus or Tahyna Virus
title_full_unstemmed Retrospective Screening for Zoonotic Viruses in Encephalitis Cases in Austria, 2019–2023, Reveals Infection with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus but Not with Rustrela Virus or Tahyna Virus
title_short Retrospective Screening for Zoonotic Viruses in Encephalitis Cases in Austria, 2019–2023, Reveals Infection with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus but Not with Rustrela Virus or Tahyna Virus
title_sort retrospective screening for zoonotic viruses in encephalitis cases in austria 2019 2023 reveals infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus but not with rustrela virus or tahyna virus
topic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus
Tahyna virus
rustrela virus
zoonotic virus
encephalitis
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/3/300
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