West Nile virus (WNv) is a major cause of viral encephalitis in the United States. WNv infection is usually asymptomatic or a limited febrile illness in the immunocompetent hosts, although a small percentage can develop neuroinvasive disease. Neuroinvasive disease due to WNv in solid organ transplant recipients occurs at higher rates than observed in the general population and can have long term neurological sequalae. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all solid organ transplant recipients at our institution who tested positive for WNv from 2010 to 2018. Two reviewers performed electronic searches of Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library of literature of WNv infections in SOT. Descriptive statistics were performed on key variables. Results Eight recipients (mean age 54, five males) were diagnosed with neuroinvasive WNv infection at our institution. Distribution of infection was as follows: five kidney transplants, one in each kidney‐pancreas, liver, and lung. Diagnoses included meningitis (3), encephalitis (1), meningo‐encephalitis (4). Median time from transplant to infection was 49.8 months (2.7–175.4). No infections were considered donor‐derived. Five patients received treatment with IVIG. Six patients were alive at median follow‐up of 49.5 months (21.7–116.8). We identified 29 studies published from 2002 to 2019. Median time from transplant to infection was 14.2 months, with similar allograft distribution; 53% were donor‐derived infections. Conclusion WNv infections in solid organ transplant recipients can be a consequence of organ donation or can be acquired via the community. Infections can be more severe in SOT recipients and lead to neuroinvasive disease.

Background In the solid organ transplant (SOT) population, West Nile virus (WNV) neuroinvasive disease can have significant morbidity and mortality. We evaluated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in neuroinvasive WNv infections among SOT recipients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all SOT recipients at our institution with WNv neuroinvasive disease (meningitis, encephalitis, meningo-encephalitis) from 2010 to 2018. Descriptive statistics were examined on key variables. Results Eight transplant patients with mean age 54.47 years (12.79) were included: 5 kidney transplants, 1 in each kidney-pancreas, liver and lung transplants. Median time from transplant to infection was 49.8 months (2.7-175.4) and mean time-to-diagnosis 2 days (1.31) . On admission, mean total CSF WBC count was 134.57 cells/mm3 (150.82), mean lymphocyte count 56.29 cells/mm3 (32.32), mean neutrophil count 27.14 cells/mm3 (34.34), and mean CSF protein 95.4 mg/dL (40.52mg/dL). West Nile virus CSF IgG at the time of diagnosis was negative in 7 patients, and not performed on 1 patient. WNv diagnosis is depicted below. Serum and CSF WNV Antibodies in Neuroinvasive Disease in SOT Recipients WNV CSF and serum IgG was negative at the time of diagnosis in 7/8 patients. Initial CSF IgM was positive in 3 out of 7 patients. Conclusion WNv infection produces a CSF pleocytosis with neutrophilic predominance, though we noted more lymphocytic predominance among SOT recipients. CSF IgM and IgG are important diagnostics in neuroinvasive WNv. Disclosures Diana F. Florescu, MD, AlloVir: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Grant/Research Support|NobelPharma: Grant/Research Support|Novavax: Grant/Research Support|Regeneron: Grant/Research Support|SymBio: Grant/Research Support|Takeda: Advisor/Consultant|Takeda: Grant/Research Support.