Encephalomyelitis Resulting from Chronic West Nile Virus Infection: A Case Report

Abstract

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne RNA flavivirus and human neuropathogen. The overall mortality rate for WNV disease is < 0.1% for all patients infected with WNV. Most WNV-related morbidity and mortality results from neurologic and respiratory involvement. For patients with WNV encephalitis, the mortality rate ranges from 12% to 15% and can range from 10-30% for patients with West Nile neuroinvasive disease. Mortality rates can reach up to 50% for patients presenting with acute flaccid paralysis and respiratory failure.

West Nile Virus Induced Cell Death in the Central Nervous System

“…However, more studies are needed to validate the involvement of these cell death events in the CNS and their possible roles in exacerbation of the outcome of CNS diseases. In a human case of fetal WNV infection [32], WNV antigen and viral RNA were detected in the postmortem brain tissues and the spinal cord. A few months after the initial symptoms in the lower extremities, motor neurons were not present in the lower level of the spinal cord in the patient.…”