Persistent viremia and urine shedding of tick-borne encephalitis virus in an infected immunosuppressed patient from a new epidemic cluster in North-Eastern Italy

J Clin Virol. 2015 Aug:69:48-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2015.05.019. Epub 2015 May 29.

Abstract

A persistent tick-borne encephalitis virus infection in an immune-suppressed patient is presented. Such an unusual clinical case offers the unique chance of detecting persistent viremia associated to the erythrocyte fraction and shedding of the virus in the urine for more than six weeks. The infection occurred in a new area of the Friuli Venezia-Giulia region (North Eastern Italy) where two additional cases are also being reported.

Keywords: Friuli-Venezia Giulia region; Immuno-compromized host; Italy; Persistent infection; Real-time PCR; Sequencing; TBEV; Tick-borne encephalitis; Trieste; Virus isolation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / immunology
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / genetics*
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / immunology
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / isolation & purification
  • Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / physiology*
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / diagnosis
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / epidemiology
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / virology*
  • Epidemics
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Urine / virology*
  • Viremia / virology*
  • Virus Shedding*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antineoplastic Agents