Personality changes after Toscana virus (TOSV) encephalitis in a 49-year-old man: A case report

Int J Neurosci. 2011 Mar;121(3):165-9. doi: 10.3109/00207454.2010.537412. Epub 2010 Dec 2.

Abstract

Toscana virus (TOSV) infection may often cause symptomatic meningitides and encephalitides. These usually subside in few days and their sequelae do not last for more than few weeks. We here report the case of a 49-year-old man who developed encephalitis after being bitten by phlebotomi in a region near southern Tuscany, where TOSV is endemic, and who developed postencephalitic seizures and subsequently, persistent personality alterations, characterized by sexually dissolute behavior and aggressiveness. One year after infection, the patient needs a combination of an SSRI antidepressant and a mood stabilizer/anticonvulsant to obtain less than optimal symptom improvement. This points to the need of establishing better preventive measures in Tuscany and nearby regions.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aggression
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Antimanic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain / pathology
  • Bunyaviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Bunyaviridae Infections / pathology
  • Bunyaviridae Infections / psychology*
  • Bunyaviridae Infections / virology
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy
  • Depressive Disorder / etiology
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / virology
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / drug therapy
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / etiology*
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / psychology
  • Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / virology
  • Encephalitis, Viral / pathology
  • Encephalitis, Viral / psychology*
  • Encephalitis, Viral / virology
  • Endemic Diseases
  • Epilepsies, Partial / drug therapy
  • Epilepsies, Partial / etiology
  • Epilepsies, Partial / virology
  • Gliosis / etiology
  • Gliosis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Aseptic / pathology
  • Meningitis, Aseptic / psychology*
  • Meningitis, Aseptic / virology
  • Middle Aged
  • Occupational Exposure
  • Personality*
  • Prevalence
  • Sandfly fever Naples virus / immunology
  • Sandfly fever Naples virus / isolation & purification*
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Sexual Behavior

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Antimanic Agents
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors