Diagnosis of Enterovirus and Mumps Virus in CSF Samples of Patients with Aseptic Meningitis by RT-PCR Assay

Detection of enteroviruses and mumps virus nucleic acid in cerebrospinal spinal fluid (CSF) specimens has been demonstrated to improve the management of patients with aseptic meningitis. Then rapid and sensitive diagnostic techniques are desirable. Multiplex RT-PCR has the potential to detection both of viruses. This assay is so rapid and sensitive. At first, PCR assay was optimized and then we use it for CSF samples. Production of false negative results was avoided by the inclusion of ß- 2-microglobulin primers in the Multiplex RT-PCR assay as an internal control. CSF samples were collected from one hundred patients under the age of 7 years old. The samples were tested for the presence of enteroviruses and mumps virus by Multiplex RT-PCR method. All of the samples were negative in bacterial culture. Overall 35% of the CSF samples were positive for enteroviruses, whereas one percent of CSF samples were positive for both viruses. This technique increases the sensitivity of enteroviruses and mumps virus detection in clinical samples. This diagnostic approach can also be suitable for epidemiological studies. Sequencing of PCR products would be a suitable approach for determination of circulating enteroviruses in the population. This test is a sensitive and fast method (lower than three hours) for simultaneously diagnosis of aseptic meningitis, which could be used for epidemiologic studies.