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Congenital lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection

Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a member of the Arenaviridiae family of viruses, is a single-strand RNA virus carried by mice. Postnatal infection usually causes benign aseptic meningitis, although encephalitis, hydrocephalus, transverse myelitis, and even death, have been described. Sporadic cases of congenital LCMV infection have been recorded for over 50 years. Now 20 cases have been reported from the USA (Daniel J Bonthius and colleagues. Annals of Neurology 2007;62:347–55, see also editorial, ibid: 309–11).

Congenital LCMV infection was confirmed in all 20 children by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or complement fixation and all had signs of neurological dysfunction within 48 h of birth. All had chorioretinitis and structural brain anomalies, but there was considerable variation in clinical and imaging features. In 12 cases the mother was known to have been exposed to mice during pregnancy. Ten children lived in the country, six in towns or cities, and two in . . . [Full text of this article]