Japanese encephalitis in a French traveler to Nepa

Authors: S Lagarde JC Lagier R Charrel G Quérat J Vanhomwegen P Desprès J Pelletier E Kaphan

Publish Date: 2014/01/10

Volume: 20, Issue: 1, Pages: 99-102

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Abstract

Japanese encephalitis is frequent in Asia with a severe prognosis but rare in travelers Culex mosquitoes transmit Japanese encephalitis virus Risk factors are destination duration of stay summer and fall seasons outdoor activities and type of accommodation We report the case of a French traveler to Nepal with neutralizationbased serological confirmed Japanese encephalitis He presented classical clinical viral syndrome before an encephalitis status with behavioral disorder global hypotonia mutism movement disorders seizure and coma radiological lesions of thalami corticospinal tracts and brainstem and biological features lymphocytic meningitis Nowadays the presence of Japanese encephalitis virus in Nepal including mountain areas is established but Japanese encephalitis remains rare in travelers returning from this area and neurologist physicians need to become familiar with this We recommend vaccination for travelers spending a long period of time in Nepal and having atrisk outdoor activitiesThe work on rEDIIIbased serodiagnosis and neutralization test was supported by the project PREDEMICS EU FP7HEALTH2011 grant agreement no278433 Many thanks to Stephanie François Pierre Willaume and Gregory and Irene Grefenstette for reviewing the English of the manuscript

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