Virology & Mycology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0517
ISSN: 2161-0517
Shantanu Prakash
King George��?s Medical University, India
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Virol-mycol
Statement of the Problem: Acute encephalitis syndrome is a group of neurologic manifestations caused by a plethora of organisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites and toxins. There is a large amount of cross reactivity between the different etiological agents. Also, besides Japanese Encephalitis Virus, no guidelines exist for establishing the diagnosis of specific etiologic agents. This session deals with the methods available, practical problems, their advantages and disadvantages for laboratory testing of agents of AES. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: An extensive literature search was done to summarize a comprehensive approach for the laboratory investigations in the diagnosis of AES. Findings: Laboratory diagnosis is generally established by testing the serum or CSF sample to detect virus specific IgM antibodies. IgM antibodies are usually detectable 3 to 8 days after onset of illness and persist usually for 30 to 90 days. Therefore, positive IgM antibodies may reflect a past infection or vaccination. Sample collected within 10 days of illness onset may not have detectable antibodies and so Real Time PCR and antibody testing on a convalescent sample becomes important. For patients with IgM antibodies, confirmatory neutralizing antibody testing should be performed. In fatal cases, nucleic acid amplification, histopathology with immunohistochemistry, virus culture of autopsy tissues can also be useful. Conclusion & Significance: The choice of test depends upon the prevalent etiological agent in a geographical region, patient��?s post-illness day of presentation to the health care centre, sample available and diagnostic facilities available. A laboratory network should be established for better patient management and optimum utilization of resources.
Shantanu Prakash is PhD in field of virology and infectious diseases. He is basically involved with research, academics and in academics, research and patient management. He has more than 25 publications, four patents and thousands of sequences submitted on NCBI of different viruses and bacteria and has been involved in many intramural and extramural projects. He has experience in the field of designing molecular diagnostics assay for infectious diseases, molecular characterization & whole genome sequencing of different viruses. Right now he is involved extensively on epidemiology & surveillance of AES in northern India with focus of newer emerging and reemerging pathogens. The present study is based on several years of experience in serological and molecular techniques.
Email: shantanukgmu@gmail.com