RAPIDLY RECURRENT ENTEROVIRAL MENINGITIS IN NONIMMUNOCOMPROMISED INFANTS CAUSED BY DIFFERENT VIRAL STRAINS

Repeated episodes of enteroviral meningitis occurring within a 1-month period in two non-immunocompromised infants were investigated using m olecular techniques to distinguish persistent or recrudescent infectio n from new infection. Viral RNA from cerebrospinal fluid was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, cloned, and the nucleic acid sequences determined. This analysis demonstrated that both infants had recurrent episodes of meningitis caused by new infection with a distinct entero virus strain. The molecular methods that were employed should prove us eful in similar clinical settings as well as for the study of enterovi ral outbreaks. These cases also illustrate the potential for rapid rei nfection of infants with different viruses of the Same genus. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.