Detection of neurotropic viruses circulating in Tuscany: The incisive roleof Toscana virus

Acute meningitis is perhaps the most frequent among central nervous system infections. We report a study considering 277 cases of meningitis hospitali zed in the southern Tuscany area (Italy) during the period from 1995 to 199 8 investigated by tissue culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method s. The cytochemical analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid samples suggested t he diagnosis of aseptic meningitis, recognized as viral meningitis in 104 c ases by detection of viral DNA or RNA. The results collected by tissue cult ure technique, available for 95 clinical samples, reported a positive isola tion for only 12 cases. The viruses identified in the neurological infectio n were Toscana virus (81%), enterovirus (12%), mumps virus (3%), measles vi rus (1%), and herpes virus type 1 (3%). These data demonstrate the incisive role of the RNA viruses as the cause of meningitis, and overall the releva nce of Toscana virus. J. Med. Virol. 60:86-90, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, I nc.