infectious diseases
Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis
Diagnosis of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cerebrospinal fluid analysis, antibody detection, and viral culture Lymphocytic choriomeningitis is suspected in patients with exposure to rodents and an acute illness, particularly aseptic meningitis or encephalitis. Aseptic meningitis may lower cerebrospinal fluid glucose mildly but occasionally to as low as 15 mg/dL (0.83 mmol/L). Cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell counts range from a few hundred to a few thousand cells, usually with>80% lymphocytes. White blood cell counts of 2000 to 3000/mcL (2 to 3 x 109/L) and platelet counts of 50,000 to 100,000/mcL (50 to 100 x 109/L) typically occur during the first week of illness. Diagnosis can be made by PCR or by isolation of the virus from the blood or cerebrospinal fluid during the acute stage of illness Indirect immunofluorescence assays of inoculated cell cultures, although these tests are most likely to be used in research laboratories Tests that detect seroconversion of antibody to the virus 