First Human Cosavirus Detection From Cerebrospinal Fluid in Hospitalized Children With Aseptic Meningitis and Encephalitis in Iran

Objective: Human cosavirus (HCosV) is a newly recognized virus that seems to be partly related to nonpolio flaccid paralysis and acute gastroenteritis in pediatric patients. However, the relationship between HCosV and diseases in humans is unclear. To assess an investigation for the occurrence of HCosV among pediatric patients involved in meningitis and encephalitis, we implemented a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for detection and quantification of HCosV in stool specimens. Materials and Methods: In this study, a total of 160 cerebrospinal fluid samples from September 2019 to October 2020 were collected from presenting pediatric patients with meningitis and encephalitis in a Karaj hospital, Iran. After viral RNA extraction, the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to amplify the 5 ' Un-Translated Region region of the HCosV genome and viral load was analyzed. Results: Of the 160 samples tested, the HCosV genomic RNA was detected in 2/160 (1.25%) of samples. The minimum viral load of HCosV was 3.5 x 10(3) copies/mL from 4 years male patient. The maximum viral load was determined to be 2.4 x 10(5) copies/mL in one sample obtained from 3.5 years female patient. Conclusions: This is the first documentation of HCosV detection in cerebrospinal fluid samples that better demonstrates relation of HCosV with neurologic diseases including meningitis and encephalitis. Also, these results indicate that HCosV has been circulating among Iranian pediatric patients.

Automated summary

Human cosavirus (HCosV) is a newly recognized virus with potential links to nonpolio flaccid paralysis and acute gastroenteritis in pediatric patients. In a study conducted in an Iranian hospital, HCosV genomic RNA was detected in 1.25% of 160 cerebrospinal fluid samples from pediatric patients presenting with meningitis and encephalitis. These findings suggest a possible association between HCosV and neurological diseases in Iranian pediatric patients.