Medical Microbiology

Table 1 2. 7 Continued:NervousSystem

Infection Mostimportantpathogens Laboratorydiagnosis

Encephalomyelitis

Viruses Measlesvirus

Epstein-Barrvirus

Serology

HIV- 1 ,HIV-2

Herpessimplexvirus

Varicellazostervirus

Cytomegalovirus

PCRandisolationinbrain

biopsyorcerebrospinalfluidif

required

Mumpsvirus Additionally:isolationfrom

pharyngeallavage

Enteroviruses

Togaviruses

Bunyaviruses

Arenaviruses

Additionally:isolationfrom

stool

Intropicalvirosesviralserology

inreferencelaboratories

Rabiesvirus(lyssavirus) DirectImmunofluorescence

withbrainspecimen(autopsy)

and/orcornealepithelium

Serology

Tickborneencephalitisvirus Serology

Bacteria Rickettsiaspp.

Brucellaspp.

Serology

Borreliaburgdorferi SerologyandPCR;culturein

biopsyifrequired

Leptospirainterrogans Serologyandcultureinbiopsy

ifrequired

Treponemapallidum Syphilisserology

Listeriamonocytogenes Trymicroscopyandculture

fromcerebrospinalfluidand

blood

Mycobacteriumtuberculosis Microscopyandculturefrom

cerebrospinalfluid;DNAtestif

required

Fungi Cryptococcusneoformans

Aspergillusspp.

Mucorales

Trymicroscopyandculture

fromcerebrospinalfluidand

blood;Cryptococcusantigen

canbedetectedincerebrospi-

nalfluid.Serology

NervousSystem 645

12

Kayser, Medical Microbiology © 2005 Thieme