Molecular detection and characterisation of mumps virus in cerebrospinal fluid in a Gauteng laboratory

• Main Authors: Marieke Brauer, Marianne Wolfaardt, Lynne M. Webber, Maureen B. Taylor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AOSIS 2016-03-01
• Series: Southern African Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: aseptic meningitis; central nervous system; cerebrospinal fluid; genotype; polymerase chain reaction
• Online Access: https://sajid.co.za/index.php/sajid/article/view/102

The study aimed to determine the presence of mumps virus (MuV) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens and to genetically characterise detected MuV strains. A real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the MuV F gene, and characterisation was performed by sequencing of the SH gene. Mumps virus was detected in 1.2% (3/260) of specimens. Phylogenetic analysis of one MuV strain revealed that it clustered with the Jeryl-Lynn and RIT4385 vaccine strains. As far as the authors could ascertain this is the first study to provide viral proof that these vaccine-like strains may be associated with aseptic meningitis.