Neuroinvasive disease seldom follows infection with West Nile virus, but is particularly
rare in children. Most reported cases of West Nile virus encephalitis have occurred
in older adults or the immunocompromised. Although individuals who are homozygous
for a 32 base pair deletion in the chemokine receptor CCR5 have been shown to be resistant
to infection with HIV-1, they have been reported to have in increased risk of developing
severe disease following West Nile virus infection. Analysis of the presence of the
CCR5 deletion has not been previously examined in children with West Nile neuroinvasive
disease. We present a case of West Nile encephalitis in a previously healthy young
child whom we evaluated for the presence of the CCR5Δ32 mutation.
Keywords
West Nile virus - encephalitis - CCR5 - children
