First report of human parechovirus type 3 infection in a pregnant woman

First parechovirus reported case in Saudi Arabia in hospitalized immunocompromised adult patient

Human parechovirus, a member of the Picornaviridae family (PeVs), can lead to severe infections, including severe meningitis, meningoencephalitis, and sepsis-like syndrome. We report a case of human parechovirus-related encephalitis in a 52-year-old woman diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme. She underwent surgical resection in June 2022. Unfortunately, her disease recurred, and she underwent a second resection in August 2022, followed by radiation therapy and Temozolomide therapy. She presented to the hospital with acute confusion followed by seizures, necessitating intubation for airway support. A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample was obtained and processed using the Biofire FilmArray, which reported the detection of HSV-1. Despite being on Acyclovir, the patient did not show signs of improvement. Consequently, a second CSF sample was obtained and sent for next-generation sequencing (NGS), which returned a positive result for Parechovirus. In this presented case, the patient exhibited symptoms of an unknown infectious cause. The utilization of NGS and metagenomic analysis helped identify Parechovirus as the primary pathogen present, in addition to previously identified HSV. This comprehensive approach facilitated a thorough assessment of the underlying infection and guided targeted treatment. In conclusion, the application of NGS techniques and metagenomic analysis proved instrumental in identifying the root cause of the infection.

Severe Generalized Epidemic Myalgia in an Adult due to Human Parechovirus Type 3: A Case Report

Parechovirus A type 3 (PeVA3) is most commonly transmitted to adults from children. Although PeVA3 infection is rarely diagnosed, as the symptoms are generally mild and self-limiting, this infection has been associated with epidemic myalgia in Japan. The patient, a 37-year-old man, presented with severe generalized myalgia, inability to open his mouth, and orchitis, which resolved over a period of 10 days. All members of his family were thought to have been infected with PeVA3 during a visit to an amusement park. Although the source of infection and inability to open his mouth are atypical, the acute generalized muscle symptoms made us suspect epidemic myalgia and enabled us to make a diagnosis of PeVA3 infection.

Proposal for the Recognition of a New Disease Concept from Japan: Parechovirus A3-Associated Myalgia

Parechovirus A3 (PeVA3) was first reported in 2004 and has been recognized as a causative agent of mild and severe infectious diseases in children. We first reported an outbreak of PeVA3-associated myalgia (PeVA3-M) in Yamagata, Japan, in 2008. We have repeatedly observed PeVA3-M cases in 2011, 2014, and 2016, and identified the first child case in 2014. Reports of PeVA3-M have increased since 2014, indicating that the recognition of PeVA3-M has spread across Japan. The findings showed that PeVA3-M commonly occurs among adults aged 30-40 years, particularly in males. Elevation of creatinine phosphokinase, C-reactive protein, and myoglobin, as well as magnetic resonance imaging findings, suggest inflammation of the muscles and/or fascia of the four limbs. Patients recover within 1-2 weeks without any sequelae. A longitudinal molecular epidemiological study in Yamagata revealed that PeVA3 strains cause a variety of diseases, ranging from mild to severe, including PeVA3-M, in subjects ranging from neonates to adults, irrespective of their genetic cluster. As PeVA3-M has not yet been reported abroad, more widespread recognition of PeVA3-M as an emerging disease is important. We hope this review will help clinicians and researchers in understanding PeVA3-M and therefore advance related research in Japan as well as around the world.

Human parechovirus are emerging pathogens with broad spectrum of clinical syndromes in adults

Parechoviruses are emerging pathogens of humans often affecting the pediatric age group, with a growing line of evidence implicating them as agents of a broad spectrum of clinical syndromes in adults. However, because many clinicians are not familiar with the manifestation of the infections, they are not included in the list of diagnostic pathogens. Furthermore, due to the indistinguishable feature of the infection compared with other common pathogens, a large number of cases are likely to go unchecked. Some may develop asymptomatic infection and recover without overt clinical disease. In this manuscript, we reviewed available literature on parechovirus infection in adult and summarized information relating to epidemiology, clinical manifestation, laboratory diagnosis, and therapeutics. The information provided should help in early case detection and support an evidence-based clinical decision.

Epidemic Myalgia Associated with Human Parechovirus Type 3 Infection

A 42-year-old man was hospitalized due to a fever, orchiodynia, and extremely severe myalgia predominantly in the extremities, which made it difficult for him to stand or walk. He had a history of contact with his son who had acute upper respiratory infection. Based on the characteristic clinical symptoms and detection of the partial sequence of human parechovirus type 3 (HPeV3) in throat swabs as well as stool and serum samples, he was diagnosed with epidemic myalgia associated with HPeV3 infection. Because HPeV3 infection is widespread among children in Japan, HPeV3-associated myalgia should be considered when adult patients manifest such distinguishing clinical characteristics.

A Parechovirus Type 3 Infection with a Presumed Intrauterine Onset: A Poor Neurodevelopmental Outcome

Parechovirus type 3 (HPeV-3) infection is an important cause of illness in neonates. We present the first case of an infant with a HPeV-3 meningoencephalitis which presumably commenced in utero. Severe developmental delay was seen. In the case of inexplicable neonatal meningoencephalitis, an intrauterine onset of HPeV-3 infection might be the cause.

Parechovirus A Pathogenesis and the Enigma of Genotype A-3

Parechovirus A is a species in the Parechovirus genus within the Picornaviridae family that can cause severe disease in children. Relatively little is known on Parechovirus A epidemiology and pathogenesis. This review aims to explore the Parechovirus A literature and highlight the differences between Parechovirus A genotypes from a pathogenesis standpoint. In particular, the curious case of Parechovirus-A3 and the genotype-specific disease association will be discussed. Finally, a brief outlook on Parechovirus A research is provided.

Parechovirus: an important emerging infection in young infants

Epidemics of human parechovirus (HPeV) causing disease in young children have occurred every 2 years in Australia since 2013. HPeV genotype 3 caused the epidemic from late 2017 to early 2018. Most HPeV infections cause no or mild symptoms including gastroenteritis or influenza-like illness. Characteristically, young infants present with fever, irritability and on occasions a diffuse rash ("red, hot and angry" babies). Severe disease can manifest as meningoencephalitis, seizures or sepsis-like presentations (including septic shock), or less common presentations including signs of surgical abdomen. Testing for HPeV by specific molecular tests is indicated in children younger than 6 months of age with characteristic presentations without another confirmed diagnosis including febrile illnesses with other suggestive features (eg, rash, seizures), sepsis syndromes (including shock), and suspected meningoencephalitis (which may be detected by magnetic resonance imaging only). There are no effective antiviral therapies. Treatment is primarily supportive, including management of complications. Some infants with severe HPeV infection may have adverse neurodevelopment. Follow-up by a paediatrician is recommended.

Parechovirus A3 (PeV-A3)-associated myalgia/myositis occurs irrespective of its genetic cluster: a longitudinal molecular epidemiology of PeV-A3 in Yamagata, Japan between 2003 and 2016

No longitudinal molecular epidemiology of parechovirus A3 (PeV-A3) over a decade is available and PeV-A3-associated myalgia/myositis has been reported only in Japan. Thus, we aimed to clarify the longitudinal molecular epidemiology of PeV-A3 with a major focus on the strains detected from PeV-A3-associated myalgia/myositis cases. We performed sequence and phylogenetic analysis for the VP1 region of PeV-A3 strains in Yamagata, Japan, between 2003 and 2016. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that PeV-A3 strains caused PeV-A3-associated myalgia/myositis as well as a variety of infectious diseases, ranging from mild to severe, in subjects ranging from neonates to adults, irrespective of genetic cluster or variations. PeV-A3 strains are causative agents of a variety of human diseases, irrespective of their genetic cluster. Furthermore, we consider that PeV-A3-associated myalgia/myositis may occur, not only in Japan, but also in other countries, as closely related PeV-A3 strains have been circulating around the world.

First reported case of Human Parechovirus encephalitis in an adult patient complicated by Refractory Status Epilepticus

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Human Parechovirus (HPeV) infections are common amongst young children. However, data in adult cases are lacking.

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We report a unique case of HPeV meningoencephalitis in an adult complicated by Refractory Status Epilepticus (RSE).

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This case expands the epidemiological knowledge of HPeV and when to test for it in adults.

Human Parechovirus (HPeV) infections are common amongst children, particularly neonates. However, data in adult cases are lacking. We report a unique case of HPeV meningoencephalitis in an adult complicated by Refractory Status Epilepticus (RSE).

Severe epidemic myalgia with an elevated level of serum interleukin-6 caused by human parechovirus type 3: a case report and brief review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Human parechovirus type 3 (HPeV-3) is known to cause cold-like symptoms, diarrhea, or severe infections such as sepsis in infants and children. In adults, HPeV-3 infection is rarely diagnosed because the symptoms are generally mild and self-limiting; however, this infection has been linked to epidemic myalgia, regardless of the presence of underlying diseases, immunosuppression, or sex.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe an adult case of severe systemic myalgia and orchiodynia after infection with HPeV-3, which was transmitted from the child of the patient. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) level was found to be elevated in the patient's serum.

CONCLUSION

Severe myalgia associated with HPeV-3 infection is potentially caused by an elevated serum level of IL-6.