Epidemiological features of viral encephalitis in Cangzhou of China with use of multiplex RT-PCR for five RNA viruses

OBJECTIVE: With use of multiplex RT-PCR testing the five RNA viruses associated with viral encephalitis, the aim of research is to find out the epidemiological features of viral encephalitis in Cangzhou of China. METHODS: Patients hospitalized in Cangzhou central hospital with the diagnosis of viral encephalitis from January 2010 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. The sensitivity and specificity of multiplex RT-PCR was compared with ELISA through testing CSF samples of enterovirus (EVs), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), mumps virus (MUV), measles virus (MV) and rubella virus (RV). RESULTS: Disease incidence of viral encephalitis in Cangzhou of China was 18.6 per 100 thousand, and the main pathogen focused on EVs, MUV, JEV, MV and RV, which positive rate were 27.8%, 14.4%, 12.2%, 6.7% and 3.3% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were all higher than ELISA. CONCLUSION: The most common pathogens responsible for viral encephalitis in Cangzhou, Hebei province, China, were EVs, and the multiplex RT-PCR was a rapid, sensitive, accurate method of testing the viruses responsible for causing these illnesses.