MENINGOENCEPHALITIS IN MAN CAUSED BY THE VIRUS OF LYMPHOGRANULOMA VENEREUM

Excerpt

Our purpose in this communication is to present data establishing the virus of lymphogranuloma venereum as a cause of severe meningoencephalitis in man. The capacity of the causative agent of venereal lymphogranuloma (lymphogranuloma inguinale, lymphopathia venerea, Nicolas-Favre disease, climatic bubo, fourth venereal disease) to produce meningoencephalitis after intracerebral inoculation in susceptible experimental animals has been known since the virus was first isolated and identified in 1930.¹ However, even in experimental animals meningoencephalitis was not known to occur after inoculation of the virus by peripheral routes without simultaneous trauma to the brain.² Signs and symptoms suggestive of involvement of the nervous system during the course of lymphogranuloma venereum in man have been recorded by many observers.³ Von Haam and D'Aunoy⁴ isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of 2 out of 8 patients with lymphogranuloma venereum viruses which produced meningoencephalitis in mice. These viruses were identified as lymphogranuloma venereum