Polio laboratory findings

Polio Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Poliovirus

Differentiating Polio from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Prevention

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Polio laboratory findings On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Polio laboratory findings

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Polio laboratory findings

CDC on Polio laboratory findings

Polio laboratory findings in the news

Blogs on Polio laboratory findings

Directions to Hospitals Treating Polio

Risk calculators and risk factors for Polio laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:  João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]

## Overview

[edit | edit source]

Poliovirus may be isolated from pharyngeal secretions during the first week of the disease, and from feces during several weeks. Isolation of virus from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is diagnostic, however this is rarely accomplished. Following isolation, the serotype and origin of the virus may be characterized by genomic sequencing. The CSF may show unspecific findings of aseptic meningitis, which are common to those found in infections by other viruses. When the virus cannot be isolated, serologic tests, using antibodies targeted to the 3 different serotypes may be used.[1][2]

## Laboratory Findings

[edit | edit source]

### Viral Isolation

[edit | edit source]

If poliovirus is isolated from a person with acute flaccid paralysis, or if it occurs in an area where there is low incidence of the disease, it must be further tested in order to assess the source of the virus. The virus may be "wild-type" (occurs naturally) or vaccine related (OPV).[1][2] The characterization of the source of the virus may be achieved by genomic sequencing.[3][2]

### Cerebrospinal Fluid

[edit | edit source]

In poliovirus infection, the CSF usually contains an increased number of white blood cells (10–200 cells/mm3, primarily lymphocytes) and mildly elevated protein (40–50 mg/100 mL).[1] However, these findings are similar to those of aseptic meningitis caused by other viruses.

The isolation of poliovirus from the CSF is particularly important in cases of paralytic poliomyelitis following administration of the vaccine. Since viral shedding in feces occurs during several weeks after the person has been vaccinated, isolation of the virus in the CNS, and its characterization as "wild-type" or "vaccine related", is the only way of proving an association between the disease and the vaccine.[2]

### Serology

[edit | edit source]

If the virus cannot be isolated, the diagnosis of poliomyelitis may be established serologically. Serology tests may be performed by pairing patient's acute and convalescent sera, with neutralizing antibodies, targeted to all three serotypes of the virus. However, serologic tests cannot distinguish between the "wild-type" and "vaccine-type" polioviruses.[2]

## References

[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Poliomyelitis".
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Mandell, Gerald (2010). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's principles and practice of infectious diseases. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone/Elsevier. ISBN 0443068399.
3. ↑ Kew, Olen M.; Mulders, Mick N.; Lipskaya, Galina Yu.; da Silva, Edson E.; Patlansch, Mark A. (1995). "Molecular epidemiology of polioviruses". Seminars in Virology. 6 (6): 401–414. doi:10.1016/S1044-5773(05)80017-4. ISSN 1044-5773.

Template:WH Template:WS