Journal of Clinical Virology - Volume 82 - Supplement 1 - September 2016

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Abstracts / Journal of Clinical Virology 82S (2016) S1–S142 S137
rubella cases. Between 1995 and 2008 no cases of congenital rubella
were reported in Portugal.
Aim: Evaluation of laboratory results of “probable congenital
rubella cases” received for laboratory confirmation at the Por-
tuguese National Health Institute (INSA) between 2009 and 2015.
Material and methods:
Study population: Between 2009 and 2015, a total of 71 children
were considered as “probable congenital rubella” cases, and the
respective biological specimens were sent to INSA for laboratory
confirmation.
Methods:
Laboratory confirmation was performed by RT-PCR for rubella
virus RNA detection, and by rubella specific IgM detection.
Results: Seventy-one children were studied between 2009 and
2015. The mothers of 68 children had Portuguese nationality; 2
were from Eastern European countries and 1 from Cape Verde.
Seventy children were newborns, and one was 7 months old.
Rubella RNAdetectionwas carriedout in several biological prod-
ucts (urine, oropharyngeal exudate and oral fluid) of the 71 children
considered as “probable congenital rubella” cases; 68 of these were
asymptomatic whose mothers had a rubella positive IgM test at
delivery, despite lacking any evidence of a previous rubella infec-
tion. The remaining 3 cases evidenced symptoms fulfilling clinic
case definition. Two of themothers reported rashduring pregnancy.
The rubella virus RNA was detected in the 3 symptomatic
patients, in 2009, 2010 and 2015, respectively and 2 of these
patients also presented a positive rubella IgM test. The remaining
68 cases showed a negative IgM test.
The 2009 congenital rubella case was a boy born in Lisbon from
an unvaccinated Portuguese mother who was suspected of rubella
at 12 weeks of pregnancy.
The 2010 congenital rubella case was a 7 months old child, born
and living in Cape Verde. The mother did not mention any kind of
rash illness during pregnancy or rubella vaccination.
The 2015 congenital rubella case was a girl born in Lisbon from a
Portuguese mother living in Luanda who reported a rubella history
during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Discussion: During the last seven years, three cases of congeni-
tal rubella were notified in Portugal, two of whom presented major
malformations and one minor.
As to be expected, two of the congenital rubella cases were
observed in newborns from symptomatic unvaccinated women.
The 3 SCR cases identified, two were imported from Africa and
one was autochthon.
Conclusion: Despite the high vaccination coverage rates
Portugal one autochthonous congenital rubella case was notified
in 2009 following a 13 years gap. This evidences that rubella pre-
vention and active surveillance cannot be minimized. It is essential
to ensure that all women at child bearing age become aware of
their rubella immune status and get (re)vaccinated whenever nec-
essary. Vaccination is, to date, the only method available to prevent
congenital rubella.
Abstract no: 258
Presentation at ESCV 2016: Poster 236
Herpes simplex virus DNA results of
cerebrospinal fluid samples by real-time PCR
N. Kasifo˘glu ∗, M. Aslan, G. Durmaz, T. Us
Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Medicine,
Department of Microbiology, Eskisehir, Turkey
Central nervous system (CNS) infections require a rapid diag-
nosis and treatment approach due to their potential of rapid
progression and the possibility of permanent neurological damage.
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is one of the most common causative
microorganisms of acute sporadic viral encephalitis. In diagnosis of
CNS infections, the detection of HSV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid by
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the gold standard method.
In this study, HSV DNA real-time PCR results of cerebrospinal
fluid samples (CSF) sent to our microbiology laboratory from
patients with prediagnosis of viral CNS infection between 2008-
2015 were evaluated retrospectively.
A total of 176 cerebrospinal fluid samples sent to Microbiol-
ogy Laboratory of Eskisehir Osmangazi University Medical Faculty
between 2008 and 2015 were evaluated. After DNA isolation from
these samples, HSV 1/2DNA presencewas evaluatedwith real-time
PCR technique by using Artus HSV1/2 RG PCR (Qiagen, Germany)
kits on Rotor-Gene system (Corbett Research 6000, Australia). The
analytical sensitivity of the kit for HSV1 and HSV2; 120 copies/ml
and 160 copies/ml, respectively. Ninety three (52.8%) patients were
male and 83 (47.2%) were female, ages ranging from1 to 74 (median
age 36) years. HSV1 DNA was detected by nucleic acid testing in
9 of the 176 patients (5.1%). Five of the 9 HSV1 positive patients
were females. Four of the positive patients were from Infection dis-
ease department, three of them fromNeurology and twowere from
Anesthesia department.
Even though CNS infections are not rare, the incidence is
not clearly established. The early diagnosis of HSV infections is
extremely important in central nervous system (CNS) infections
due to HSV, as specific antiviral treatment dramatically reduces
the mortality. The etiology is unknown inmany cases; the develop-
ment of molecular techniques such as real-time PCR has increased
the detection rate of viral agents.
Abstract no: 276
Presentation at ESCV 2016: Poster 237
DNA detection of herpetic viruses in dried blood
spots in children with autism spectrum
disorders
S. Binda ∗ . Bubba ellegrinelli
V. Primache , I. Gentile , E. Zappulo ,
C. Bravaccio Barbi
1 Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health,
University of Milan, Milan, Italy
2 Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery –
Section of Infectious Diseases – University of Naples
“Federico II”, Naples, Italy
3 Department of Medical Translational Science –
University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
Introduction and aims: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are
neurodevelopmental disorders without a definitive etiology in
most cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible