St. Louis encephalitis laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Anthony Gallo, B.S. [2]; Contributor(s): Vishnu Vardhan Serla M.B.B.S. [3], Irfan Dotani [4]

The diagnostic method of choice for St. Louis encephalitis is laboratory testing. In St. Louis encephalitis, cerebrospinal fluid examination shows a moderate (typically lymphocytic) pleocytosis. 2/3 of patients with St. Louis encephalitis may have elevated concentration of CSF protein, which usually indicative of neuroinvasive disease. In the absence of a sensitive and non-invasive virus detection method, serologic testing is the primary method for diagnosing St. Louis encephalitis.^[1][2]

The diagnostic method of choice for St. Louis encephalitis is laboratory testing. In St. Louis encephalitis, cerebrospinal fluid examination shows a moderate (typically lymphocytic) pleocytosis. 2/3 of patients with St. Louis encephalitis may have elevated concentration of CSF protein, which usually indicative of neuroinvasive disease. In the absence of a sensitive and non-invasive virus detection method, serologic testing is the primary method for diagnosing SLEV infection. A rapid and accurate diagnosis of St. Louis encephalitis can be made by the detection of St. Louis encephalitis-specific IgM antibody in serum or CSF.^[1][2]

Other laboratory findings include:

• Leukocytosis
• Mild anemia
• Hyponatremia

A positive St. Louis encephalitis IgM test result should be confirmed by neutralizing antibody testing of acute- and convalescent-phase serum specimens at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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