Case Report: Japanese Encephalitis Associated with Chorioretinitis after Short-Term Travel to Bali, Indonesia

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Oct;103(4):1691-1693. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0330.

Abstract

Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus endemic throughout Asia. Incidence in non-endemic countries is rare, with an estimate of less than one case per one million travelers. Most human JE infections are asymptomatic or cause a mild, nonspecific febrile illness. Neurological involvement, if present, is usually severe and associated with high mortality or ongoing neurological sequelae in survivors. Ocular manifestations are rare with JE, but uveitis has been described to be associated with other flavivirus infections, including West Nile virus. We report the first probable case of JE chorioretinitis acquired by a 45-year-old Australian traveler to Bali. This case highlights the importance of a detailed ocular examination when there is clinical suspicion of JE.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Australia
  • Chorioretinitis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Chorioretinitis / virology
  • Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / immunology*
  • Encephalitis Virus, Japanese / isolation & purification
  • Encephalitis, Japanese / diagnostic imaging*
  • Encephalitis, Japanese / pathology
  • Encephalitis, Japanese / virology
  • Eye / diagnostic imaging
  • Eye / pathology
  • Eye / virology
  • Humans
  • Indonesia
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Travel