Mumps Meningoencephalitis in Stockholm November 1964—July 1971: II. Isolation Attempts from the Cerebrospinal Fluid in a Hospitalized Study Group

Abstract

Attempts were made at virus isolation from samples of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 655 patients with mumps and CSF pleocytosis and hence regarded as cases of mumps meningoencephalitis. This material was analyzed with regard to rate of recovery of mumps virus from the CSF in relation to a number of factors. Among these factors were included laboratory handling of specimen, age, sex, length of interval between onset of disease and onset of meningoencephalitis and between the latter onset and the date of collection of CSF, as well as cell count in the CSF and titre of CF antibodies in acute phase serum. Recovery rates were shown to vary with all these factors but particularly with differences in laboratory handling of specimen, in age and in the interval between onset of meningoencephalitis and collection of specimen. Thus the highest recovery rates were observed if patients were young, if samples were collected soon after onset and if samples were kept unfrozen or at −70°C prior to inoculation. Females of 15–29 years of age had higher recovery rate than males of corresponding age.