Emerg Infect DisEIDEmerging Infectious Diseases1080-60401080-6059Centers for Disease Control and Prevention20507777308624210-025010.3201/eid1606.100250Letters to the EditorHuman Infection with Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis VirusBartonLeslie L.University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USAAddress for correspondence: Leslie L. Barton, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, 2335 East Seneca St, Tucson, AZ 85719; USA: email: llb@peds.arizona.edu6201016610461047AsnisDS , MuanaO , KimDG , GarciaM , RollinPE , SlavinskiS . Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis, New York, NY, USA, 2009.Emerg Infect Dis. 2010;16:32830.20113573Keywords: Lymphocytic choriomeningitis viruszoonoseshuman pathogenvirusesletter

To the Editor: I read with great interest the article regarding lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) meningitis in a New York City resident (1). The authors’ conclusion that there is a need to ascertain the true incidence of LCMV infection is worthy of underscoring. Nearly 15 years ago, in this same journal, we described congenital LCMV as an unrecognized teratogen and recommended further “research to define the frequency of LCMV” (2). Five years later, we reiterated that recommendation when reporting acquired LCMV meningoencephalitis in an adolescent from Tucson, Arizona (3). Despite, or because of, the lack of prospective studies, the fact that this author has accrued data regarding >60 congenitally infected infants from all geographic areas in the United States during the past 15 years reinforces the concept that LCMV is a neglected pathogen whose time for more extensive study has indeed come.

Suggested citation for this article: Barton LL. Human infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus [letter]. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2010 Jun [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/16/6/1046.htm

ReferencesAsnis DS, Muana O, Kim DG, Garcia M, Rollin PE, Slavinski S Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus meningitis, New York, NY, USA, 2009. Emerg Infect Dis. 2010;16:3283020113573Barton LL, Peters CJ, Ksiazek TG Congenital lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: an unrecognized teratogenic pathogen. Emerg Infect Dis. 1995;1:1523 10.3201/eid0104.9504108903188Barton LL, Hyndman NJ Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus: reemerging central nervous system pathogen. Pediatrics. 2000;105:e356 10.1542/peds.105.3.e3510699137