In lymphocytic choriomeningitis (synonyms: Acute chorioencephalitis; acute choriomeningitis; acute lymphocytic meningitis; acute serous lymphocytic choriomeningitis; acute serous lymphocytic choriomeningitis; Armstrong disease; chorioencephalitis; choriomeningitis; LCM; LCM virus; lymphocytic chorioencephalitis; lymphocytic encephalitis; lymphocytic meningitis; lymphocytic meningoencephalitis; serous chorioencephalitis; serous choriomeningitis; serous epidemic meningitis; ICD-10-GM A87. 2: Lymphocytic choriomeningitis) is an infectious disease transmitted by the LCM virus. The LCM virus belongs to the group of arenaviruses.
The disease belongs to the viral zoonoses (animal diseases).
Pathogen reservoir are mainly mice, but also hamsters and guinea pigs.
Occurrence: The pathogens are distributed worldwide. The infection occurs mainly in Europe, America and Asia.
Seasonal frequency of the disease: Lymphocytic choriomeningitis occurs more frequently in late autumn and winter.
Transmission of the pathogen (route of infection) occurs primarily through rodents and mice. Contaminated food and dust may also allow transmission.
Human-to-human transmission: No.
The incubation period (time from infection to outbreak of the disease) is usually between 6 and 21 days.
According to estimates, there are about 100 cases of the disease in Germany (annually). Affected are mainly animal caretakers or laboratory personnel, who therefore have occupational contact with rodents.
Course and prognosis: The disease is asymptomatic in about one third of cases (without noticeable symptoms), mild to moderate in another 50% and in about 15% the central nervous system (CNS) is also affected (meningoencephalitic (affecting the brain and meninges) symptoms).
The lethality (mortality related to the total number of people affected by the disease) is 1 to 2%.
If an intrauterine infection occurs (transmission of the pathogen from the mother to the unborn child), an abortion (miscarriage) or malformations such as hydrocephalus (pathological expansion of the liquid-filled fluid spaces (ventricles) of the brain/ obsolete “hydrocephalus”) can occur.
A protective vaccine against lymphocytic choriomeningitis is not yet available.
