In this short report, Moriguchi et al., describe the first case of Meningitis/Encephalitis associated with SARS-CoV-2 who was brought in by ambulance. It is very interesting to note that the SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in the nasopharyngeal swab but only in the CSF. This case highlights that patients with CNS symptoms are potentially infected by SARS-CoV-2 and might cause transmission. In particular, symptoms of encephalitis or encephalopathy may be the first indication, as well as respiratory symptoms, to find the hidden SARS-CoV-2 patients. Moreover this case report underlines, as also previously reported in SARS-CoV infection, the neuroinvasive potential of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
by Marialuisa Zedde and Francesco Cavallieri