Diagnostic challenge – West Nile encephalitis mimicking stroke – case report

West Nile virus (WNV) is widely distributed around the world. The WNV is maintained in nature by a cycle involving mosquitoes and birds, which are presumed to be the most important amplifying hosts. We present the case of a 75 years old male patient admitted to the neurology department for several symptoms that could be attributed to a stroke. The symptomatology had an acute onset. The computed tomography and the magnetic resonance imaging revealed lacunar stroke in right semioval center. The final diagnosis was established by the lumbar punction: West Nile virus was highlighted in the cerebrospinal fluid,clinical evolution was favorable, the patient was discharge with minimal neurologic deficits