Observational study on the clinical epidemiology of infectious acute encephalitis syndrome including Nipah virus disease, Bangladesh: BASE cohort study protocol
Authors: Md Zakiul Hassan, Amanda Rojek, Dewan Imtiaz Rahman, Sharmin Sultana, Mahbubur Rahman, Mohammad Khaja Mafij Uddin, Mohammad Enayet Hossain, Md Wasik Rahman, Laura Merson, Esteban Garcia, Jake Dunning, Josephine Bourner, Shadman Sakib Choudhury, Kamal Ibne Amin Chowdhury, Khalequ Zaman, Sharful Islam Khan, Mohammad Hasan Tarik, Shahida Yeasmin, Faruk Ahammad, Abu Faisal Md Pervez, Md Mahfuzer Rahman, Abu Rayhan Md Suja-Ud-Doula, John D Klena, Christina F Spiropoulou, Trevor R Shoemaker, Sayera Banu, Joel Montgomery, Mohammed Ziaur Rahman, Tahmina Shirin, Syed Moinuddin Satter, Peter Horby, Piero Olliaro
Year: 2025
Journal: BMJ Open
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-105903
Summary
This paper describes a prospective cohort study in Bangladesh aimed at characterizing the patient population, clinical features, treatment practices, common aetiologies and outcomes in patients presenting with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), including Nipah virus infection, to inform the design of clinical trials for AES and NiV.
Key Findings
- The study will be conducted in Bangladesh, a NiV endemic country with annual outbreaks.
- Up to 2000 patients of all ages presenting with AES at three tertiary care hospitals will be enrolled.
Methodology
- Study Type: Prospective Cohort Study
- Sample Size: Up to 2000 patients
- Geographic Focus: Bangladesh
Topics
Epidemiology, Clinical, Virology, Policy
Relevance
The study aims to improve understanding of NiV's clinical characteristics and advance therapeutic research.