# Metatranscriptomic Identification of Trubanaman Virus Sequences in Patient with Encephalitis, Australia

## TL;DR

Trubanaman virus was found in a patient with fatal encephalitis in Australia, suggesting it may be a new cause of this disease.

## Contribution

First report of Trubanaman virus associated with human encephalitis.

## Key findings

- Trubanaman virus sequences were identified in cerebrospinal fluid from a fatal encephalitis case.
- The virus is related to orthobunyaviruses previously found in Australian mosquitoes.
- No other causes were detected, implicating Trubanaman virus as the likely pathogen.

## Abstract

Using metatranscriptomics, we identified Trubanaman virus in cerebrospinal fluid from a severely immunocompromised man who died of encephalitis in Queensland, Australia. Virus sequences were related to orthobunyaviruses previously detected in mosquitoes in Australia. Testing for other causes yielded negative results, suggesting that Trubanaman virus was the cause of this fatal encephalitis case.