We found that elevated levels of eotaxin-2 (OR: 1.7531, 95% CI: 1.0824-2.8394, PIVW: 0.0225) and YKL-40 (OR: 2.1256, 95% CI: 1.0048-4.4965, PIVW: 0.0485) were causally associated with an increased risk of encephalitis, while an increase in TECK (OR: 0.6569, 95% CI: 0.4482-0.9629, PIVW: 0.0312) was associated with a decreased risk of encephalitis. This evidence concerns the gene CHI3L1 and viral encephalitis.