Category: Viruses

Behavioural effects of infectious mononucleosis

Abstract:

The aim of the present study was to provide preliminary information on the acute and chronic effects of infectious mononucleosis (IM) on memory, attention, psychomotor performance and mood. These issues were examined by comparing individuals with acute IM, those who had the initial illness some months before, and matched healthy controls.

Objective measures of memory, attention, motor skills and visual functions were obtained, as were subjective reports of mood. The results showed selective effects of acute IM on performance and mood, with the profile of impairments being very similar to those observed in previous studies of influenza.

Different impairments were observed in subjects who had the primary illness several months before, and the effects observed in this group were similar to those observed in recent studies of chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Both acute and chronic IM subjects reported similar levels of symptoms and psychopathology, with both groups having greater scores than the controls. However, the performance impairments did not reflect symptoms or psychopathology. One may conclude that the study of IM will provide important data on both the acute and longer lasting effects of viral infections on the brain and behaviour.

 

Source: Hall SR, Smith AP. Behavioural effects of infectious mononucleosis. Neuropsychobiology. 1996;33(4):202-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8840344

 

Possible correlation between Borna disease virus infection and Japanese patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a neurotropic, as yet unclassified, non-segmented, negative-sense, single-strand RNA virus. Natural infection with this virus has been reported to occur in horses and sheep. In addition, antibodies to BDV in plasma or BDV RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were also found in patients with neuropsychiatric diseases. We describe here the possible link between the patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and infection with BDV.

 

Source: Kitani T, Kuratsune H, Fuke I, Nakamura Y, Nakaya T, Asahi S, Tobiume M, Yamaguti K, Machii T, Inagi R, Yamanishi K, Ikuta K. Possible correlation between Borna disease virus infection and Japanese patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Microbiol Immunol. 1996;40(6):459-62. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8839433

 

Epstein-Barr virus infection associated with interstitial nephritis and chronic fatigue

Abstract:

Severe renal disease in the setting of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is exceedingly rare. We report here the case of a 22-year-old man with acute EBV infection associated with severe interstitial nephritis. The patient developed chronic fatigue and chronic renal failure with a serological profile typical of primary EBV infection. Clinical improvement with anti-EBNA seroconversion occurred after acyclovir therapy. Our patient illustrates that chronic fatigue with major organ dysfunction and a serological profile of primary infection can be seen in chronic EBV infection. In such a case, acyclovir may prove beneficial.

 

Source: López-Navidad A, Domingo P, López-Talavera JC, Rabella N, Verger G. Epstein-Barr virus infection associated with interstitial nephritis and chronic fatigue. Scand J Infect Dis. 1996;28(2):185-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8792488

 

MMPI profiles of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Fifty-three patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and 43 healthy nonpatient controls completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). All subjects varied in their degree of seropositivity to active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as measured by their anti-early antigen titers. EBV titers were higher among CFS patients and were associated with being more symptomatic.

Differences in patient status were associated with statistically significant elevations on 8 of 9 clinical scales, 4 of which also showed clinically significant elevations (T scores > or = 70): scales 1, 2, 3, and 8. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for intervention strategies associated with MMPI-based CFS subtypes.

 

Source: Schmaling KB, Jones JF. MMPI profiles of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. J Psychosom Res. 1996 Jan;40(1):67-74. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8730646

 

New pathogens, and diseases old and new. I) Afipia felis and Rochalimaea. II) Parvovirus B 19. III) herpesvirus 6

Abstract:

The paper describes events that in the last fifteen years, have led to the identification of the aetiological agents of three widely known diseases: cat scratch disease, erythema infectiosum and exanthem subitum. The particular features of Afipia felis and Rochalimaea, Parvovirus B 19 and Herpesvirus 6 are presented.

The paternity of new diseases (i.e. bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis hepatitis, LES-like syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, petechial glove and sock syndrome, etc.) has also been attributed to some of these pathogens as has the paternity of some older ones (i.e. aplastic crisis, erythroblastosis fetalis, trench fever, hepatitis, opportunistic infection, etc.).

It has been argued that the same pathogen can cause different diseases depending on the immunogenic state of the subject. To date, persisting difficulties in isolating the pathogen or differentiating between latent or active infection, still in some cases raises doubts concerning the attribution of the disease to a specific agent.

New immunological or molecular techniques, allowing the direct detection of in vivo replication, are still needed in order to establish a sure connection between some of these agents and some of these diseases. Progress here will both give more accurate data about the epidemiology of some diseases and allow us to apply more appropriate treatment and prevention techniques.

 

Source: Zannolli R, Morgese G. New pathogens, and diseases old and new. I) Afipia felis and Rochalimaea. II) Parvovirus B 19. III) herpesvirus 6. Panminerva Med. 1995 Dec;37(4):238-47. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8710408

 

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection in children in Japan

Abstract:

The patients with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) in childhood in Japan are described. Among 39 registered cases, 20 patients were males and 19 were females. Unlike the X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome, there was no hereditary background.

The incidence of hypersensitivity to mosquito bites was high (31.3%) as a past history. Most patients exhibited hepatomegaly (92.3%), splenomegaly (87.2%) and fever (84.6%). The incidence of absent anti-EB virus nuclear antigen titres was unexpectedly low (17.1%). Lymphoreticular disorders and cardiovascular diseases were major complications.

Twenty-four (61.5%) patients died 6 months to 8 years after the onset, mainly of hepatic failure (eight cases), cardiac failure (five cases), virus-associated haemophagocytic syndrome (three cases) and haematological malignancies (two cases). This study reveals the CAEBV in Japan has several clinical features and should be informative for the pathogenesis of EB virus.

 

Source: Ishihara S, Okada S, Wakiguchi H, Kurashige T, Morishima T, Kawa-Ha K. Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection in children in Japan. Acta Paediatr. 1995 Nov;84(11):1271-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8580625

 

Prevalence of IgM antibodies to human herpesvirus 6 early antigen (p41/38) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Erratum in: J Infect Dis 1995 Dec;172(6):1643.

 

Abstract:

To evaluate the association between human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), 2 geographically separate groups of CFS patients (125 and 29 patients, respectively) and healthy controls (150 and 15 controls, respectively) were compared, using an EIA, for antibodies to HHV-6 early antigen p41/38 (EA).

Sixty percent (93/154) of CFS patients were were positive for HHV-6 EA IgM, 40% (61/154) were positive for IgG, and 23% (35/154) were positive for both. A total of 119 (77%) of the CFS patients were positive for HHV-6 EA IgG or IgM (or both); only 12% (20/165) of the controls had IgG or IgM to HHV-6 EA. These data demonstrate that more CFS patients than controls had elevated levels of HHV-6 EA-specific IgM, perhaps indicating active replication of HHV-6 in CFS.

 

Source: Patnaik M, Komaroff AL, Conley E, Ojo-Amaize EA, Peter JB. Prevalence of IgM antibodies to human herpesvirus 6 early antigen (p41/38) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. J Infect Dis. 1995 Nov;172(5):1364-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7594679

 

Comparison of coxsackie B neutralisation and enteroviral PCR in chronic fatigue patients

Abstract:

Coxsackie B enteroviruses have been implicated repeatedly as agents associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). The objective of this study was to compare the serological evidence for the presence of Coxsackie B virus neutralising antibody, with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detecting a portion of the 5′ nontranslated region (NTR) of the enterovirus genome.

Serum samples from 100 chronic fatigue patients and from 100 healthy comparison patients were used in this study. In the CFS study group, 42% patients were positive for enteroviral sequences by PCR, compared to only 9% of the comparison group. Using the neutralisation assay, 34% of study patients were positive, compared to 41% of comparison patients.

In the study group, 66/100 patient results correlated, i.e., they were either positive/positive or negative/negative for both tests. Of those that did not correlate, the majority were PCR-positive/Coxsackie B antibody-negative (21/34).

In the comparison group, 58/100 patient results correlated. Of those that did not, the majority were PCR-negative/Coxsackie B antibody-positive (37/42).

The Coxsackie B antibody neutralisation assay was not able to differentiate the CFS study group from the healthy comparison group, and thus the clinical relevance of this assay may be questioned. The PCR assay did differentiate the two groups with significantly more CFS patients having evidence of enterovirus than the comparison group.

Source: Nairn C, Galbraith DN, Clements GB. Comparison of coxsackie B neutralisation and enteroviral PCR in chronic fatigue patients. J Med Virol. 1995 Aug;46(4):310-3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7595406

 

African green monkey origin of the atypical cytopathic ‘stealth virus’ isolated from a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: A cytomegalovirus-like ‘stealth virus’ had previously been isolated from a patient with the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the original derivation of this virus.

STUDY DESIGN: DNA sequencing of cloned regions of the virus was performed and the sequences were compared using BLASTN and FASTA analyses against the entire GenBank database. Viral sequences were also used to design primers for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS: DNA and amino acid sequence comparisons showed that the stealth virus was more closely related to the Colburn strain of simian cytomegalovirus (SCMV) than to CMV of either human or rhesus monkey origin or to any other sequenced herpesvirus. Similarity, but non-identity, between the stealth virus and SCMV, was confirmed using PCR.

CONCLUSION: The findings implicate the African green monkey as the probable source of the virus isolated from this CFS patient.

 

Source: Martin WJ, Ahmed KN, Zeng LC, Olsen JC, Seward JG, Seehrai JS. African green monkey origin of the atypical cytopathic ‘stealth virus’ isolated from a patient with chronic fatigue syndrome. Clin Diagn Virol. 1995 Jul;4(1):93-103. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15566831

 

Human herpesvirus 6 and human herpesvirus 7 in chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

We analyzed lymphocytes of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) for the presence of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and HHV-7 DNA. HHV-7 was present in over 80% of CFS patients and healthy controls, while the prevalence of HHV-6 variant A increased significantly in CFS cases (22 versus 4%; P = 0.05).

 

Source: Di Luca D, Zorzenon M, Mirandola P, Colle R, Botta GA, Cassai E. Human herpesvirus 6 and human herpesvirus 7 in chronic fatigue syndrome. J Clin Microbiol. 1995 Jun;33(6):1660-61. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC228240/pdf/331660.pdf (Full article)