Lack of evidence for infection with known human and animal retroviruses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

We investigated 21 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome who were identified through the surveillance system of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta for the presence of several human and animal retroviruses. In addition, we evaluated 21 CDC employee controls matched with the patients for age (+/- 5 years), gender, and race.

The viruses tested included human T-lymphotropic viruses types I and II; human spuma retrovirus; simian T-lymphotropic virus type I; simian retroviruses types 1, 2, and 3; bovine leukemia virus; feline leukemia virus; and gibbon ape leukemia virus.

Samples of peripheral blood lymphocytes and leukocytes from patients and controls were analyzed in a blinded fashion for retroviral sequences; polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification assays and Southern blot hybridization to 32P-labeled internal oligoprobes were used. All PCR assays were optimized for maximal sensitivity on respective infected cell lines or plasmids, and sensitivity controls were included in each experiment.

All samples from patients and controls were negative for the tested retroviral sequences. Our data indicate that none of these retroviruses plays an etiologic role or is a cofactor in the chronic fatigue syndrome illnesses of our study population.

 

Source: Heneine W, Woods TC, Sinha SD, Khan AS, Chapman LE, Schonberger LB, Folks TM. Lack of evidence for infection with known human and animal retroviruses in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Clin Infect Dis. 1994 Jan;18 Suppl 1:S121-5. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8148438

 

Investigation of retroviral involvement in chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Within the last few years significant efforts have been made to identify objective reliable diagnostic markers from individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

We report the absence of a previously described retroviral marker (HTLV-II gag) in a blinded study of CFS cases. Even with excellent reproducible sensitivities, this marker failed in repeated attempts to distinguish cases from controls. In addition, four other retroviruses (simian T cell leukaemia virus, human spumavirus, bovine leukaemia virus and simian retrovirus) were examined for their presence in these CFS cases and found to be absent.

Our findings suggest that these agents, at least as markers, are non-distinguishing for CFS and that other factors may be confounding the resolution of an aetiology to this syndrome.

 

Source: Folks TM, Heneine W, Khan A, Woods T, Chapman L, Schonberger L. Investigation of retroviral involvement in chronic fatigue syndrome. Ciba Found Symp. 1993;173:160-6; discussion 166-75. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8387909