Borna disease virus infection in two family clusters of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Microbiol Immunol. 1999;43(7):679-89. doi: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1999.tb02456.x.

Abstract

A high rate of Borna disease virus (BDV) infection has been demonstrated in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Herein, we focused on BDV infection in two family clusters of patients with CFS: a father, mother, two sons and one daughter (family #1); and a father, mother, two daughters and one son (family #2). All members, except for the elder son in family #1 and the father and son in family #2, were diagnosed with CFS. The results supported that all the family members with CFS were infected with BDV, as evidenced by the presence of antibodies to viral p40, p24 and/or gp18 and BDV p24 RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The healthy members, except for the father of family #2 who was positive for antibody to p24, were all negative by both assays. Follow-up studies in family #1 continued to reveal BDV antibodies and BDV RNA, except in the mother, who lost the RNA upon slight recovery from the disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Borna Disease / complications*
  • Borna Disease / immunology
  • Borna Disease / virology
  • Borna disease virus / genetics
  • Borna disease virus / immunology
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / complications
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / immunology
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / virology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / virology
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Viral Proteins / classification
  • Viral Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Proteins / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins
  • p24 protein, Borna disease virus