GB virus-C--a virus without a disease: we cannot give it chronic fatigue syndrome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness in search of an infectious etiology. GB virus-C (GBV-C) virus is a flavivirus with cell tropism and host defense induction qualities compatible with a role in producing the syndrome. The GBV-C genome is detectable in 4% of the population and 12% of the population is seropositive. The present study evaluated the association between infection with GBV and CFS.

Methods

We used a commercial EIA to detect antibodies against the GBV-C E2 protein and a quantitative real-time RT-PCR assay to detect active GBV-C infection. Sera were from a case control study of CFS in Atlanta, Georgia. The Fisher's exact two-tailed test was used for statistical analysis.

Results

Two of 12 CFS patients and one of 21 controls were seroposit

SUBMITTER: Jones JF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1262718 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature