Article

An unbiased metagenomic search for infectious agents using monozygotic twins discordant for chronic fatigue

BMC Microbiology 01/2011; DOI:http://www.doaj.org/doaj?func=openurl&genre=article&issn=14712180&date=2011&volume=11&issue=1&spage=2
Source: DOAJ

ABSTRACT Abstract Background Chronic fatigue syndrome is an idiopathic syndrome widely suspected of having an infectious or immune etiology. We applied an unbiased metagenomic approach to try to identify known or novel infectious agents in the serum of 45 cases with chronic fatigue syndrome or idiopathic chronic fatigue. Controls were the unaffected monozygotic co-twins of cases, and serum samples were obtained at the same place and time. Results No novel DNA or RNA viral signatures were confidently identified. Four affected twins and no unaffected twins evidenced viremia with GB virus C (8.9% vs. 0%, p = 0.019), and one affected twin had previously undetected hepatitis C viremia. An excess of GB virus C viremia in cases with chronic fatigue requires confirmation. Conclusions Current, impairing chronic fatigue was not robustly associated with viremia detectable in serum.

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Keywords

Abstract Background Chronic fatigue syndrome
 
chronic fatigue
 
chronic fatigue syndrome
 
GB virus C
 
GB virus C viremia
 
idiopathic chronic fatigue
 
idiopathic syndrome
 
immune etiology
 
impairing chronic fatigue
 
novel DNA
 
novel infectious agents
 
RNA viral signatures
 
serum samples
 
unaffected monozygotic co-twins
 
unaffected twins evidenced viremia
 
unbiased metagenomic approach
 
viremia detectable