Welcome to the CDC Chronic Fatigue Syndrome site.
Skip directly to the search box, site navigation, or content.
News & Highlights
- Mission/Goals
- Public Service Announcements
- Brochures
- Photo Exhibit
CFS Awareness
Campaign
Call to Action - Act Now
| Paid for by | |
| HHS | CDC |
 |
 |
GBV-C – a virus without a disease: we cannot give it chronic fatigue syndrome
Jones JF, Reeves WCGBV-C -w a virus without a disease: we cannot give it chronic fatigue syndrome
BMC Infectious Diseases 5:78, 2005.
Summary
Although a single infectious agent does not cause chronic fatigue syndrome ( CFS) and the epidemiology does not suggest a contagious etiology, some people develop CFS following acute infections, and newly discovered infectious agents may be associated with the illness. For example, approximately 10% of those who become ill with Ross River virus, a flavivirus, develop CFS. This study was done to evaluate the possible association between another flavivirus, GB virus, and CFS. We found no evidence that active or past infection with GB virus is associated with CFS.
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 seropositive for prior GBV-C infection and one control had viral RNA detected, indicating active infection. The results are not statistically different.
Conclusions : We found no evidence that active or past infection with GBV is associated with CFS.
Page last modified on May 8, 2006
Additional Navigation for the CDC Website
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
Tel: 404-639-3311 / Public Inquiries: (404) 639-3534 / (800) 311-3435