Alison C. Mawle

Seroepidemiology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Case-Control Study

Abstract We performed serological testing for a large number of infectious agents in 26 patients from Atlanta who had chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and in 50 controls matched by age, race, and sex. We did not find any agent associated with CFS. In addition, we did not find elevated levels of antibody to any of a wide range of agents examined. In particular, we did not find elevated titers of antibody to any herpesvirus, nor did we find evidence of enteroviral exposure in this group of patients.

Human herpesviruses 6 and 7 in chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study.

We conducted this study to determine whether infection with human herpesvirus (HHV) 6A, HHV-6B, or HHV-7 differed between patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and control subjects. We recruited 26 patients and 52 nonfatigued matched control subjects from Atlanta. Serum samples were tested by enzyme immunoassay for seroreactivity to HHV-6, and all were seropositive. Lymphocyte specimens were cocultivated with cord blood lymphocytes and assayed for HHV-6 and HHV-7; neither virus was isolated. Finally, lymphocytes were tested by use of 3 polymerase chain reaction methods for HHV-6A, HHV-6B, and HHV-7 DNA. HHV-6A or HHV-6B DNA was detected in 17 (22.4%) of 76 samples, and there were no significant differences (by matched analyses) between patients (3 [11.5%] of 26) and control subjects (14 [28%] of 50). HHV-7 DNA was detected in 14 subjects, and although control subjects (12 [24%]) were more likely than patients (2 [7.7%]) to be positive, the difference was not statistically significant. We found no evidence that active or latent infection with HHV-6A, HHV-6B, HHV-7, or any combination these 3 HHVs is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Human genomics and preparedness for infectious threats

Public health preparedness requires effective surveillance of and rapid response to infectious disease outbreaks. Inclusion of research activities within the outbreak setting provides important opportunities to maximize limited resources, to enhance gains in scientific knowledge, and ultimately to increase levels of preparedness. With rapid advances in laboratory technologies, banking and analysis of human genomic specimens can be conducted as part of public health investigations, enabling valuable research well into the future.