GB virus-C--a virus without a disease: we cannot give it chronic fatigue syndrome.
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.
Jones
James F
JF
Division of Viral and Rickettsial Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. jaj9@cdc.gov
Kulkarni
Prasad S
PS
Butera
Salvatore T
ST
Reeves
William C
WC
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D018178:Flaviviridae Infections / Q000821:virology*; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral