List of herpesvirus infection studies

Herpesvirus family viruses including Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and cytomegalovirus are associated with myalgic encephalomyelitis. This article lists herpesvirus studies examining the role and prevalence of herpesviruses in ME/CFS patients. Positive studies (finding herpesvirus more prevalent in ME/CFS patients than healthy controls) are indicated by a + symbol, whereas negative studies (finding no significant difference in prevalence between patients and healthy) are indicated by the − symbol.

Epstein-Barr virus studies

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is found in 95% of the adult population (usually in a latent state), and is the most common cause of mononucleosis.

	Study Title	Date	Details
+	Chronic fatigue syndrome after infectious mononucleosis in adolescents Ben Z Katz, Yukiko Shiraishi, Cynthia J Mears, Helen J Binns, Renee Taylor	2009	This study of 301 adolescents with infectious mononucleosis found that at 6, 12, and 24 months after mononucleosis, 13%, 7%, and 4% of these adolescents respectively met the criteria for ME/CFS.
+	Antibody to Epstein-Barr virus deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase and deoxyribonucleotide polymerase in a chronic fatigue syndrome subset A Martin Lerner, Maria E Ariza, Marshall Williams, Leonard Jason, Safedin Beqaj, James T Fitzgerald, Stanley Lemeshow, Ronald Glaser	2012	This study of 20 ME/CFS patients and 20 healthy controls found 94% of patients were positive for EBV early antigen diffuse, versus 32% of the healthy controls; 44% of patients were positive for EBV dUTPase, versus 0% of the controls; 79% of patients were positive for EBV DNA polymerase, versus 0% of the controls.
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HHV-6 studies

HHV-6 is found in nearly 100% of adults (usually in a latent state).

	Study Title	Date	Details
+	Prevalence of human herpesvirus 6 variants A and B in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome S Yalcin, H Kuratsune, K Yamaguchi, T Kitani, K Yamanishi	2000	This study examined 13 cases of ME/CFS and 13 healthy controls. In the peripheral blood mononuclear cells, HHV-6 DNA was detected in 53% of the patients, but no HHV-6 DNA was detected in the controls. Higher antibody levels to the HHV-6 late antigen were found in patients, and antibodies to HHV-6 early antigen were more prevalent in patients.
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Cytomegalovirus studies

Cytomegalovirus is found in 50% of adults (usually in a latent state). Cytomegalovirus is a rarer cause of mononucleosis.

	Study Title	Date	Details
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Varicella zoster virus studies

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is found in 88% of the adult population (usually in a latent state). It causes chickenpox and shingles.

	Study Title	Date	Details
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Herpes simplex virus studies

Herpes simplex virus I is found in 54% of adults, and herpes simplex virus II in 16% of adults (usually in a latent state). HSV causes oral mouth sores.

	Study Title	Date	Details
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HHV-7 studies

HHV-7 is found in more than 85% in the US population (usually in a latent state).

	Study Title	Date	Details
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See also

• Epstein-Barr virus
• Human herpesvirus 6
• Cytomegalovirus
• Varicella zoster virus
• Herpes simplex virus
• Human herpesvirus 7
• List of enterovirus infection studies

Learn more

• HHV-6 Foundation

antibodies Antibody/immunoglobulin refers to any of a large number of specific proteins produced by B cells that act against an antigen in an immune response.

antibodies Antibody/immunoglobulin refers to any of a large number of specific proteins produced by B cells that act against an antigen in an immune response.

antibodies Antibody/immunoglobulin refers to any of a large number of specific proteins produced by B cells that act against an antigen in an immune response.

antibodies Antibody/immunoglobulin refers to any of a large number of specific proteins produced by B cells that act against an antigen in an immune response.

cytomegalovirus (CMV) - A common herpesvirus found in humans. Like other herpesviruses, it is a life-long infection that remains in a latent state inside the human body, until it is 'reactivated' by appropriate conditions. CMV infects between 60% to 70% of adults in industrialized countries and close to 100% in emerging countries. Much is unknown about this virus, although it has been found in salivary glands and myeloid blood cells such as monocytes. It has also been linked to the development of certain cancers. Congenital CMV is a leading infectious cause of deafness, learning disabilities, and intellectual disability. A common treatment for CMV is valganciclovir, commonly known as Valcyte.