Is Chronic Fatigue Caused by a Virus?
Chronic fatigue is a debilitating syndrome of extreme fatigue that is not helped by resting or sleep. The fatigue can be both physical and mental. Researchers have been looking into viruses as a possible cause for chronic fatigue, but were previously unable to pinpoint a specific agent responsible for the condition.
A 2009 study regarding chronic fatigue syndrome showed a specific retrovirus to be present in blood samples obtained from a large percentage of participants. This led to hope that not only could a cause of chronic fatigue be pinpointed, but could lead to better treatment for individuals suffering from this syndrome.
However, before treatment options could be considered, more studies would have to confirm the retrovirus in others who suffer from chronic fatigue. Further studies found no evidence of the retrovirus in participants with chronic fatigue. This led to a review of the previous study.
It was discovered that somehow the participants' cultures were contaminated by the retrovirus. The contamination may have occurred from studies in the same laboratory regarding mouse DNA. Upon examination, the way the virus reached the participants' blood samples was more in line with a laboratory contamination rather than by passing from human to human.
Although it was found that the specific retrovirus does not cause chronic fatigue, it reduces some confusion from the results of the study. The study that showed chronic fatigue was caused by this retrovirus had scientists wondering how it could be passed between humans when it was previously believed it could not.
This shows that even the best-planned studies are not always accurate. This is just one reason why further studies need done even when a theory is proven by one study. Just because this syndrome is not caused by this particular retrovirus does not mean researchers won't find another viral agent that could be responsible, and they may find that chronic fatigue is caused by a virus after all.
SOURCE:
Stephanie Hue, et al.; Disease-associated XMRV sequences are consistent with laboratory contamination; Retrovirology
Published by Jolynne M Hudnell
Jolynne is a part-time freelance writer and independently-published poet. Jolynne has knowledge and experience in a variety of topics. Jolynne enjoys singing and writing poetry. Her published work in... View profile
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