Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex chronic condition affecting multiple body systems, with unknown cause, unclear pathogenesis mechanisms, and fluctuating symptoms which may lead to severe debilitation. It is frequently reported to have been triggered by an infection, particularly with herpes virus family members; however, there are no clear differences in exposure to, or seroprevalence of, any herpes virus in people with ME/CFS and healthy individuals. Herpes viruses exist in lytic and latent forms, and it is possible that ME/CFS is associated with viral reactivation, which has not been detectable previously due to insensitive testing methods.
Saliva samples were collected from 30 people living with ME/CFS at monthly intervals for six months and at times when they experienced symptom exacerbation, as well as from 14 healthy control individuals. The viral DNA load of the nine human herpes viruses was determined by digital droplet PCR. Symptoms were assessed by questionnaire at each time point.
Human herpes virus (HHV) 6B, HHV-7, herpes simplex virus 1 and Epstein Barr virus were detectable within the saliva samples, with higher HHV-6B and HHV-7 viral loads detected in people with ME/CFS than in healthy controls. Participants with ME/CFS could be broadly separated into two groups: one group displayed fluctuating patterns of herpes viruses detectable across the six months while the second group displayed more stable viral presentation. In the first group, there was positive correlation between HHV-6B and HHV-7 viral load and severity of symptom scores, including pain, neurocognition and autonomic dysfunction.
The results indicate that fluctuating viral load, related to herpesvirus reactivation state, may play a role in ME/CFS pathogenesis, or might be a consequence of dysregulated immune function. The sampling strategy and molecular tools developed permit large-scale epidemiological investigations.
