If Chronic Fatigue Syndrome involves HHV-8 and Kaposi's Sarcoma, scientists will have to ask if it came from pigs.

Another HHV-8- associated condition, the KSHV inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS), has been more recently described.^48-50 Patients with this syndrome display MCD-like inflammatory symptoms, but do not have pathological findings of MCD. Patients with KICS are frequently critically ill and demonstrate marked elevations in IL-6 and IL-10, as well as high plasma HHV-8 viral loads. KICS may contribute to the inflammatory symptoms seen in some patients with severe KS or PEL, and there may be significant clinical overlap between these conditions. 

https://aidsinfo.nih.gov/guidelines/html/4/adult-and-adolescent-opportunistic-infection/342/hhv-8

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients may have undiagnosed internal Kaposi's Sarcoma.

Prevalence in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of the Following Infectious Agents in a Cohort of 12 CFS Subjects

Susan Levine

Published online: 04 Dec 2011

ABSTRACT

Over the last decade a wide variety of infectious agents has been associated with the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as potential etiologies for this disorder by researchers from all over the world. Many of these agents are neurotrophic and have been linked previously to other diseases involving the central nervous system (CNS). Human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6), especially the B variant, has been found in autopsy specimens of patients who suffered from multiple sclerosis. Because patients with CFS manifest a wide range of symptoms involving the CNS as shown by abnormalities on brain MRIs, SPECT scans of the brain and results of tilt table testing we sought to determine the prevalence of HHV-6, HHV-8, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Mycoplasma species, Chlamydia species, and Coxsackie virus in the spinal fluid of a group of 12 patients with CFS. Although we intended to search mainly for evidence of actively replicating HHV-6, a virus that has been associated by several researchers with this disorder, we found evidence of HHV-8, Chlamydia species, CMV and Coxsackie virus in 6/12 samples. Attempts were made to correlate the clinical presentations of each of these patients, especially the neurological exams and results of objective testing of the CNS, with the particular infectious agent isolated. It was also surprising to obtain such a relatively high yield of infectious agents on cell free specimens of spinal fluid that had not been centrifuged. Future research in spinal fluid analysis, in addition to testing tissue samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and other direct viral isolation techniques will be important in characterizing subpopulations of CFS patients, especially those with involvement of the CNS.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J092v09n01_05


If HHV-8 (which seems to cause Castleman Disease) really is African Swine Fever then pigs will make an excellent model for studying Castleman Disease. Is this an indication that HHV-8 is really African Swine Fever Virus?

"Primary HHV-8 infection may be associated with fever and a maculopapular rash in immunocompetent children."

http://www.uptodate.com/contents/disease-associations-of-human-herpesvirus-8-infection

High prevalence of antibodies to human herpesvirus 8 in relatives of patients with classic Kaposi's sarcoma from Sardinia.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9607855

Infection with human herpesvirus type 8 and Kaposi's sarcoma in Sardinia.

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16501902

 

 Epidemiology of HHV8 in Sardinian emigrants

 http://www.dsnm.univr.it/?ent=progetto&id=565

 Both ASFV and HHV-8 Interfere with apoptosis.

Are ASFV-infected Pigs the viral source of HHV-8 related Kaposi's Sarcoma in Sardinia? Is a ASFV-related Kaposi's Sarcoma epidemic possible in Russia where ASFV is spreading?

 https://hhv6.jottit.com/35._pigs_and_kaposi%27s_sarcoma_in_sardinia

The world's highest incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma occurs in Sardinia (Reference) Is it possible that it is due to the fact that African Swine Fever Virus is endemic on the island? (Reference) One study suggests that the incidence of K.S. in northern Sardinia is highest in a countryside area where people have contact with animals. (Reference) Given the high prevalence of HHV-8,--the so-called K.S. herpes virus--in Sardinia (Reference) is it at all possible that HHV-8 may have been misclassified and actually is a human-adapted form of African Swine Fever Virus? (ASFV has been at least visually mistaken for another herpes virus, CMV, in the past.)

A number of experiments could be conducted to explore this hypothesis. In addition to a direct comparison of ASFV and HHV-8, pigs with African Swine Fever Virus could be tested for sequences of HHV-8. People with Kaposi's sarcoma could be tested for sequences of African Swine Fever, including new Asfaviridae sequences recently discovered. (Reference) 

A comparison of the K.S. lesions in humans and ASFV lesions in pigs might be in order.Given that African Swine Fever is currently spreading in Russia and is now threatening Europe and China, (Reference) it would be useful to know whether people who are exposed to pigs with ASFV are at increased risk for HHV-8, Kaposi's sarcoma and the other pathologies associated with HHV-8. A study in sub-Saharan Africa where ASFV is endemic and HHV-8 is also endemic (Reference) might be useful. And areas of Russia where ASFV is spreading could be monitored closely for any signs of an increase of K.S. or HHV-8 infection and HHV-8 related pathologies.HHV-8 is an emerging health problem. HHV-8-associated K.S. is a significant problem in AIDS patients. It may also be the key to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. HHV-8 has been found in the cerebrospinal fluid of 50% of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome patients. (Reference) HHV-8 has been linked to type 2 diabetes. (Reference) HHV-8 has been detected in B-cells in Castleman's disease and primary effusion lymphoma. (Reference).

If HHV-8 is a form of ASFV, it is possible that pigs might constitute a useful animal model for the study of possible treatments for K.S. and other pathologies associated with HHV-8. And if there is any relationship between ASFV and HHV-8, people may have to be warned to take special precautions around pigs in areas where there are ASFV outbreaks. And countries where undercooked pork is consumed (like Ukraine where salo is a staple) may need to alert the public to cook all pork products thoroughly during ASFV epidemics.

 

A number of years ago, Neenyah Ostrom reported in the New
York Native on the lesions in CFS patients which seem
to resemble Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS). The current
thinking is that a virus called HHV-8 is the cause of
KS. (Although HHV-6 has recently also been implicated
once again.) If KS is a problem in CFS (and we
suspect it is) then one should be able to find HHV-8 and
HHV-6 in CFS patients. Apparently, in this small
study, one can. Below is a rather explosive abstract:

Prevalence in the cerebrospinal fluid of the following
infectious agents in a cohort of 12 CFS subjects:
human herpes virus-6 and 8; chlamydia species;
mycoplasma species; EBV; CMV; and Coxsackievirus.
Levine, S.
Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, 2001, 9, 1/2,
41-51.

Abstract:
Over the last decade a wide variety of infectious
agents have been associated with the CFS as potential
etiologies for this disorder. Many of these agents are
neurotrophic and have been linked previously to other
diseases involving the central nervous system (CNS).
Human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6), especially the B
variant, has been found in autopsy specimens of
patients who suffered from MS. Because patients with
CFS manifest a wide range of symptoms involving the
CNS as shown by abnormalities on brain MRIs, SPECT
scans of the brain and results of tilt table testing
we sought to determine the prevalence of HHV-6, HHV-8,
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV),
mycoplasma species, chlamydia species, and Coxsackie
virus in the spinal fluid of a group of 12 patients
with CFS (CDC criteria '94).

We found evidence of HHV-6, HHV-8, chlamydia species,
CMV and Coxsackie virus in 6/12 samples. Plasma tests
were negative. It was surprising to obtain such a
relatively high yield of infectious agents in cell
free specimens of spinal fluid that had not been
centrifuged. Future research in spinal fluid analysis,
in addition to testing tissue samples by polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) and other direct viral isolation
techniques will be important in characterizing
subpopulations of CFS patients, especially those with
involvement of the CNS.

The low rate of isolation of HHV-6 may be related to
the lack of gross neurological findings in the
patients at the time of testing.

An overview of KS:http://www.thebody.com/nmai/ks.html

Except for those who have made a lifelong commitment
to denial, finding the so-called "KS virus" (HHV-8)
and the "supporting KS virus" (HHV-6) in CFIDS patients
should help settle the question of the overlapping
nature of the AIDS and CFIDS epidemics.

Isn't it time to take a closer look at those crimson
crescents in the throats of CFIDS patients?

More info on KS here.

Given that HHV-8 is part of the HHV-6 and HHV-7 family, this may be very important:

"The 19R Protein of HHV-6 has significant amino acid sequence homology . . . to a protein encoded by African Swine Fever Virus."

--Glenda L. Lawrence, John Nicholas and Bart G. Barrell
Journal of General virology (1995), 76, 147-152

 Click here for more information on this issue.

 

 

 

A documentary about the transmission of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome between people and their pets.




Charles Ortleb discusses the 1998 research by Dr. Thomas Glass on the possible transmission of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome between people and their pets. He also reads from an article by Neenyah Ostrom published eight years earlier in his newspaper, New York Native. Ostrom reported on a woman with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome whose sick dog tested positive for HHV-6, the virus that in increasingly being linked to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Did Chronic Fatigue Syndrome come from pigs? Will pigs make the best animal model for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Antibody Cross-Reactivity between Porcine Cytomegalovirus (PCMV) and Human Herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6)

http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/9/11/317

Porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV) infection is widely prevalent among pigs, and PCMV is one of the viruses which may be transmitted during xenotransplantation using pig cells, tissues, or organs. While human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major risk factor for allotransplantation, it is still unclear whether PCMV is able to infect human cells or pose a risk for xenotransplantation. Previously, it was shown that transmission of PCMV after pig kidney to non-human primate transplantations resulted in a significantly reduced survival time of the transplanted organ. To detect PCMV, PCR-based and immunological methods were used. Screening of pigs by Western blot analyses using recombinant viral proteins revealed up to 100% of the tested animals to be infected. When the same method was applied to screen human sera for PCMV-reactive antibodies, positive Western blot results were obtained in butchers and workers in the meat industry as well as in normal blood donors. To exclude an infection of humans with PCMV, the sera were further investigated. PCMV is closely related to human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus-7 (HHV-7), and a sequence alignment of glycoprotein B suggests that the antibodies may cross-react with identical epitope sequences. HCMV is not related with PCMV, and no correlation between antibody reactivity against PCMV and HCMV was detected. These data indicate that antibodies against PCMV found in humans are cross-reactive antibodies against HHV-6. View Full-Text


Will a porcine animal model using HHV-6 be useful for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? 

Dr. Serge Barcy has recently identified and begun to characterize two new homologs of HHV-6 and HHV-7 which naturally infect pig-tailed macaques. He has already reported that the blood prevalence and tissue tropism of MneHV6 and MneHV7 are similar to that seen with HHV6 and HHV7 in humans. Using these animals as a nonhuman primate model of HHV-6 and HHV-7 natural infection.


http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/science-industry-partnerships/partnership-opportunities/hhv-human-herpesvirus/

Virology. 2014 Dec;471-473:126-40. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2014.10.008. Epub 2014 Oct 31.

Discovery and biological characterization of two novel pig-tailed macaque homologs of HHV-6 and HHV-7.

Staheli JP¹, Dyen MR², Lewis P³, Barcy S⁴.

Author information

Abstract

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and -7 (HHV-7) are Roseoloviruses within the Betaherpesvirus family, which have a high prevalence and suspected involvement in a number of diseases. Using CODEHOP-based PCR, we identified homologs of both viruses in saliva of pig-tailed macaques, provisionally named MneHV-6 and MneHV-7. This finding supports the existence of two distinct Roseolovirus lineages before the divergence of humans and macaques. Using specific qPCR assays, high levels of MneHV-6 and MneHV-7 DNA were detected in macaque saliva, although the frequency was greater for MneHV-7. A blood screen of 283 macaques revealed 10% MneHV-6 DNA positivity and 25% MneHV-7 positivity, with higher prevalences of MneHV-6 in older females and of MneHV-7 in younger males. Levels of MneHV-6 were increased in animals coinfected with MneHV-7, and both viruses were frequently detected in salivary gland and stomach tissues. Our discovery provides a unique animal model to answer unresolved questions regarding Roseolovirus pathology.

The existence of roseolovirus homologs in non-human primates had been suggested based on serological data (Higashi et al., 1989). Attempts to find HHV-6-like sequences in pig-tailed macaques by HHV-6-specific PCR failed, which led to the assumption that these animals are not commonly infected by a virus related to HHV-6 (Lusso et al., 1994a). Our studies clearly show that pig-tailed macaques are naturally infected with two distinct roseoloviruses closely related to HHV-6 and HHV-7, suggesting that MneHV-6 and MneHV-7 infections in macaques would be an important non-human primate model of roseolovirus infections and pathology. Taken together, our discovery and initial analysis of two novel roseolovirus homologs in macaques offers a unique opportunity to develop relevant animal models using viruses native to the host to answer various unresolved questions surrounding their biology and respective roles as etiological agents in diseases.

J Virol. 2016 Jul 11;90(15):6657-6674. doi: 10.1128/JVI.00651-16. Print 2016 Aug 1.

Complete Unique Genome Sequence, Expression Profile, and Salivary Gland Tissue Tropism of the Herpesvirus 7 Homolog in Pigtailed Macaques.

Staheli JP¹, Dyen MR¹, Deutsch GH², Basom RS³, Fitzgibbon MP⁴, Lewis P¹, Barcy S^5,6.

Author information

Abstract

Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A), HHV-6B, and HHV-7 are classified as roseoloviruses and are highly prevalent in the human population. Roseolovirus reactivation in an immunocompromised host can cause severe pathologies. While the pathogenic potential of HHV-7 is unclear, it can reactivate HHV-6 from latency and thus contributes to severe pathological conditions associated with HHV-6. Because of the ubiquitous nature of roseoloviruses, their roles in such interactions and the resulting pathological consequences have been difficult to study. Furthermore, the lack of a relevant animal model for HHV-7 infection has hindered a better understanding of its contribution to roseolovirus-associated diseases. Using next-generation sequencing analysis, we characterized the unique genome of an uncultured novel pigtailed macaque roseolovirus. Detailed genomic analysis revealed the presence of gene homologs to all 84 known HHV-7 open reading frames. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the virus is a macaque homolog of HHV-7, which we have provisionally named Macaca nemestrina herpesvirus 7 (MneHV7). Using high-throughput RNA sequencing, we observed that the salivary gland tissue samples from nine different macaques had distinct MneHV7 gene expression patterns and that the overall number of viral transcripts correlated with viral loads in parotid gland tissue and saliva. Immunohistochemistry staining confirmed that, like HHV-7, MneHV7 exhibits a natural tropism for salivary gland ductal cells. We also observed staining for MneHV7 in peripheral nerve ganglia present in salivary gland tissues, suggesting that HHV-7 may also have a tropism for the peripheral nervous system. Our data demonstrate that MneHV7-infected macaques represent a relevant animal model that may help clarify the causality between roseolovirus reactivation and diseases.

IMPORTANCE:

Human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A), HHV-6B, and HHV-7 are classified as roseoloviruses. We have recently discovered that pigtailed macaques are naturally infected with viral homologs of HHV-6 and HHV-7, which we provisionally named MneHV6 and MneHV7, respectively. In this study, we confirm that MneHV7 is genetically and biologically similar to its human counterpart, HHV-7. We determined the complete unique MneHV7 genome sequence and provide a comprehensive annotation of all genes. We also characterized viral transcription profiles in salivary glands from naturally infected macaques. We show that broad transcriptional activity across most of the viral genome is associated with high viral loads in infected parotid glands and that late viral protein expression is detected in salivary duct cells and peripheral nerve ganglia. Our study provides new insights into the natural behavior of an extremely prevalent virus and establishes a basis for subsequent investigations of the mechanisms that cause HHV-7 reactivation and associated disease.

If you have Amazon Prime or Kindle Unlimited you can immediately begin reading this book that discusses the relationship between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, pets, and pigs.

If you have Amazon Prime or Kindle Unlimited, you can immediately begin reading The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epidemic Cover-up and you will soon understand why the facts about the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome epidemic have been hidden from the public for almost four decades.

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This is the book causing heated debates about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and HHV-6, "The Fifty Shades of AIDS Virus," in laboratories, doctor's offices, and homes all over the world.

                                                              

In his bestselling book, The Black Swan, Nassim Nicholas Taleb wrote, "I see the risks of a very strange acute virus spreading throughout the planet." This book by Charles Ortleb warns that the virus causing Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is that virus.

This book belongs in the library of anyone who wants to know the disturbing history of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome epidemic and the deadly virus HHV-6. Why have the CDC and NIH pretended that the communicable disease fraudulently called "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" is a mystery for over three decades? By the end of this book of inconvenient truths the answer is crystal clear. The shocking news and bold analysis in this page-turner could lead to a revolution in the science and politics of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, AIDS, autism, and many other illnesses. Scientists, doctors, nurses, patients, journalists, politicians, and historians must begin their journey to a full understanding of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome epidemic with this book.

As the publisher and editor-in-chief of a small newspaper in New York, Charles Ortleb was the first journalist to devote a publication to uncovering the truth about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He assigned Neenyah Ostrom the duty of following every twist and turn of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome story. No newspaper in the world did more to warn the world about the virus which seems to be triggering Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and many other immunological disorders. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and AIDS are just the tip of the HHV-6 iceberg.

This provocative book will end the injustice of the silent treatment Neenyah Ostrom's reporting has been getting from the media and The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome community. Ostrom blew the lid off one of the biggest medical secrets of our time: the link between the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome epidemic and AIDS.

Ostrom interviewed most of the major researchers in the field, as well as countless patients and government scientists. She uncovered so many similarities between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and AIDS that she came to the conclusion that they are part of the same epidemic, and she argued that until their connection is admitted by top government researchers, there is little hope of making real progress in the fight against Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Charles Ortleb's book captures all the challenges and excitement of running a small newspaper that was publishing a brilliant journalist who essentially was the Woodward and Bernstein of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome epidemic. In Rolling Stone, David Black said Ortleb's newspaper deserved a Pulitzer Prize. Randy Shilts praised Ortleb's newspaper in And the Band Played On.

                                                            

This book continues the work Ortleb has been doing to raise awareness about HHV-6 and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome at his website HHV-6 University. Fewer and fewer people now pretend that HHV-6 is harmless. Thanks to Ortleb's efforts, more and more people are abandoning HHV-6 denialism and admitting the virus is at the center of a public health disaster.

 Hillary Johnson, the author of Osler's Web, called it "A rollicking, fascinating and important memoir."

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