A new cyclovirus linked to brain linflammation in Vietnam may have jumped to humans from livestock.USDA, Scott Bauer
Two members of a mysterious family of viruses known for their circular genomes have recently popped up in Asia and Africa. According to two independent studies published last week, the disease agents, called cycloviruses, may be involved in outbreaks of brain inflammation in Vietnam and paraplegia in Malawi. However, the causative link between the viruses and the diseases has yet to be determined.
Scientists searching for the cause of central nervous system (CNS) infections in Vietnam turned to next-generation sequencing methods to hunt for potential pathogens. One sample from more than 100 patients with undiagnosed CNS infections turned up a possible suspect: a virus in the Circoviridae family, dubbed CyCV-VN for cyclovirus-Vietnam. After broadening their search for the virus, the researchers found that 4 percent ...
