COXSACKIE-B VIRUS-INFECTION AND ONSET OF CHILDHOOD DIABETES

Infection with Coxsackie B viruses has insulin-dependent diabetes mell itus. Nine samples (64%) taken from children at the onset of diabetes were positive for enterovirus RNA by PCR. All of the children were und er age six, and five were under age three. By contrast, enterovirus se quences were detected in only two of 45 serum samples from appropriate comparison children (4%). Sequences from six of the positive patients showed strong homology with Coxsachie B3 and B4 viruses, and there we re some common patterns among the sequences from infected diabetic chi ldren. This is evidence for a role for enteroviruses in childhood diab etes.