Coxsackie B virus infection and onset of childhood diabetes

Infection with Coxsackie B viruses has been linked to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Nine of 14 serum samples (64%) taken from children at the onset of diabetes were positive for enterovirus RNA by PCR. All of the children were under age six, and five were under age three. By contrast, enterovirus sequences 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 Coxsackie B3 and B4 viruses, and there were some common patterns among the sequences from infected diabetic children. This is evidence for a role for enteroviruses in childhood diabetes.