The findings of this peculiar virus are published in the Journal of Medical Virology and researchers at Oregon State University say the association between viral infection and the presence of a disease of unknown origin does not prove cause and effect, but rather raises important new questions.
Researchers say further investigations are needed to establish proof that infection of this virus in humans is causing liver damage or some other problems, which may include encephalitis and spontaneous abortion.
The virus, classified as Vesivirus, is one of four genera in the Caliciviridae viral family. Some caliciviruses cause disease in humans, such as the Norwalk virus.
Other caliciviruses cause a wide range of disease in other animal species. A variation of the previous virus, called Lagovirus, causes a deadly hemorrhagic disease and hepatitis that has killed millions of rabbits across four continents in the past 20 years.
