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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Isolation of Fidelity Variants of RNA Viruses and Characterization of Virus Mutation Frequency
Published on: June 16, 2011
Coxsackievirus B3 infection and its mutation in Keshan disease
Li-Qun Ren1, Xiang-Jun Li, Guang-Sheng Li
1Department of Pathology, Institute of Frontier Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin Province, China. ligs@public.cc.jl.cn
Aim:
To investigate coxsackievirus B(3) infection and its gene mutation in Keshan disease.
Methods:
The expression of Coxsackievirus B(3) RNA was detected in autopsy specimens of acute (12 cases), sub-acute (27 cases) and chronic (15 cases) Keshan disease by in situ hybridization. In sub-acute Keshan disease specimens, 3 cases with positive result by in situ hybridization were selected RT-PCR analysis. The DNA segments were then sequenced.
Results:
Coxsackievirus B(3) RNA was detected in the cytoplasm of myocardiocyte. The positive rate was 83% in acute, 67% in sub-acute and 80% in chronic Keshan disease. In the conservative region of Coxsackievirus B(3) genome, there was a mutation in 234 (C-T) compared to the non-cardiovirulent strain, CVB(3/0).
Conclusion:
Coxsackievirus B(3) RNA can survive and replicate in heart muscle of Keshan disease, which may play an important role in the occurrence of Keshan disease. The possible mechanism of occurrence of Keshan disease is associated with point a mutation in Coxsackievirus B(3) genome.
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