Abstract
The LV, a member of the Parechovirus genus and the Picornaviridae family, was isolated originally from a wild reservoir, the bank vole (M. glareolus). LV is associated with myocarditis, encephalitis, pregnancy-related diseases, and diabetes in wild rodents. The same pathological conditions can be induced in mice when examined in the laboratory. Several mouse and rat animal models used in diabetes research have been found to be carriers of the LV. The role of the viruses in human diabetes pathogenesis is conjectural. Variations in the incidence of human type 1 diabetes have been found to correlate with the fluctuations in native rodent populations in central Sweden. Increased prevalence of antibodies to LV has been detected in Swedish type 1 diabetes cases. However, LV has not been isolated and its viral RNA has not been detected in type 1 diabetes patients. Investigations of the pancreatic islets in infected animal have shown virus particles in the pancreatic islets, altered islet function, and changed islet structure. Treating infected animals with antiviral compounds results in retardation of progression of the disease.
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