Mysterious Seafood Virus May Be Behind Emerging Eye Disease, Scientists Warn

Key Points:

• Researchers in China have linked the covert mortality nodavirus (CMNV), a virus affecting shrimp and other seafood, to an emerging human eye disease called persistent ocular hypertension viral anterior uveitis (POH-VAU), which can cause permanent blindness.
• The study found CMNV viral particles and antibodies in the eye tissues of POH-VAU patients, many of whom had recent exposure to raw seafood; infected mice also developed similar eye symptoms, suggesting a possible causative role for CMNV.
• POH-VAU is characterized by high intraocular pressure and uvea inflammation, and unlike typical viral anterior uveitis caused by herpesviruses, this new form appears linked to an aquatic virus, marking the first known ocean-origin virus associated with human eye disease.
• While further research is needed to confirm CMNV’s role and transmission methods, the findings raise concerns about zoonotic diseases originating from marine environments and the potential for human-to-human spread, as some cases lacked clear seafood exposure.
• CMNV has been detected in 49 aquatic species worldwide, indicating a growing risk for broader exposure through seafood consumption or environmental contact, emphasizing the need for increased surveillance and study of marine zoonoses.