A surprising new discovery has revealed that a virus usually found in sea animals may now be infecting humans and causing a serious eye condition.
This finding has raised concerns among scientists and doctors, as it suggests that diseases can sometimes cross from animals to humans in unexpected ways.
The study, published in the journal Nature Microbiology, focused on a condition that has been increasing in recent years, especially in China. This condition is known as persistent ocular hypertension viral anterior uveitis. It is a long and difficult name, but it mainly describes a disease that causes very high pressure inside the eye along with inflammation.
People with this condition may experience eye pain, redness, blurred vision, and in some cases, long-term damage to their sight. Doctors noticed that more patients were developing this condition, but they could not find the usual causes. Common eye viruses, such as herpes, were not present in these patients.
Because of this mystery, researchers began to suspect another possible cause. They focused on a virus called covert mortality nodavirus, or CMNV. This virus is normally found in marine animals like shrimp and fish and has not been known to infect humans before.
To investigate further, scientists studied 70 patients who had been diagnosed with the eye condition between 2022 and 2025. They examined tissue samples taken from the patients’ eyes during surgery. Using powerful microscopes, they found small virus particles that looked very similar to CMNV.
To be sure, the researchers used special laboratory techniques to identify the virus. They used antibodies designed to attach only to CMNV, and the results confirmed its presence. They also analyzed the genetic material of the virus and found that it was almost identical to the version found in aquatic animals.
This strongly suggested that the virus had crossed from sea animals to humans.
The researchers also looked at the lifestyles of the patients. They found that many of them had frequent contact with raw seafood. Some handled fish or shrimp without wearing gloves, while others often ate raw seafood.
This suggests that the virus may enter the body through direct contact or through food, although more research is needed to confirm exactly how infection occurs.
To test whether the virus was actually causing the disease, scientists carried out further experiments. They infected cells in the laboratory and also studied infected mice. The animals developed similar symptoms to those seen in human patients, including increased pressure in the eyes.
This provides strong evidence that CMNV is not just present, but likely plays a role in causing the disease.
Another important finding is that this virus is not limited to one region. The researchers found CMNV in many types of aquatic animals across the world, including in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. This suggests that the risk may not be limited to one country.
However, it is important to understand the limits of this study. While the evidence is strong, this is still early research. More studies are needed to understand how common this infection is, how it spreads, and how it can be prevented or treated.
Despite these uncertainties, the study raises important questions about food safety and handling practices. It highlights the need for proper hygiene when handling raw seafood and caution when consuming raw animal products.
In conclusion, this discovery shows how diseases can move between species and affect human health in new ways. It also reminds us that global health is closely linked to environmental and food-related factors.
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Source: Chinese Academy of Sciences.
