Occurrence of enterovirus RNA in serum of children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and islet cell autoantibody-positive subjects in a population with a low incidence of type 1 diabetes.

Background: The penetrance of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in a genetically susceptible population is largely determined by environmental influences amongst which the human enteroviruses are prominent putative factors.

Aim/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of enterovirus RNA in serum of children with type 1 diabetes at onset and ICA-positive subjects in a population with low incidence of type 1 diabetes and high circulation of enteroviruses.

Subjects And Methods: Serum samples were collected from children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes (n = 34); islet autoantibody-positive (n = 32) and -negative (n = 31) first-degree relatives of type 1 diabetic patients; and control subjects (n = 194).