Potential of Viruses as Environmental Etiological Factors for Non-Syndromic Orofacial Clefts.

In this study, we analyzed the potential of viral infections in the species Homo sapiens as environmental causes of orofacial clefts (OFCs). A scoring system was adapted for qualitatively assessing the potential of viruses to cause cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). This assessment considered factors such as information from the literature, nucleotide and amino acid similarities, and the presence of Endogenous Viral Elements (EVEs). The analysis involved various algorithm packages within Basic Local Alignment Search Tool 2.13.0 software and databases from the National Center for Biotechnology Information and the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Twenty significant viral species using different biosynthesis strategies were identified: Human coronavirus NL63, Rio Negro virus, Alphatorquevirus homin9, Brisavirus, Cosavirus B, Torque teno mini virus 4, Bocaparvovirus primate2, Human coronavirus HKU1, Monkeypox virus, Mammarenavirus machupoense, Volepox virus, Souris mammarenavirus, Gammapapillomavirus 7, Betainfluenzavirus influenzae, Lymphocytic choriomeningitis mammarenavirus, Ledantevirus kern, Gammainfluenzavirus influenzae, Betapolyomavirus hominis, Vesiculovirus perinet, and Cytomegalovirus humanbeta5. The evident viral etiological potential in relation to CL/P varies depending on the Baltimore class to which the viral species belongs. Given the multifactorial nature of CL/P, this relationship appears to be dynamic.

Coxsackie viral infection and orofacial cleft.

The incidence of orofacial cleft (OC) in newborns was compared with the occurrence of virus-neutralizing antibodies to coxsackie viruses in the serum of newborns and their mothers. No significant difference was found when comparing the seropositivity rates between the group of patients and the control group of healthy newborns. If the patients were divided according to the place of residence however, marked differences occurred between the regions. The lowest incidence of both--coxsackie infection and OC was determined in the region of Bratislava and the highest in the region of Zilina. The explanation of these findings recquires a more detailed analysis of genetic background, social and hygienic status, style of life and other factors, known to influence the development of OC as multi-etiological developmental disorder. (Tab. 2, Fig. 4, Ref. 12.).