1. Introduction

This section presents a descriptive analysis of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of an unidentified contagious pathogen. The study cohort comprises 74 internationally reported cases, encompassing individuals of diverse ages and sexes, who exhibit a comparable severe chronic condition of unknown etiology and demonstrate shared exposures, clinical manifestations, and disease progression.

The pathogen remains transmissible for years, with documented cases of transmission to both current and subsequent partners

2. The alarm

Since the early 2010s, reports have appeared on online forums describing a possible sexually transmissible pathogen. These accounts, originating primarily from individuals and couples active in the libertine community, consistently involve transmission occurring during encounters in which protective measures were used, with the exception of oral sex. Affected persons typically described an initial acute phase resembling an influenza-like illness, followed by a chronic course marked by neurological and rheumatological manifestations. Testimonies further indicate subsequent transmission to new partners during intimate contact.

Similar patterns have also been reported among younger sexually active populations engaging in transactional sex, again in contexts where only oral sex remained unprotected.

The recurrence and consistency of these observations led an international patient community to initiate exploratory investigations in collaboration with healthcare professionals.

3. Mode of transmission

Patients are infected through a similar way: non protected oral sex. Even after years of being infected, people remain highly contagious. All people in couples have infected their past and current partners. This is a strong evidence that the symptoms can’t be only explained by sudden auto-immune triggered processes.

The pathogen is spread via direct saliva-to-mucous membrane contact

4. Symptoms

This unknown pathology is leading to a disease characterized by two phases: a primo-infection and a chronic phase. Patients remain contagious all their live long after being infected.

Primo-infection

The incubation period lasts 1 up to 2 weeks before first symptoms appear. This period is characterized by flu-like symptoms for a couple of weeks up to 1 month.

Chronic phase

An increase of symptoms is notified as from 4 weeks after the onset. The list of symptoms is long and deeply affect the well-being of the patient. This infectious agent induces severe neurological damage in affected patients, often leaving them with long-term disabilities. They suffer chronically from visual and auditory impairments, as well as significant loss of muscular strength.

The symptoms remains over time and increase in terms of severity… Due to the lack of clear data from long-term sufferers, we don’t have a clear view yet of the potential lethality of this disease.

5. Abnormalities in clinical parameters

This section focuses on the abnormal vital parameters identified in patients.

6. Conclusion

Overall, the findings are consistent with a pathogenic origin of the abnormalities observed in the patients under study, although their precise cause remains unknown.