A process in which a symbiont interferes with, inhibits or disrupts a cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptor signaling pathway in a host organism by reducing the activity of host MAVS (mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein). MAVS is a signal transducer that lies downstream of the viral RNA receptors MDA-5 and RIG-I to coordinate host innate immune responses.
suppression by virus of host mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein