Archive for the ‘Bartonella’ Category

Clarifying a Tragic Situation & Understanding Lyme Disease

https://news.hamlethub.com/ridgefield/life/64907-clairfying-a-tragic-situation-and-understanding-lyme-disease

Clarifying a tragic situation and understanding Lyme Disease

Published on Sunday, 17 November 2019 17:04
Written by Kerry Anne Ducey

HamletHub and several other media outlets recently reported about a 21 year old Ridgefield male who was charged with assault on Friday, November 15.

We have since learned of this man’s plight and offer our apologies for any insensitivity on our part. This 2016 RHS grad has been dealing with the very serious, complicated, and often misunderstood symptoms of Lyme Disease and has been diagnosed with Bartonella and Babesia, both co-infections of the disease. We have also learned that his actions were the direct result of manifestations of this horrific illness. 

We would like to clear the air and explain more about Lyme Disease in order to let the community know that this man and his family, upstanding and longtime residents, have been battling a disease which, unfortunately, can have tragic consequences. We offer thoughts and prayers for healing for all.

According to a report published by the US Library of Medicine, Lyme Disease,  transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, can be associated with various psychiatric presentations due to inflammation causing neurodegenerative changes (read more here) as was the case with this 21 year old, a warm, loving and hardworking member of our community who has absolutely no history of aggressive behavior. 

Please read more about Lyme Disease here. This is a disease we must not battle alone.

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For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2015/10/18/psychiatric-lymemsids/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/09/17/ignoring-psychiatric-lyme-disease-at-our-peril/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/08/11/the-unfortunate-connections-between-lyme-disease-mental-illness/

Mainstream medicine has yet to acknowledge and embrace the seriousness of this complex disease which often involves far more than just Lyme disease.  The wide spread systemic inflammation this causes is unbelievable.  They also have yet to acknowledge the effects upon the brain and behavior.

In this claims report, the #1 treatment sought by Lyme patients was psychological care:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/12/14/trends-and-patterns-in-lyme-disease-an-analysis-of-private-claims-data/

Until mainstream medicine wakes up from its coma, Lyme/MSIDS patients will continue to be told they are just imagining things.

Category:

Babesia, Bartonella, Inflammation, Lyme, Psychological Aspects

Multifocal Hepatic Abscess in Immunocompetent Patient Due to Bartonella Henselae: Case Report With Review of Literature

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31745036

2019 Apr-Jun;37(2):292-295. doi: 10.4103/ijmm.IJMM_19_4.

Multifocal hepatic abscesses in immunocompetent patient due to Bartonella henselae: Case report with review of literature.

Agrawal SK1, Das P2; Shalimar3, Swatantra G3, Chaudhry R1.

Abstract

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of multifocal hepatic abscesses in a young immunocompetent adult from India, which was successfully treated with hepatectomy and short course of oral antibiotic regimen. Publishing further such case reports will provide more clarity regarding the clinical significance of the disease, including associated risk factors and appropriate treatment.

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**Comment**

Hepatic abscesses, like abscesses elsewhere, are localized collections of necrotic inflammatory tissue caused by bacterial, parasitic or fungal agents. In this case, Bartonella.  Multifocal just means the abscesses are in more than one location.

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/11/27/development-spontaneous-resolution-of-a-full-thickness-macular-hole-in-bartonella-neuroretinitis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/24/human-bartonellosis-an-underappreciated-public-health-problem/

 

 

 

Category:

Bartonella, Uncategorized

Bartonella & Blood: Infection of Erythrocytes

https://www.galaxydx.com/bartonella-and-blood/

written on

Bartonella and Blood: Infection of Erythrocytes

Bartonella species are notoriously difficult to detect when testing patient blood specimens.

The bacteria use immunosuppression as a tactic to avoid immune recognition, so serology tests that detect antibodies can be negative even during a long-standing infection. Furthermore, the bacteria move in and out of the blood in a relapsing pattern. Therefore, a PCR test designed to detect Bartonella species DNA in blood could be positive for a sample collected on one day and then negative on the next day even in blood collected from the same patient.

We’ve previously written about serology and PCR.

Bartonella bacteria adhere to and invade erythrocytes, that is, red blood cells. Diagnostically, how is it possible that a key niche for the bacteria is in the blood, and yet the bacteria often cannot be found there?

“Bartonella species and erythrocyte invasion remains incompletely understood,” said Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt, co-founder of Galaxy Diagnostics. “B. bacilliformis is an outlier in the context of a species that induces a severe, often acute hemolytic anemia. Also, laboratory studies with rodents don’t necessarily recapitulate what happens in larger animals, including humans.”

Nonetheless, Dr. Breitschwerdt and other researchers conclude that infection with Bartonella species should be considered in anemia of unknown origin.

Severe Cases and Anemia

As mentioned by Dr. Breitschwerdt, there is one species of Bartonella that is an outlier in this puzzle. Bartonella bacilliformis, a species endemic to South America and primarily transmitted by sand flies, is particularly adapted to entering erythrocytes for reasons that are unknown. This species causes Carrion’s disease, characterized by skin nodules and fever, with the acute stage of the infection being called Oroya fever. During the acute phase, there is a rapid rise in fever, sometimes accompanied by anemic shock and death. No one is certain why B. bacilliformis is so much more adept at infecting erythrocytes, but it may have something to do with its double flagella. This whip-like tail controls movement of the bacterium in liquid medium and also plays a role in interacting with the immune system.

Carrion’s disease, resulting from Bartonella bacilliformis infection, can cause damage to red blood cells leading to acute hemolytic anemia (Source: NIH).

In the Lab: Small Animals and Cell Cultures

Keeping in mind Dr. Breitschwerdt’s caution about how laboratory studies do not always apply to people, nonetheless we don’t have a lot of other places to turn for information. Research shows that this is what happens when rodents are experimentally infected with Bartonella species:

  • First, the infection is generally cleared from the bloodstream rapidly as the bacteria finds other niches.
  • At this point of initial infection, Bartonella species are generally not able to infect erythrocytes.
  • Bacteria multiply in other niches. Only after increasing in numbers and developing immune protection are they able to return to the blood stream and adhere to and enter erythrocytes.
  • They are more adept at infecting new erythrocytes than mature erythrocytes

In human cell cultures, Bartonella henselae have been recorded entering human erythrocytes within 72 hours of infection. At this point, their ability to avoid immune detection far exceeds comparator flagellates such as Salmonella species. Nonetheless, their replication is somewhat hampered. In laboratory studies, researchers have found that the bacterial count stabilizes at eight bacteria per erythrocyte.

The fact that most Bartonella species have trouble entering mature erythrocytes may be life-saving. It appears that most infection occurs in newly formed cells called reticulocytes, a developmental stage that only lasts about a day before they develop into mature erythrocytes. Overcoming this limitation may be part of what allows B. bacilliformis to infect mature erythrocytes, resulting in Oroya fever, hemolytic anemia and a more dramatic hematological disease than is associated with most other Bartonella infections.

Current Thinking on Erythrocyte Infections in Humans

The host response probably has a large influence on whether and to what degree an individual’s Bartonella species infection develops in erythrocytes. Immune factors influence whether the bacteria are detected in the blood when it is vulnerable as it adheres to an erythrocyte. Some level of bacterial destruction will happen during attempted erythrocyte invasion.

Another factor that is not well understood is infection of the progenitor cells that make erythrocytes. It may be that Bartonellas pecies are not good at invading erythrocytes at all, but rather originate in these progenitor cells. One study showed that CD34+progenitor cells isolated from humans could be colonized by Bartonella henselae and result in a persistent intraerythrocytic infection. Currently, B. henselae is the only species known to infect CD34+ progenitor cells.

Lastly, a well-functioning lymph system, including the spleen, continually clears infected erythrocytes.

Read more about bartonellosis, lymph nodes and the spleen.

It may be that bacteria found in the blood don’t necessarily represent an unusual blood event but rather the disease process affecting the immune system. When the immune system is functioning normally, detectable Bartonella bacteria in the bloodstream may or may not be related to infection of erythrocytes. Rather, bloodstream infection may represent the periodic release of bacteria from other areas of the body.

Conclusion

Despite laboratory bench research and small animal experiments, bloodstream availability of Bartonella species bacteria in humans is incompletely understood. What is known is that despite the ability of bacteria to enter erythrocytes, they are rarely found in circulating erythrocytes in the bloodstream.

References

Deng, H. et al. (2018). Molecular mechanisms of Bartonella and mammalian erythrocyte interactions: A review. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 8, 431. doi:10.3389/fcimb.2018.00431 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6299047/

Pitassi, L. H. et al. (2007). Bartonella henselae infects human erythrocytes. Utrastructural Pathology, 31(6), 369-372. doi:10.1080/01913120701696510 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18098053

Vieira-Damiani, G. et al. (2016). Bartonella henselae initial infection of mature human erythrocytes observed in real time using bacterial endogenous fluorescence. Journal of Tropical Diseases and Public Health, 4(2), 207. doi:10.4172/2329-891X.1000207 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5639914/

McCullough, J. (2014). RBCs as targets of infection. Hematology, 2014(1), 404-409. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2014.1.404 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25696886

Hong, J. et al. (2017). Lymphatic circulation disseminates Bartonella infection into bloodstream. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 215(2), 303-311. doi:10.1093/infdis/jiw526 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27803173

Mändle, T. et al. (2005). Infection of human CD34+ progenitor cells with Bartonella henselae results in intraerythrocytic presence of B henselae. Blood, 106(4), 1215-1222. doi:10.1182/blood-2004-12-4670 https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/106/4/1215/21539/Infection-of-human-CD34-progenitor-cells-with

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For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/category/bartonella-treatment/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/24/human-bartonellosis-an-underappreciated-public-health-problem/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/01/04/endocarditis-consider-bartonella/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/05/11/bartonella-henselae-in-children-with-congenital-heart-disease/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/09/07/keep-an-eye-out-for-bartonella/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/12/05/cutaneous-manifestations-of-bartonellosis/

Dr. Ericson has incredible imaging showing Bartonella surviving around tissues where a PIC line pumped antibiotics directly into the body:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/02/27/advanced-imaging-found-bartonella-around-pic-line/

Category:

Bartonella, research, Testing

The Role of Host Response in Chronic Illnesses

https://www.galaxydx.com/the-role-of-host-response-in-chronic-illnesses/

written on

The Role of Host Response in Chronic Illnesses

Here at Galaxy Diagnostics, we are often asked “Why do symptoms for bartonellosis vary between patients so much?” and “How do I know that my symptoms are related to Bartonella species infection?”

The simple yet frustrating answer for patients and physicians alike is that chronic flea- and tick-borne illnesses are complex and typically do not follow a predictable course. Multiple body systems can be affected, including the brain and heart, resulting in a broad spectrum of symptoms.

Furthermore, the same patient can experience symptoms that affect different parts of the body throughout the course of the infection. The spectrum of symptoms often creates a unique web that is specific to each patient and difficult to untangle.

How can a single species, like Bartonella henselae, cause these harmful symptoms in one patient while another infected person appears to be healthy?

Emerging research on bartonellosis and Lyme borreliosis is increasingly showing the role of the host response in mediating the diverse clinical symptoms that patients present with. The host response is the way the infected individual’s immune system responds to cellular/tissue damage (pathology) caused by a pathogen. Some patients may have a more extreme immune response to the damage, resulting in a higher degree of inflammation and a related set of symptoms. Likewise, immune-deficient patients may experience more symptoms caused by the pathogen.

Factors that affect the host response to a pathogen include:

  • Immune status (immunocompetent vs. immunocompromised)
  • Genetic variances
  • Previous and current immune exposures (pathogens, proteins, etc.)
  • General health and well-being (stress, nutritional status, etc.)

For Bartonella henselae, the effect of host immune response was shown in extensive research conducted on HIV patients in the 1990s. Symptoms in immune-deficient patients may be atypical and unexpected. For example, researchers found that HIV patients infected with Bartonella henselae, or cat scratch disease, experienced bacillary angiomatosis and bacillary peliosis at a higher rate than immunocompetent patients.

The host response can continue to cause symptoms after a pathogen is gone. Recently, a study showed that arthritic symptoms persisted in mice infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. The researchers found that the mice developed an irregular immune response that resulted in T-cells targeting joint tissue even after the bacteria were eliminated. This aberrant immune response is like that seen in autoimmune diseases where the body is basically attacking itself.

Other recent research has suggested that measles infection can suppress the immune system for up to three years, leading to other illnesses. Meanwhile, parasitic worms that suppress the immune system may reduce heart disease in some communities. The immune system itself is extraordinarily complex, and identifying these influences is only the start of understanding how it is modulated by different exposures.

The web of influences on the host response is only just beginning to be understood, including the influence of flea and tick-borne pathogens in chronic symptoms. A better understanding of the host response, better genetic and biomarker tools to measure it, and better diagnostic tools to determine exposure and current infection of a wide variety of pathogens is necessary to overcome today’s frustrations and develop personalized treatments that will improve health.

References

Chaplin, D. D. (2010). Overview of the immune response. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 125(2, Suppl 2), S3-S23. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2009.12.980 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2923430/

Resto-Ruiz, S. et al. (2003). The role of the host immune response in pathogenesis of  Bartonella henselae. DNA and Cell Biology, 22(6), 431-440. doi:10.1089/104454903767650694 https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/pdf/10.1089/104454903767650694

Lantos, P. M. et al. (2014). Detection of Bartonella species in the blood of veterinarians and veterinary technicians: A newly recognized occupational hazard? Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, 14(8), 563-570. doi:10.1089/vbz.2013.1512 https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/vbz.2013.1512

Carroll, L. (2018). Malfunctioning immune system may explain chronic Lyme symptoms. Today.com. Retrieved from: https://www.today.com/health/chronic-lyme-may-be-due-malfunctioning-immune-system-t122207

Huber, B. R. (2015). A deadly shadow: Measles may weaken immune system up to three years. Retrieved from: https://www.princeton.edu/news/2015/05/07/deadly-shadow-measles-may-weaken-immune-system-three-years

Gupta, S. (2019). Life lessons from the native tribe with the healthiest hearts in the world. CNN.com.Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/19/health/bolivia-heart-disease-chasing-life-gupta/index.html

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**Comment**

I obviously missed this article when it was written in May.  I post it here because it brings up important points for consideration.

  1. Is the Lyme patient coinfected with other pathogens? Research has shown that this issue of being coinfected is a reason for immune suppression, setting the patient up for a tougher case. Mainstream medicine still hasn’t grasped this fact. They are throwing the mono-therapy of doxycycline at this which is a joke when you stop and ponder it.  While doxy is a great front-line drug, it will not touch Babesia in 1,000 years – nor parasitic worms for instance.
  2. Past pathogen exposure. Similarly to vaccines being able to reactivate latent infections, tick/insect bites are nature’s dirty needle and can also potentially activate latent infections be they bacterial or viral. Again, mainstream medicine has its head in the sand.
  3. Chronically infected patients do not follow a predictable course. Mainstream medicine still believes that Bartonella (Cat Scratch Fever) is a simple disease that only affects those with compromised immune systems – specifically HIV.  They also believe that in most people it is easily cured.  My experience as a Lyme/MSIDS patient and advocate that it is even more persistent than Lyme disease – the pathogen that gets all the news coverage.
  4. There is the issue of persistent symptoms.  While research has shown that host response is to blame for some patients, the issue of persistence of the organism still has not been fully embraced and accepted.  For a great read on this: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/02/25/medical-stalemate-what-causes-continuing-symptoms-after-lyme-treatment/  There are over 700-peer reviewed research articles showing persistence that somehow isn’t being reviewed by most doctors: Peer-Reviewed Evidence of Persistence of Lyme:MSIDS copy
  5. The general health of the patient is important. This is true of all disease but particularly with tick-borne illness as this monster goes everywhere in the human body causing havoc.  I’ll never forget Dr. Burrascano’s words regarding Lyme/MSIDS patients, “Now is the time for pristine health habits.” Truer words were never spoken.

 

Category:

Bartonella, Inflammation, Lyme, research

Cutaneous Manifestations of Bartonellosis

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31780437/

2019 Sep – Oct;94(5):594-602. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2019.09.024. Epub 2019 Oct 2.

Cutaneous manifestations of bartonellosis.

Lins KA1, Drummond MR1, Velho PENF2.

Abstract

Bartonellosis are diseases caused by any kind of Bartonella species. The infection manifests as asymptomatic bacteremia to potentially fatal disorders. Many species are pathogenic to humans, but three are responsible for most clinical symptoms: Bartonella bacilliformis, Bartonella quintana, and Bartonella henselae.

Peruvian wart, caused by B. bacilliformis, may be indistinguishable from bacillary angiomatosis caused by the other two species.

Other cutaneous manifestations include maculo-papular rash in trench fever, papules or nodules in cat scratch disease, and vasculitis (often associated with endocarditis).

In addition

  • febrile morbilliform rash
  • purpura
  • urticaria
  • erythema nodosum
  • erythema multiforme
  • erythema marginatus
  • granuloma annularis
  • leukocytoclastic vasculitis
  • granulomatous reactions
  • angioproliferative reactions may occur.

Considering the broad spectrum of infection and the potential complications associated with Bartonella spp., the infection should be considered by physicians more frequently among the differential diagnoses of idiopathic conditions. Health professionals and researchers often neglected this diseases.

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For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/03/bartonella-treatment/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/24/human-bartonellosis-an-underappreciated-public-health-problem/

Dr. Ericson has incredible imaging showing Bartonella surviving around tissues where a PIC line pumped antibiotics directly into the body:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/02/27/advanced-imaging-found-bartonella-around-pic-line/

Bartonella is perhaps more tenacious than Lyme disease but hardly is mentioned in mainstream medicine.  If it’s mentioned at all, we are told it’s a rare disease that usually takes care of itself with time. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Category:

Bartonella, research