Archive for the ‘research’ Category

Characterization of Brain Dysfunction Induced by Bacterial Lipopeptides That Alter Neuronal Activity & Network in Rodent Brains

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/38/50/10672.full

Characterization of Brain Dysfunction Induced by Bacterial Lipopeptides That Alter Neuronal Activity and Network in Rodent Brains

Kwang-Min Kim, Alsu I. Zamaleeva, Youn Woo Lee, M. Rafiuddin Ahmed, Eunkyung Kim, Hye-Ryeon Lee, Venkata Raveendra Pothineni, Juan Tao, Siyeon Rhee, Mithya Jayakumar, Mohammed Inayathullah, Senthilkumar Sivanesan, Kristy Red-Horse, Theo D. Palmer, Jon Park, Daniel V. Madison, Ho-Young Lee and Jayakumar Rajadas
Journal of Neuroscience 12 December 2018, 38 (50) 10672-10691; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0825-17.2018

Abstract

The immunopathological states of the brain induced by bacterial lipoproteins have been well characterized by using biochemical and histological assays. However, these studies have limitations in determining functional states of damaged brains involving aberrant synaptic activity and network, which makes it difficult to diagnose brain disorders during bacterial infection. To address this, we investigated the effect of Pam3CSK4 (PAM), a synthetic bacterial lipopeptide, on synaptic dysfunction of female mice brains and cultured neurons in parallel. Our functional brain imaging using PET with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose and [18F] flumazenil revealed that the brain dysfunction induced by PAM is closely aligned to disruption of neurotransmitter-related neuronal activity and functional correlation in the region of the limbic system rather than to decrease of metabolic activity of neurons in the injection area. This finding was verified by in vivo tissue experiments that analyzed synaptic and dendritic alterations in the regions where PET imaging showed abnormal neuronal activity and network. Recording of synaptic activity also revealed that PAM reorganized synaptic distribution and decreased synaptic plasticity in hippocampus. Further study using in vitro neuron cultures demonstrated that PAM decreased the number of presynapses and the frequency of miniature EPSCs, which suggests PAM disrupts neuronal function by damaging presynapses exclusively. We also showed that PAM caused aggregation of synapses around dendrites, which may have caused no significant change in expression level of synaptic proteins, whereas synaptic number and function were impaired by PAM. Our findings could provide a useful guide for diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders specific to bacterial infection.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It is challenging to diagnose brain disorders caused by bacterial infection because neural damage induced by bacterial products involves nonspecific neurological symptoms, which is rarely detected by laboratory tests with low spatiotemporal resolution. To better understand brain pathology, it is essential to detect functional abnormalities of brain over time. To this end, we investigated characteristic patterns of altered neuronal integrity and functional correlation between various regions in mice brains injected with bacterial lipopeptides using PET with a goal to apply new findings to diagnosis of brain disorder specific to bacterial infection. In addition, we analyzed altered synaptic density and function using both in vivo and in vitro experimental models to understand how bacterial lipopeptides impair brain function and network.

 

Category:

Lyme, research

Ehrlichia Found in Argentinian Marsh Deer For the 1st Time

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/30619709/

Evidence of Ehrlichia chaffeensis in Argentina through molecular detection in marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus).

Guillemi EC, et al. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. 2019.

Abstract

Vector-borne pathogens are responsible for serious emerging diseases and have been widely described in wildlife. Ehrlichia chaffeensis causes the zoonotic “monocytic ehrlichiosis” in humans, is transmitted by the tick Amblyomma americanum and its reservoir host is the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in North America. Little is known about the native reservoir and the tick vectors involved in the transmission cycle in South America. We report here the detection of E. chaffeensis in a study on marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) mortality in Argentina, in different time periods between 2007 and 2016. Four deer, from two distinct populations, were positive for E. chaffeensis through molecular methods. Additionally, the variable-length PCR target (VLPT) region of positive samples was genotyped. Our results provide the first evidence of E. chaffeensis in autochthonous Cervidae from Argentina, contributing to uncover the distribution of this tick-borne infection in South America.

1-s2.0-s2213224418300889-gr3_lrgFig. 3. Dead marsh deer with high tick burden.

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More on Ehrlichia:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/12/02/everything-thats-known-about-ehrlichiosis/

https://www.lymedisease.org/ehrlichiosis-tick-borne-disease-no-one-heard/  The author brings up a valid point about the potential of there being undiagnosed Ehrlichia behind a ME/CFS diagnosis in a subset of patients since it infects white blood cells and the mitochondria.  The article also gives helpful percentages of symptoms and the following information:

  • Fever/chills and headache (majority of cases)

  • Fatigue/malaise (over two-thirds of cases)

  • Muscle/joint pain (25% – 50%)

  • Nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea (25% – 50%)

  • Cough (25% – 50%)

  • Confusion or brain fog (50% of children, less common in adults)

  • Lymphadenopathy (47% – 56% of children, less common in adults)

  • Red eyes (occasionally)

  • Rash (approximately 60% of children and 30% of adults)

OTHER MODES OF TRANSMISSION

Ehrlichia chaffeensis has been shown to survive for over a week in refrigerated blood. Therefore these bacteria may present a risk for transmission through blood transfusion and organ donation. It has also been suggested that ehrlichiosis can be transmitted from mother to child, and through direct contact with slaughtered deer. (14, 15)

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/02/north-carolina-ehrlichia-often-overlooked-when-tick-borne-illness-suspected/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/24/oklahoma-ehrlichiosis-central/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/03/09/dogs-ehrlichiosis/

 

Category:

Ehrlichiosis, research, Testing, Ticks, Transmission

North Dakota Tick Survey Sees Large Uptick of Samples. Here’s What the Health Department Found

https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/lifestyle/health/4556529-north-dakota-tick-survey-sees-large-uptick-samples-heres-what-health

North Dakota tick survey sees large uptick of samples. Here’s what the health department found.

By Kim Fundingsland / Minot Daily News on Jan 14, 2019 

ticks1_0

The American Dog tick was the most common tick surveyed in 2018 by the North Dakota Department of Health. This adult female is a known carrier of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.   submitted photo
BISMARCK – Those creepy, crawly creatures are living up to their nasty reputation. In brief, the summary of a second season of a statewide survey of ticks confirms what most people fear – a high percentage of the bloodsucking, pincer pests are carriers of disgusting diseases that are easily transmitted to hosts.

 

The North Dakota Department of Health first ventured into tick surveillance in 2017 by collecting and testing a relatively small sample of ticks. The ticks in the sample were provided with the help of veterinarians and zoos in the state. The program was significantly expanded in 2018 with active participation from 37 veterinarians, four zoos, North Dakota Game and Fish, Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and at least one individual.

“They all submitted ticks, which was a huge help,”said Laura Cronquist, NDDOH division of disease control. “We had more coverage throughout the state in 2018, which was real nice.”

Of the 13,640 ticks collected and sent to the state laboratory for disease testing, nearly half were contributed by a single interested individual – John Heiser of Grassy Butte. In all, ticks were submitted from 25 counties in the state.

“We had more participation last year, which was awesome,” said Cronquist. “More ticks were submitted. Our project is really unique for our area.”

The state’s most common tick is the American Dog tick. The dog tick and Rocky Mountain wood tick, which is also found within the state, are closely related. Both are known for their speciality, carrying the dreaded Rocky Mountain spotted fever virus.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever symptoms include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and muscle pain. Delayed treatment may lead to severe illness or death. Some Rocky Mountain spotted fever victims may suffer irreversible hearing loss, paralysis, mental disability and damage to blood vessels which could lead to amputation of extremities. Fourteen cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever were reported in the state in 2017.

There’s another tick present in North Dakota with a well-deserved and ugly reputation too. A surprising number of them were collected in 2018.

“We ended up with more deer ticks from across the state,” noted Cronquist.

While the number of deer ticks submitted to the NDDOH was small in comparison to the number of other ticks, just 51, they were found in 22 of the 25 counties surveyed, including Ward County. Deer ticks are are known carriers of Lyme disease, 56 cases of which were reported in the state in 2017. In addition, deer ticks are believed to have transmitted 17 cases of anaplasmosis and one case of Powassan in 2017.

The symptoms of anaplasmosis are similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever but can include chills, cough and confusion. Severe cases can lead to difficulty breathing, hemorrhage, kidney failure and disrupt various functions of the nervous system.

Fortunately, Powassan transmission from ticks remains quite rare in North Dakota. It is closely related to West Nile disease. A tick can transmit Powassan in as little as 15 minutes after biting a human. About 10 percent of Powassan cases result in death. According to the NDDOH report on the 2018 study, statistics show that approximately half of Powassan survivors have permanent neurologic conditions including headaches, muscle wasting and memory problems.

The Lone Star tick, whose range is primarily the southern and eastern United States, and has been linked to red meat allergies, is believed to be expanding its range. However, Lone Star ticks remain extremely rare in North Dakota.

“That’s correct,” said Cronquist. “Two years ago two were found. Last year just one and it’s unknown how they got here. They are not all that concerning yet.”

The state was divided into eight regions for the tick surveillance survey. Tick pools from each region, consisting of up to 20 ticks each, were tested for the presence of several diseases. Of the 176 pools made up of American Dog ticks and Rocky Mountain wood ticks, 106 tested positive for disease carrying pathogens. Half of the deer tick pools tested positive.

According to the NDDOH report, ticks can transfer some pathogens to their hosts in as little as 15 minutes. Some pathogens require that the tick to be attached from 24 to 48 hours. When a tick bites into flesh it inserts a feeding tube into the incision which enables the transmission of disease.

Complete results and information regarding the 2018 tick surveillance project can be found on the NDDOH website.

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For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/22/citizen-scientists-help-track-tick-borne-illness-exposure/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/04/10/canadian-citizen-scientists-helping-with-tick-surveillance/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/26/scientists-high-school-students-find-new-pathogens-hiding-in-indiana-ticks/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/22/tick-project-takes-a-deeper-look-at-disease/

Category:

Activism, Anaplasmosis, Lyme, research, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ticks, Transmission, Viruses

Pathogenic Bartonella Found For the 1st Time in European Rats

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30624020

2019 Jan 9. doi: 10.1002/ps.5323. [Epub ahead of print]

Norway and black rats in Europe: Potential reservoirs for zoonotic arthropod-borne pathogens?

Obiegala A1, Heuser E2,3, Ryll R2,3, Imholt C4, Fürst J1, Prautsch LM1, Plenge-Bönig A5, Ulrich RG2,3, Pfeffer M1.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and black rats (R. rattus) are known to be cosmopolitan reservoirs for zoonotic agents. Nevertheless only little is known about prevalence and distribution of arthropod-borne pathogens in rats from Europe. Therefore this survey was focused on the detection of arthropod-borne pathogens. Spleen-derived DNA samples were available from 528 Norway rats and from 74 black rats collected in several European countries. Further, these samples were processed by PCR for the detection of zoonotic pathogens such as Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis (CNM), Babesia spp. and Bartonella spp. eventually followed by sequencing.

RESULTS:

Babesia spp. was not detected. Four Norway rat samples were positive for A. phagocytophilum DNA and two for CNM. In 50 rat samples Bartonella spp. DNA was detected (8.1%; 95% CI: 6.2-10.61). Whereas B. tribocorum (n=45) and B. grahamii (n=1) were exclusively carried in Norway rats from Central Europe (Belgium, Germany), B. coopersplainsensis (n=4) was only detected in black rats from southern European countries (Spain, Italy).

CONCLUSIONS:

Pathogenic Bartonella spp. DNA was found in black and Norway rats from Germany, Italy, Spain and Belgium for the first time. Bartonellae were found focally in zoos suggesting Norway rats as possible reservoir for B. tribocorum and black rats for B. coopersplainsensis in Europe. These findings should raise awareness of pathogenic Bartonella spp. in Norway rats especially in terms of pest management control in zoos. Norway and black rats seem not to be predominantly involved in the life cycle of the other examined arthropod-borne pathogens in Europe.

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More on Bartonella:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/03/bartonella-treatment/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/01/02/bartonella-in-entire-canadian-family/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/01/09/transverse-myelitis-guillain-barre-associated-with-bartonella/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/20/humana-bartonellosis-perspectives-of-a-veterinary-internist/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/28/bartonella-infective-endocarditis-with-dissemination-a-case-report-literature-review/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/05/07/fox-news-bartonella-is-the-new-lyme-disease/

 

 

Category:

Bartonella, research

Bb in S. Italian Ectoparasites & Reptiles

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30646928

2019 Jan 15;12(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s13071-019-3286-1.

Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) in ectoparasites and reptiles in southern Italy.

Mendoza-Roldan JA1,2,3, Colella V1, Lia RP1, Nguyen VL1, Barros-Battesti DM2,4, Iatta R1, Dantas-Torres F1,5, Otranto D6.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) is a complex containing pathogenic bacteria of which some species, such as Borrelia lusitaniae, use birds, small mammals and reptiles as reservoirs. In Italy, the bacteria have been detected in reptilian and avian reservoirs in the northern and central regions.

RESULTS:

Here, 211 reptiles from three orders [Squamata (Sauria with seven species in five families and Ophidia with 11 species in three families), Crocodylia (one family and two species), and Testudines (two families and two species)] were examined for ectoparasites and molecular detection of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) in three different sites of southern Italy, an area for which no information was previously available on the occurrence of borreliosis in animals and humans. Borrelia lusitaniae was molecularly detected in larvae and nymphs (11.6%) of Ixodes ricinus infesting lizards (i.e. Podarcis muralis, Podarcis siculus and Lacerta bilineata) and in 12.3% blood samples of P. siculus. Finally, B. lusitaniae and Borrelia garinii were detected in 5.1% (32/630) of questing I. ricinus.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results show the circulation of B. lusitaniae in southern Italy and suggest that P. siculus could play a role as a reservoir, representing a potential medical threat to humans living in or visiting these localities.

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**Comment**

All we really hear about is the white footed mouse; however, this article clearly shows the importance of reptiles:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/06/25/the-confounding-geography-of-lyme-disease-in-the-u-s/

Wisconsin has its share of reptiles that can serve as hosts for ticks.  Researchers working at Fort McCoy near Sparta, as part of a multi-university project Michigan State ecologist Jean Tsao leads, have collected deer ticks from five-lined skinks and snakes.

But reptiles are simply not as prominent in the state as Borrelia-spreading rodents. The five-lined skink’s range in Wisconsin includes a roughly Y-shaped swath of the state, which doesn’t include the northwestern counties that tend to see the highest Lyme infection rates. (White-footed mice are found just about all over the state.)

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/12/03/biologists-at-sf-state-dig-into-ticks-and-ld/

Other articles point out the importance of squirrels and other rodents:  http://www.smgebooks.com/lyme-disease/chapters/LD-16-03.pdf

For far too long, authorities have tried to put all of this into a little white box and simplify it when nothing could be further from the truth.  Everything about Lyme/MSIDS is complex.  This isn’t just a Northern problem consisting of deer and white footed mice.  This is a global problem consisting of numerous reservoirs.

This is a pandemic with many reservoirs.  

http://www.californiaherps.com/lizards/pages/p.siculus.htmlxpodarcissp410alongSouthern Italian Wall Lizard – Podarcis siculus siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810) 

 

Category:

Lyme, research, Ticks, Transmission