Archive for the ‘research’ Category

Fibromyalgia Associated With Borrelia-Specific T Lymphocytes

https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/129522

Antinuclear antibody seropositivity in fibromyalgia associated with Borrelia-specific T lymphocytes

Author(s): Basant K. Puri*, Gary S. Lee and Armin Schwarzbach

DOI: 10.2174/1573397119666230215124048

Current Rheumatology Reviews 2023; 19()

Abstract

Background: Our group have recently reported that there is no evidence of an association between fibromyalgia and Borrelia-specific T lymphocytes. However, a small number of case reports has suggested that infection by the bacterial genus Borrelia may be associated with the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs).

Objective: To test the hypothesis that those fibromyalgia patients who are ANA seropositive are more likely to show evidence of Borrelia-specific T lymphocyte reactivity than those who are seronegative.

Methods: T lymphocyte reactivity to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (full antigen) was assessed using the enzyme-linked immunospot and serum ANA status was assessed using immunofluorescence in 27 fibromyalgia patients fulfilling the revised diagnostic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology.

Results: The ANA seropositive and seronegative groups were matched for age, sex and ethnicity; the T lymphocyte reactivity to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (full antigen) in the former group (mean 5.60) was significantly higher than that in the seronegative group (mean 1.81; p < 0.05).

Conclusion: This novel study points to an association of ANA seropositivity in fibromyalgia with Borrelia-specific T lymphocytes.

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Category:

Lyme, research, Testing

National Academies Take on Thorny Issue of ‘Long-Haul’ Diseases

https://www.lymedisease.org/nasem-long-haul-diseases/

National Academies take on thorny issue of “long-haul” diseases

Feb. 17, 2023

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (known collectively as NASEM) are private, nonprofit institutions that study complex challenges facing our country and give expert guidance on how to solve them.

NASEM has a reputation for providing independent, objective and nonpartisan advice with high standards of scientific and technical quality.

Now, the Academies are taking on the thorny issue of “long-haul” diseases, focusing specifically on long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, persistent Lyme disease, and multiple sclerosis.

In June, NASEM will hold a workshop called “Toward a Common Research Agenda in Infection-Associated Chronic Illnesses: A Workshop to Examine Common, Overlapping Clinical and Biological Factors.”

As LymeDisease.org CEO Lorraine Johnson points out, “these conditions are frequently neglected in research and medicine. As a result, patients who become profoundly ill are unable to receive treatment. This workshop brings together patients, clinicians, and researchers to build a collaborative effort among these communities to improve care.”

Johnson, Principal Investigator of the MyLymeData research project, is one of eight subject matter experts serving on the planning committee for the June event. Also on the panel is Dr. Brian Fallon, director of Columbia University’s Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center. Click here to learn about other members of the group.

Research and knowledge gaps

According to the NASEM website, workshop discussions will consider the latest research and knowledge gaps in the following:

  1. Overlapping clinical and biological factors underlying infection-associated chronic illnesses.
  2. Current practice and novel technologies to develop urgently needed diagnostic tests for different stages of illness and/or the potential underlying infectious agent.
  3. Identification of therapeutic targets and strategies to prevent or impede chronic illness progression.
  4. Coordination and collaboration among various stakeholders and practitioners that will increase research and enhance care across different patient populations.

The two-day event will be held June 29 and 30 in Washington DC. You can also attend virtually. Click here for registration information.

TOUCHED BY LYME is written by Dorothy Kupcha Leland, President of LymeDisease.org. She is co-author of When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide. Contact her at dleland@lymedisease.org.

Category:

Activism, Lyme, research

Newly Emerging Tick-borne Disease in Northern California

https://www.lymedisease.org/newly-emerging-tick-borne-disease-in-northern-california/

Newly emerging tick-borne disease in Northern California

Feb. 17, 2023

From the County of Santa Clara Vector Control District, via Facebook:

Pacific Coast Tick Fever (PCTF) is a newly emerging tick-borne disease in Northern California, transmitted by the Pacific Coast tick (Dermacentor occidentalis).

Symptoms of PCTF include fever, headache, and an eschar formation [dead tissue] at the tick bite site.

The first case of PCTF within Santa Clara County was reported in 2011 and the second human case was reported in August 2021, both in the same geographic area.

Over a six-month period, the District conducted monthly sampling at the resident’s home and surrounding parks within a one-mile radius. The ticks were collected, identified, and tested for the presence of the pathogen. The pathogen was detected in 5.2% (7 out of 134) of the ticks tested.

The District will continue to monitor for the presence of PCTF and reminds the public to take proactive steps to protect themselves from tick bites by staying in the middle of trails, wearing long sleeves and pants when hiking, and checking themselves, children, and pets after spending time in tick habitat.

Related Posts:

  1. In California, is it Lyme disease or tick-borne relapsing fever?
  2. NEWS: Tick-borne RMSF death in Southern California
  3. Tick-borne Heartland virus reported in Southern Illinois
  4. NEWS: Tick-borne miyamotoi pathogen found in 19 California counties

For more:

Category:

Activism, research, Ticks

Increasing Spread of Lyme Disease in Europe

https://danielcameronmd.com/increasing-spread-of-lyme-disease-in-europe/

INCREASING SPREAD OF LYME DISEASE IN EUROPE

lyme-disease-europe

The number of Lyme disease cases continues to climb in the U.S. and Europe despite preventative measures. A new study examines the prevalence of Lyme disease in Greece, a country that has questioned its existence.

By 

The existence of Lyme disease in Greece remains controversial. In a recent study  “Serological evidence of possible Borrelia afzelii lyme disease in Greece,”  Karageorgou and colleagues examined patients throughout Greece suspected for Lyme disease by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by western blotting for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species.

“We found one patient positive for Borrelia burgdorferi and two patients positive for Borrelia afzelii specific antibodies. Both B. afzelii patients were suffering with neurological manifestations and had never traveled abroad,” the authors wrote.¹

Their findings indicate evidence of two autochthonous Lyme disease cases in Greece, possibly caused by B. afzelii.

“Suggestions that Lyme disease exists in Greece remain controversial and no study to date has definitively identified the presence of a Borrelia spp. that infects humans.”

In another study, Olafsdotti and Askling reviewed the possible reasons behind the growing number of cases in the U.S. and abroad.² “Reasons for poor progress in limiting the disease are manyfold” and include:

  1. The surveillance system for Lyme disease remains highly variable, despite European Union surveillance to standardize definition.
  2. “There are still substantial diagnostic gaps for the disease given its varied and unusual presentation.”
  3. “Absence of reliable assays for acute infection.”
  4. “Difficulty in differentiating past disease from current disease.”
  5. “An inability to monitor treatment response.”

Furthermore, the poor prognosis in limiting the disease is expected to be worse with climate change, wrote the authors.

The authors stressed the need to overcome diagnostic challenges, develop better surveillance strategies and policies for Lyme disease, as well as identify a safe and effective vaccine against Borrelia burgdorferi.

Karageorgou et al. concludes, “We demonstrate the possibility of the presence of B. afzelii in Greece. Therefore, we need to raise awareness of Lyme disease among healthcare providers and ensure that B. afzelii, and possibly also other Lyme borrelia species must be taken into account. The true underlying rate of Lyme disease in Greece remains unknown.”

References:
  1. Karageorgou I, Koutantou M, Papadogiannaki I, Voulgari-Kokota A, Makka S, Angelakis E. Serological evidence of possible Borrelia afzelii lyme disease in Greece. New Microbes New Infect. Mar 2022;46:100978. doi:10.1016/j.nmni.2022.100978
  2. Olafsdottir B, Askling HH. Increasing spread of borreliosis in Europe. New Microbes New Infect. 2022 Aug 29;48:101022. doi: 10.1016/j.nmni.2022.101022. PMID: 36176541; PMCID: PMC9513809.

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**Comment**

The fact people are still quibbling over where and if Lyme exists should tell you everything you need to know about this very real plague, which the climate doesn’t affect one iota.

Category:

Lyme, research

Can Anaplasmosis Cause Heart Issues?

https://danielcameronmd.com/can-anaplasmosis-cause-heart-problems/

CAN ANAPLASMOSIS CAUSE HEART PROBLEMS?

anaplasmosis-heart-problems

The number of cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is rising in the United States, with more than a three-fold increase over the past several years. The tick-borne illness is not often associated with conduction problems and myocardial disease. But a new study highlights a case in which anaplasmosis triggered mycopericarditis.

By 

In their article, “Case report: human granulocytic anaplasmosis causes acute myopericarditis with atrial fibrillation,” Levy et al. describe the case of a 65-year-old man who presented to the emergency room with fever and malaise, which had persisted for one week.¹ An electrocardiogram showed new atrial fibrillation and conduction abnormalities.

The man resides in a suburb of Boston in a home surrounded by wooded areas. “He reported being outdoors regularly for kayaking trips in the few months prior to presentation,” the authors wrote.

“Anaplasma serologies were positive for IgM and negative for IgG, and subsequent PCR detected anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA,” the author wrote. “CMR imaging revealed findings consistent with myopericarditis.”

According to the authors, the man had “an isolated HGA infection, and cardiac workup showed evidence of myopericarditis as well as conduction system disease.”

Conduction and rhythm abnormalities are frequently associated with Lyme disease but have not been previously reported with [anaplasmosis] HGA.

“This case highlights that conduction and rhythm disturbance can be a feature of myocarditis in the setting of isolated [anaplasmosis] HGA infection,” the authors wrote.

“In our patient HGA was the sole identifiable culprit,” the authors point out. “This is an uncommon finding; isolated HGA myocarditis or myopericarditis has been reported only once previously.”

The authors conclude:

  • “myopericarditis and serious haemodynamic compromise are potential severe complications of HGA infection, without the need for a concomitant Lyme infection.
  • “anaplasma phagocytophilum infection, in the absence of any concomitant Lyme disease, can cause acute myopericarditis”
  • “HGA myopericarditis can present with electrical disturbances including atrial fibrillation and conduction system disease.”

It is important to include anaplasmosis in patients presenting with clinical symptoms consistent with myopericarditis and continuing doxycycline treatment until both Lyme disease and HGA are ruled out, the authors explained. This is particularly relevant to those patients living in endemic regions who present with symptoms during the late Spring through early Fall.

Related Articles:

Babesia and anaplasmosis in a child with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Anaplasmosis leading to neurological symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia

Podcast: Anaplasmosis in the brain

References:
  1. Levy AM, Martin LM, Krakower DS, Grandin EW. Case report: human granulocytic anaplasmosis causes acute myopericarditis with atrial fibrillation. Eur Heart J Case Rep. 2023 Jan 17;7(1):ytad026. doi: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytad026. PMID: 36727140; PMCID: PMC9883714.

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**Comment**

It’s important to remember the distinction between rarely reported and rarely occurring.  Big diff.

For more:

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Heart Issues, research