http://www.personalconsult.com/articles/lymeandbraineffects.html
By Dr. Diego Cadavid, Medical School of The University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey
101st General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, [ASM],
May 20-24, 2001, Orlando, Florida; Press Release of 7-8-01.
Spirochetes may "love the brain to death" (Session 179)
By Dr. Diego Cadavid, Medical School of The University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in Newark, with funding to Dr. Cadavid
from the Foundation of UMDNJ and the Hispanic Center of Excellence at
UMDNJ.
UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Newark, NJ
973-972-8686
cadavidi@umdnj.edu
"Chronic infection of the brain is a prominent feature of spirochetal
infections. These include syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum;
Relapsing Fever, caused by different Borrelia species worldwide; and
Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi in Europe and North
America. [Italics and
boldÑDr. Schaller]
The word "spirochete" comes from the characteristic spiral morphology of
these bacteria under the microscope. Lyme disease and relapsing fever
are transmitted to humans by ticks in endemic areas, while syphilis is
sexually transmitted.
As early as 1822, dementia was recognized as a prominent complication of
syphilis. Soon it became apparent that multiple other neurological
complications could occur. Examination of the brain revealed the
presence of spirochetes, in cases of dementia 20 to 30 years after the
initial infection.
As with Treponema pallidum in syphilis, chronic brain infection is also
prominent with the relapsing fever spirochetes. During relapsing fever,
patients have recurrent periods of fever separated by periods of well
being. The fever is caused by the presence of large numbers of
spirochetes in the blood.
Studies in relapsing fever showed that, like in syphilis, the brain
could remain infected with spirochetes for years after the infection
disappears from the blood.
In the earlier 1980's, Lyme disease
was identified as a previously unrecognized spirochetal infection with
prominent neurological manifestations. These include headache and stiff
neck from meningitis, back pain and weakness from radiculitis, paralysis
of the face, and problems with attention and concentration.
Lyme disease is today the most
common vector-borne disease in North America and Europe, with an
estimated 5-40% of cases developing neurological complications.
Although spirochetal infections are
readily treatable with antibiotics, severe and permanent neurological
damage can occur if they go undiagnosed or if the treatment is
inadequate or delayed. [Italics
and Bold from Dr. Schaller]
Our laboratory is investigating the mechanisms responsible for
neurological complications during spirochetal infections. Studies with
Treponema pallidum and Lyme disease spirochetes are limited because of
the paucity of animal models featuring neurological infection.
In contrast, several animal models of Relapsing fever show prominent
neurological infection. The majority of our research has been done in
laboratory mice infected with a strain of relapsing fever spirochetes
from South Western United States.
The data indicates that not all spirochetes are equally capable of
entering into the brain. The antibody response to the infection is
critical for elimination of infection from the brain.
The localization of spirochetes in the brain is mainly in the membranes
covering it, known as the leptomeninges. Spirochetes are also found in
the brain tissue itself, although in much lower numbers. Infection of
the inner ear results in prominent vertigo.
Different serotypes vary in their ability to infect the brain. The main
route of entry into the brain appears to be the blood-brain barrier.
However, alternative routes of entry may be used.
Spirochetal entry into the brain results in infiltration of the brain
tissue by large numbers of inflammatory cells, known as microglia, and
increased statement of inflammatory molecules, like Interleukin 6. We
are currently investigating whether chronic inflammation could result in
damage to brain cells and in neurological disease.
Using monkeys infected with Lyme disease spirochetes, we confirmed that
the localization of spirochetes in the brain is leptomeningeal. In this
monkey model of Lyme disease, the number of spirochetes in the brain is
very low compared with peripheral tissues like the heart or skeletal
muscle, even in immunosuppressed animals. About 10% of infected monkeys
examined 4-24 months after infection show evidence of inflammation in
the brain, which is mild ..."
For more information on any presentation at the 101st General Meeting
contact Jim Sliwa, ASM Communications at jsliwa@asmusa.org.
