Association of spirochetal infection with Morgellons disease

Middelveen, Marianne J; Burugu, Divya; Poruri, Akhila; Burke, Jennie; Mayne, Peter; Sapi, Eva; Kahn, Douglas G.; Stricker, Raphael B.

doi:10.3410/f1000research.2-25.v1

Cited by 6 publications

(25 citation statements)

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“…Detecting the presence of spirochetes may be possible by light microscopy, but now the detection of borrelial species by culture, staining, immunofluorescent staining, electron microscopy or PCR is an equally valid proof in the presence of MD symptoms 5 . However there is also the aspect of describing the character of the dermis as affected by these filaments, and this is discussed below showing a multivariate presentation and histology confirming dermatitis.…”

Section: Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…on whole blood at Australian Biologics in Sydney, Australia. The method is as previously described 5 and is also presented below. Blood was also forwarded to IGenex California USA for western blot analysis which was positive for LD.…”

Section: Concurrent Case Incidencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2006 Savely and Stricker drew an association between Morgellons and LD, also a spirochetal infection 2 . Middleveen et al showed spirochetal evidence in Morgellons tissue by microscopy, culture, immunostaining, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and showed the presence of Borrelia species with PCR evidence 5 . In MD the filaments, as well as growing outwards and in the horizontal plane, can grow through the dermis and into subdermal tissues with papilla formation (these papillae encase helically coiled filaments).…”

Section: Histopathology and Pathogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2013 Morgellons tissue was demonstrated to contain keratin and collagen filaments by several staining methods 4 . Spirochetal loads were found by light microscopy at 1000x magnification with silver nitrate staining and also by immunofluorescent staining with polyclonal anti-borrelial antibodies at 400x and 1000x magnification 4,5 . Further analysis using real time PCR demonstrated that the spirochetes were borrelial species 5 .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spirochetal loads were found by light microscopy at 1000x magnification with silver nitrate staining and also by immunofluorescent staining with polyclonal anti-borrelial antibodies at 400x and 1000x magnification 4,5 . Further analysis using real time PCR demonstrated that the spirochetes were borrelial species 5 . This article firstly analyses the position of these findings in dermatology with comparative and differential analysis at the dermal level but then also highlights the characteristics that distinguish the dermopathy as part of a multisystem disease that principally involves arthritic, cardiac, neurological and psychological or psychiatric components.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Morgellons: a novel dermatological perspective as the multisystem infective disease borreliosis

Mayne¹,

English

Kilbane

et al. 2013

F1000Res

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Morgellons disease (MD) is a term that has been used in the last decade to describe filaments that can be found in human epidermis. It is the subject of considerable debate within the medical profession and is often labeled as delusions of parasitosis or dermatitis artefacta. This view is challenged by recent published scientific data put forward between 2011-2013 identifying the filaments found in MD as keratin and collagen based and furthermore associated with spirochetal infection. The novel model of the dermopathy put forward by those authors is further described and, in particular, presented as a dermal manifestation of the multi-system disease complex borreliosis otherwise called Lyme disease. A differential diagnosis is drawn from a dermatological perspective. The requirements for a diagnosis of delusional disorder from a psychiatric perspective are clarified and the psychological or psychiatric co-morbidity that can be found with MD cases is presented. A concurrent case incidence is also included. Management of the multisytem disease complex is discussed both in general and from a dermatological perspective. Finally replacement of the term 'Morgellons' by 'borrelial dermatitis' is proposed within the profession.

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Section: Diagnosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Concurrent Case Incidencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Histopathology and Pathogenesismentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Morgellons: a novel dermatological perspective as the multisystem infective disease borreliosis

Mayne¹,

English

Kilbane

et al. 2013

F1000Res

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Morgellons disease leading to corneal perforation and enucleation

Roelofs

Badilla

2019

Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology

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Exploring the association between Morgellons disease and Lyme disease: identification of Borrelia burgdorferi in Morgellons disease patients

Middelveen

Bandoski

Burke³

et al. 2015

BMC Dermatol

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BackgroundMorgellons disease (MD) is a complex skin disorder characterized by ulcerating lesions that have protruding or embedded filaments. Many clinicians refer to this condition as delusional parasitosis or delusional infestation and consider the filaments to be introduced textile fibers. In contrast, recent studies indicate that MD is a true somatic illness associated with tickborne infection, that the filaments are keratin and collagen in composition and that they result from proliferation and activation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts in the skin. Previously, spirochetes have been detected in the dermatological specimens from four MD patients, thus providing evidence of an infectious process.Methods & ResultsBased on culture, histology, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy and molecular testing, we present corroborating evidence of spirochetal infection in a larger group of 25 MD patients. Irrespective of Lyme serological reactivity, all patients in our study group demonstrated histological evidence of epithelial spirochetal infection. Strength of evidence based on other testing varied among patients. Spirochetes identified as Borrelia strains by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and/or in-situ DNA hybridization were detected in 24/25 of our study patients. Skin cultures containing Borrelia spirochetes were obtained from four patients, thus demonstrating that the organisms present in dermatological specimens were viable. Spirochetes identified by PCR as Borrelia burgdorferi were cultured from blood in seven patients and from vaginal secretions in three patients, demonstrating systemic infection. Based on these observations, a clinical classification system for MD is proposed.ConclusionsOur study using multiple detection methods confirms that MD is a true somatic illness associated with Borrelia spirochetes that cause Lyme disease. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal treatment for this spirochete-associated dermopathy.

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Association of spirochetal infection with Morgellons disease

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Morgellons: a novel dermatological perspective as the multisystem infective disease borreliosis

Morgellons: a novel dermatological perspective as the multisystem infective disease borreliosis

Morgellons disease leading to corneal perforation and enucleation

Exploring the association between Morgellons disease and Lyme disease: identification of Borrelia burgdorferi in Morgellons disease patients

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