Tag: tick-borne illness

Babesia and Bartonella Species DNA in Blood and Enrichment Blood Cultures from People with Chronic Fatigue and Concurrent Neurological Symptoms

Abstract:

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a medical condition characterized by extreme fatigue lasting at least 6 months. Based upon case reports, patients infected with Babesia or Bartonella spp. have reported a history of chronic fatigue and concurrent neurological symptoms.

In this study, 50 study participants reporting fatigue lasting from six months to 19 years and one or more neurological symptoms were selected. PCR assays were used to amplify Babesia and Bartonella spp. DNA from blood and enrichment blood cultures.

Using targeted qPCR amplification and DNA sequencing, infection with Babesia spp., Bartonella spp. or both genera was confirmed in 10, 11, and 2 individuals, respectively. Of 50 participants, 12 (24%, 95% CI: 12-36%) were infected with a Babesia species, while Bartonella species infection was documented in 13/50 individuals (26%, 95% CI: 13.8-38.2%).

This study provides documentation supporting a potential role for Babesia and Bartonella infection in patients with presentations consistent with ME/CFS. Prospective case-control studies, using highly sensitive direct pathogen detection techniques, are needed to determine whether or the extent to which infection with members of these two genera contributes to or causes ME/CFS.

Source: Breitschwerdt EB, Maggi RG, Bush JC, Kingston E. Babesia and Bartonella Species DNA in Blood and Enrichment Blood Cultures from People with Chronic Fatigue and Concurrent Neurological Symptoms. Pathogens. 2025 Dec 19;15(1):2. doi: 10.3390/pathogens15010002. PMID: 41598986. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/15/1/2 (Full text)

Characterising DSCATT: A case series of Australian patients with debilitating symptom complexes attributed to ticks

Abstract:

Objectives(s): To characterise the clinical profile, aetiology and treatment responsiveness of ‘Australian Lyme’, or Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks.

Methods: Single-centre retrospective case analysis of patients referred to the Infectious Diseases Unit at Austin Health – a tertiary health service in Heidelberg, Australia – between 2014 and 2020 for investigation and treatment of suspected Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks. Patients were included if they had debilitating symptoms suggested by either themselves or the referring clinician as being attributed to ticks.

Results: Twenty-nine Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks cases were included in the analysis. Other than Lyme disease (83%), the most common prior medical diagnoses were Epstein-Barr virus (38%), chronic fatigue syndrome (28%) and fibromyalgia (24%). Prior histories of anxiety (48%) and depression (41%) were common. The most frequently reported symptoms included fatigue (83%), headache (72%) and arthralgia (69%). National Association of Testing Authorities/Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia-accredited serology was not diagnostic of acute infective causes, including Lyme disease, in any patient. Of 25 cases with available data, 23 (92%) had previously been prescribed antimicrobials, with 53% reporting benefit from them. The most common diagnoses made by our hospital were chronic fatigue syndrome (31%), migraines (28%) and fibromyalgia (21%). Only one patient’s symptoms were not accounted for by other diagnoses.

Conclusion: This is the first case series of patients with Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks. They had high rates of other medically unexplained syndromes, and no evidence of acute Lyme disease, or any common organic disease process. Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks remains medically unexplained, and may therefore be due to an as yet unidentified cause, or may be considered a medically unexplained syndrome similar to conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome.

Source: Schnall J, Oliver G, Braat S, Macdonell R, Gibney KB, Kanaan RA. Characterising DSCATT: A case series of Australian patients with debilitating symptom complexes attributed to ticks. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2021 Sep 1:48674211043788. doi: 10.1177/00048674211043788. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34465249. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34465249/