(unquantitated) coinfection with Bb and C. trachomatis in arthritis

[Guest guest]

The possibility of interaction/association between borreliae and

chlamydiae is intriguing given both have been reported (and

disconfirmed) in MS and alzheimers brain.

This paper found an 8% rate of dual infection with Bb and C.

trachomatis in unexplained arthritis, despite assaying synovial

fluid, where PCR detection rates for both organisms are lower than in

synovial tissue.

=======================================================

Intra-articular co-infection by Borrelia burgdorferi and Chlamydia

trachomatis.

Putschky N, Schnarr S, Wollenhaupt J, Zeidler H, Kuipers JG.

Division of Rheumatology, Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.

nils.putschky@...

OBJECTIVE: Chlamydia trachomatis and Borrelia burgdorferi infections

are frequently the cause of unexplained oligoarthritis, as shown by

identification of bacteria specific DNA in joint material from

patients with reactive arthritis, Lyme arthritis, and

undifferentiated oligoarthritis. The aim of this study was to

determine whether the two organisms occur simultaneously in joint

material from patients with arthritis. METHODS: Seventy six patients

with unexplained arthritis were prospectively studied. Synovial fluid

was obtained from all patients and examined for DNA from C

trachomatis and B burgdorferi using specific polymerase chain

reaction (PCR) protocols. Data concerning prior genitourinary

infection or a history of tick bite were recorded and serum

antibodies to C trachomatis and B burgdorferi were determined.

RESULTS: Six patients (8%) had DNA from both C trachomatis and B

burgdorferi in the same synovial fluid specimen (mean leucocyte count

11.925/mm(3), 65% granulocytes). These patients (four men, two women;

mean age 33.7 years) all had oligoarthritis of the knee, ankle, or

both (mean disease duration 11.3 months). From the history and

serological examination, four patients had some evidence of actual or

previous infection with one or other of the bacteria, while the other

two patients had a positive serological test for Chlamydia only.

CONCLUSIONS: DNA from two different microorganisms which are known to

be triggering agents for arthritis may be present simultaneously in

joint material from patients with unexplained oligoarthritis. This

finding raises the question as to whether, in such cases, one or both

bacteria contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease or whether

they are only innocent bystanders.

PMID: 11350854 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Guest guest]

, has your research led you yet to the role of quinolinic acid

in AD (and Aids-related dementia, and MS, and...etc, etc)?

It could help explain why certain infections are consistently

associated with them. QUIN is an extremely potent neurotoxin, and

apparently CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) levels can rise as spill-over

from high serum levels, themselves traceable to prolonged infection

and corresponding immune cell activation.

There's a 1992 study showing elevated QUIN in the serum and CSF of

Lyme patients - highest in those with traditional signs of CNS

infection, but CSF QUIN levels were elevated 'even' in Lyme patients

with no traditional postive criteria for CNS infection.

The recent flurry of mainstream media news stories about a 'smoking

gun' in Alzheimers were referring to QUIN. Sue B. has mentioned it

here I think.

Like glutamate, QUIN triggers neuronal death through overstimulation

of NMDA receptors. I'd be real interested to see what the

correlations are with Cpn and the other pathogens that members of

this list have been struggling with. They may not have been studied,

but my groping efforts to understand the mechanisms of QUIN

elevation suggest they may well be associated with high serum and

CSF levels in other infections, as well.

S.

> The possibility of interaction/association between borreliae and

> chlamydiae is intriguing given both have been reported (and

> disconfirmed) in MS and alzheimers brain.

>

> This paper found an 8% rate of dual infection with Bb and C.

> trachomatis in unexplained arthritis, despite assaying synovial

> fluid, where PCR detection rates for both organisms are lower than

in

> synovial tissue.

>

> =======================================================

>

> Intra-articular co-infection by Borrelia burgdorferi and Chlamydia

> trachomatis.

>

> Putschky N, Schnarr S, Wollenhaupt J, Zeidler H, Kuipers JG.

>

> Division of Rheumatology, Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.

> nils.putschky@f...

>

> OBJECTIVE: Chlamydia trachomatis and Borrelia burgdorferi

infections

> are frequently the cause of unexplained oligoarthritis, as shown

by

> identification of bacteria specific DNA in joint material from

> patients with reactive arthritis, Lyme arthritis, and

> undifferentiated oligoarthritis. The aim of this study was to

> determine whether the two organisms occur simultaneously in joint

> material from patients with arthritis. METHODS: Seventy six

patients

> with unexplained arthritis were prospectively studied. Synovial

fluid

> was obtained from all patients and examined for DNA from C

> trachomatis and B burgdorferi using specific polymerase chain

> reaction (PCR) protocols. Data concerning prior genitourinary

> infection or a history of tick bite were recorded and serum

> antibodies to C trachomatis and B burgdorferi were determined.

> RESULTS: Six patients (8%) had DNA from both C trachomatis and B

> burgdorferi in the same synovial fluid specimen (mean leucocyte

count

> 11.925/mm(3), 65% granulocytes). These patients (four men, two

women;

> mean age 33.7 years) all had oligoarthritis of the knee, ankle, or

> both (mean disease duration 11.3 months). From the history and

> serological examination, four patients had some evidence of actual

or

> previous infection with one or other of the bacteria, while the

other

> two patients had a positive serological test for Chlamydia only.

> CONCLUSIONS: DNA from two different microorganisms which are known

to

> be triggering agents for arthritis may be present simultaneously

in

> joint material from patients with unexplained oligoarthritis. This

> finding raises the question as to whether, in such cases, one or

both

> bacteria contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease or whether

> they are only innocent bystanders.

>

> PMID: 11350854 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]