Galaxy Radar – Week of July 1, 2024

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Mimicking MIS-C

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Mimicking Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Hospitalized Children, Sonora, Mexico by G. Álvarez-Hernández et al. publishing from the University of Sonora, the US CDC, Sonora Children’s Hospital, and the Centro Nacional de Programas Preventivos y Control de Enfermedades – Five children infected with Rickettsia rickettsii were first suspected of having MIS-C, a severe illness in children caused by SARS-CoV-2 before the diagnosis was clarified with qPCR and serology.

Direct Detection of Bartonella

Cat Scratch Bacteria Bartonella Linked to Psychosis in Neuroscience News – Recent research that included Galaxy Diagnostics scientists found Bartonella DNA in the blood of people experiencing psychosis, but the correlation was not found with serology.

Bartonella spp. Infections Identified by Molecular Methods, United States by DW McCormick et al. publishing from the US CDC and the University of Washington – In 2023, the CDC published the results of this study of molecular testing performed on samples submitted to the University of Washington from 2003 to 2021. They identified 420 cases of Bartonella spp infection, including less common species that they noted may have been missed by serology alone. The authors concluded that PCR testing might be particular useful for cases of culture-negative infections.

Find out more about the technology that Galaxy Diagnostics brings to Bartonella spp. PCR testing.

Lyme Borrelia Encephalitis Case

Neuroborreliosis Presenting as Encephalitis: A Case Report by SD Ruban, NS Andersen, A Svatkova & CP Fischer publishing from Denmark – An elderly man with confusion and altered mental status had a normal brain CT and MRI and normal EEG, but a lumbar puncture revealed Borrelia DNA and IgM antibodies against Borrelia. The patient was treated with acyclovir and ceftriaxone. On day 16, a repeat lumbar puncture found both IgM and IgG antibodies, there was an abnormal EEG, and an MRI showed changes suggesting encephalitis. The case report notes the late changes to MRI and EEG results.

T. gondii and Borrelia burgdorferi in Multiple Sclerosis

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Borrelia burgdorferi Infections in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Poland – The role of infection in Multiple Sclerosis is complex. Toxoplasma may be protective, as the statistics from this study demonstrate. A mechanism has been proposed from research in rodents and is discussed in this paper. Borrelia is more difficult to determine, partly because the high rate of false negatives in serology research makes it difficult to analyze.

Emerging Biology in Infectious Disease Prevention and Treatment

The Promise of Bacteriophage Therapy to Fight Drug-Resistant Superbugs by E Hutto on MedPage Today – Bacteriophage therapy is an emerging treatment for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this discussion with transcript, Dr. Claire Panosian Dunavan, who used the treatment to save her dying husband speaks with a cystic fibrosis patient, Jennifer Nelson. Ms. Nelson is infected with Burkholderia cepacia, a bacteria that is a particular risk to cystic fibrosis patients.

Tick-Killing Fungus Research Underway at N.S. University by M Campbell on CBC News – Clonostachys rosea is a fungus that grows on soil and plants. It has some protective mechanisms that have already been studied for preventing plant diseases, and now it’s been observed to be deadly to ticks.

Home-Based Monitoring of Orthostatic Hypotension

Home-based Monitoring of Cerebral Oxygenation in Response to Postural Changes Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy by M Klop et al. publishing from Radbound University, Artinis Medical Systems, and Vrije University – A feasibility study from the Netherlands established the ability to conduct home monitoring of cerebral oxygenation. While this was a study of postural changes in elderly people, it has raised interest in the study of other orthostatic conditions affecting people with chronic disease such as post-infectious syndromes.

Using Bartonella to Trace Rat Journeys

Bartonella Bacteria in Urban Rats: A Movement from the Jungles of Southeast Asia to Metropoles around the Globe by M Kosoy & Y Bai publishing from KB One Health, LLC & the US CDC – As rats travel around the globe, what pathogens could they be bringing with them? This paper proposes that tracing the strains of Bartonella that they carry could tell us about their journeys.

About One Health on the US CDC Website – The US CDC has updated its One Health web page. This page includes links to other resources including the #HealthyPetsHealthyPeople web pages.

Bartonella in Egypt

Serological and Molecular Detection of Bartonella henselae in Cats and Humans from Egypt: Current Status and Zoonotic Implications by ASM Sayed et al. publishing from Assiut University, Taif University, and Sohag University – This study of Bartonella in cats and humans in Egypt found rural people and those with contact with cats were more likely to be seropositive. 8% of the cats tested were PCR-positive.

Galaxy Diagnostics Calendar

The Alzheimer’s Pathobiome Initiative Symposium on July 27, 2024 – Edward Breitschwerdt, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), will be presenting with Janice Bush, CVM, on “Bartonella henselae, Neurobartonellosis and Alzheimer’s Disease: Is there a link?”

Project Lyme Gala on September 24, 2024 – Meet Galaxy Diagnostics CEO Nicole Bell and Cofounder Amanda Elam at the event.

ILADS Annual Scientific Conference, November 7-10, 2024 – Galaxy Diagnostics speakers will include CEO Nicole Bell. Find us in the exhibitor hall.