Association between Piscine Mycobacteriosis and Morgellons Disease: A Review of Literature

Abstract

Piscine mycobacteriosis is a fatal fish illness that affects a variety of species globally. It affects over 200 species of freshwater and marine fish. Several species of Mycobacterium are responsible among them Mycobacterium marinum is the comment. It also affects humans when exposed to contaminated water. In fishes, the symptoms include eroded fins, body surface coated with heavy mucus, changing pigmentation, swelling of abdomen, ulcerative dermal necrosis, and scale loss. In humans, the infection is classified into three clinical groups. Type I is a self-limiting, verruca lesion. Type II is single or numerous subcutaneous granulomas in the presence or absence of ulceration. Type III is deep infections of the tenosynovium, bones, bursa, or joints, resulting in tenosynovitis, osteomyelitis, and septic arthritis. The diagnosis is made by Ziehl-Neelsen acid-fast staining, culture, biochemical reaction, and PCR being the most reliable approach. Piscine mycobacteriosis is treated by antibiotics and vaccination has been considered for its long-term prevention in order to reduce morbidity and mortality. Morgellons disease (MD) is a filamentous dermopathy in which lesions with strange filamentous inclusions appear out of nowhere. Furthermore, formication may accompany dermopathy. The identification of Borrelia spirochetes directly in Morgellons disease patient specimen is constant and repeatable when sensitive and precise detection techniques are utilized. It has been diagnosed by microscopy, histology and molecular diagnostic techniques which are highly sensitive and specific. Morgellons disease is still a myth therefore its treatment is evolving, up to date it has been treated symptomatically.