Tick-borne pathogens: Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia spp may trigger endocarditis

Abstract

Chmielewski T, Kuśmierczyk M, Fiecek B. Tick-borne pathogens Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia spp. may trigger endocarditis. AbstractBackground. Infections caused by tick-borne pathogens such as Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia spp. are capable of causing serious lesions of the mitral and aortic valves, leading to a need for valve replacement.Objectives. The aim of the study was to determine whether such cases are sporadic or frequent. An additional goal was to establish effective diagnostic methods to detect these infections.Material and methods. The study involved 148 patients undergoing valve replacement. Blood samples were drawn for serological testing. Samples of the removed mitral and aortic valves were tested with polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining.Results. Specific antibodies to Bartonella spp. were detected in 47 patients (31.7%) and in 1 of the healthy controls (1%) (p < 0.05). Antibodies to B. burgdorferi spirochetes were found in 18 of the patients (12.2%) and in 6 blood donors from the control group (5.8%) (p < 0. 1). Antibodies to Rickettsia spp. were detected in 12 (8. 1%) and to C. burnetii phase I and II antigens in the serum of 1 patient. All the participants in the control group were seronegative to C. burnetii and Rickettsia spp. antigens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for detection of Bartonella spp., B. burgdorferi s.l., C. burnetii and Rickettsia spp. DNA in the valve samples were all negative. Inflammation foci with mononuclear lymphoid cells in the aortic and mitral valves were seen in sections stained with hematoxiline and eozine. In sections dyed using the indirect immunofluorescence method with hyperimmune sera, Bartonella spp. and Rickettsia spp. were found. Conclusions.The results obtained indicate that laboratory diagnostics for patients with heart disorders should be expanded to include tests detecting tick-borne zoonoses such as bartonelloses, Lyme borreliosis, rickettsioses and Q fever.

The Use of Natural Bioactive Nutraceuticals in the Management of Tick-Borne Illnesses

“…Caused by Bartonella henselae transmitted during a cat bite or scratch, this can frequently manifest as an acute selflimited febrile illness associated with regional lymphadenopathy. However, evidence is now supporting a more complex perspective where subsets of infected, immunocompetent patients can become chronically bacteremic [78][79][80]. There is no single treatment effective for systemic B. henselae infection, and antibiotic therapy exhibited poor activity against typical uncomplicated cat scratch disease [81].…”

Why Do These Microbes Like Me and How Could There Be a Link with Cardiovascular Risk Factors?

“…In a study involving 148 patients undergoing valve replacement, antibodies to Rickettsia spp. were detected in 12 cases [87].…”

“…Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio [19,[83][84][85][86][87][114][115][116][121][122][123]. A higher value was found to be related to abnormal body weight, lack of physical activity, and female gender (Figure 1) [19,[52][53][54]90,112,113].…”

“…The study of Nolan-Kenney R. et al showed a weaker relation in terms of the gut microbiome between former smokers and never smokers than comparing current smokers and never smokers, suggesting a beneficial effect of quitting smoking [36]. Class Alphaproteobacteria, presented in current smokers, consists, among others, of Rickettsiales that are capable of causing serious lesions of the mitral and aortic valves, leading to a need for valve replacement [87]. In a study involving 148 patients undergoing valve replacement, antibodies to Rickettsia spp.…”

“…In the literature, different gut microbiota were related to risk factors, particularly for cardiovascular diseases; however, one of the most common results is a change in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio [19,[83][84][85][86][87][114][115][116][121][122][123]. A higher value was found to be related to abnormal body weight, lack of physical activity, and female gender (Figure 1) [19,[52][53][54]90,112,113].…”