Depressiveness and Neuroticism in Bartonella Seropositive and Seronegative Subjects-Preregistered Case-Controls Study.

Several recent studies have demonstrated the association of cat-related injuries with major depression and with depressiveness in the general population. It was suggested that cat-scratch disease, the infection with the bacterium Bartonella henselae, can be responsible for the observed association. However, no direct evidence for the role of the Bartonella infection in this association has been published until now. In this preregistered case-controls study performed on 250 healthy subjects tested earlier for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies, we searched for the positive association between presence of anamnestic anti-Bartonella IgG antibodies and depressiveness measured with Beck II inventory, depression subscale of neuroticism measured with N-70 questionnaire, and self-reported health problems. We found that that Bartonella seropositivity was positively correlated with Beck depression only in Toxoplasma-seronegative men and negatively correlated with health in Toxoplasma-seronegative women. Bartonella seropositivity expressed protective effects against Toxoplasma seropositivity-associated increased neuroticism in men while Toxoplasma-seropositivity expressed protective effects against Bartonella seropositivity-associated health problems in women. A comparison of the patterns of association of mental and physical health problems with Bartonella seropositivity and with reported cat-related injury suggests that different factor, possibly infection with different pathogen transmitted by cat related-injuries than the B. henselae, is responsible for the observed association of cat related-injuries with depressiveness and major depression. The existence of complex interactions between Bartonella seropositivity, Toxoplasma seropositivity, and sex also suggest that the effect of symbionts on the host's phenotype must by always studied in the context of other infections, and separately for men and women.

A serological study of antibodies to Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the sera of healthy individuals collected two decades apart.

Sera collected from healthy individuals from the general population in the Czech Republic during repeated cross-sectional surveys were analyzed. Samples collected in the same six districts in two time periods, 1978-1989 and 2001, were compared. The study subjects were divided into six age categories between 10 and 59 years. Overall, 434 samples from 1978-1989 and 270 samples from 2001 were screened for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (AP) and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (BB). The anti-AP positivity rates were 13.1% and 11.5% in the first and second period, respectively, and did not differ significantly between the periods (P = 0.559). The anti-BB antibodies were detected in 33.9% and 14.8% of study subjects, respectively. The positivity rates were significantly lower in the second period (P<0.001). No considerable changes were observed in the sex distribution of positive findings between the two periods. The highest positivity rates of anti-AP antibodies were found in the 10-14 year age group: 16.0% in 1978-1989 and 16.7% in 2001. The age distribution of the anti-AP antibody positivity rates did not change substantially (P = 0.872). In 1978-1989, the lowest anti-BB antibody positivity rate (26.7%) was found in the 10-14 year age group, with a gradual increase with age to 41.1% in 50-59 year-olds. In 2001, the positivity rate in the 10-14 year age group was 26.2% and was not significantly different from that in the first period (P = 0.955). However, the positivity rates in the older age groups 15-59 years decreased significantly (P<0.001) and varied between 8.3% and 15.1%.

Absence of Borrelia burgdorferi in the myocardium of subjects with normal left ventricular systolic function: a study using PCR and electron microscopy.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated the presence of the Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) genome in the myocardium of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). To further support a causal relationship between the presence of Bb in the heart muscle and the development of DCM, demonstration of the absence of Bb in the myocardium of subjects with normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function is needed. AIM: To determine the prevalence of Bb by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electron microscopy (EM) in individuals with normal LV systolic function and no history suggestive of myocarditis. METHODS: We investigated 50 patients (67 ± 9 years, 15 women) with normal LV ejection fraction (EF) ≥ 50% undergoing cardiac surgery. During surgery, four samples from the right atrial appendage were obtained and subsequently examined by PCR and EM for the presence of Bb, and by immunohistochemistry to detect inflammatory cells. Serological testing of antibodies against Bb was also performed. RESULTS: Neither PCR nor EM detected Bb in any of the subjects. Immunohistological examination revealed myocardial inflammation in 2 individuals (4%). Serological analysis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated IgM antibodies against Bb in 4% and IgG antibodies in 12% of the study cohort; Western blot revealed IgM as well as IgG positivity in 14% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of Bb in the myocardium of individuals who undergo cardiac surgery and have normal LV systolic function supports the idea of Bb pathogenicity in the development of DCM.