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Association of spirochetal infection with Morgellons disease

Marianne J Middelveen1, Divya Burugu2, Akhila Poruri2

  • 1International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, Bethesda, MD, 20827, USA.

F1000Research
|April 10, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Morgellons disease (MD) patients show Borrelia spirochetes in skin lesions. This finding suggests a spirochetal infection may cause MD, challenging previous theories of self-infliction.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Morgellons disease (MD) is a complex illness with unexplained skin lesions and embedded filaments.
  • Filament formation is linked to abnormal keratin and collagen expression.
  • Similarities to bovine digital dermatitis suggest a potential spirochetal role in MD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of spirochetes in skin biopsies from Morgellons disease patients.
  • To explore the potential role of Borrelia spirochetes in the pathogenesis of MD.

Main Methods:

  • Histological staining of skin tissue.
  • Immunofluorescent staining techniques.
  • Electron microscopic imaging.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.
  • Analysis of dermatological tissue from four MD patients.

Main Results:

  • Detection of Borrelia spirochetes in the dermatological tissue of all four randomly-selected MD patients.
  • Evidence supporting an association between MD and spirochetal infection.

Conclusions:

  • The presence of Borrelia spirochetes in MD lesions suggests a significant role for spirochetal infection in the disease.
  • Findings challenge the notion that MD lesions are self-inflicted or that patients are delusional.
  • Further molecular characterization of the identified Borrelia spirochetes is recommended.

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