hshbmom
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posted
Blue, your doctor will consider your symptoms and choose the appropriate test.
Fry lab charges $300.00 to examine a smear for Bartonella.
The lab sends you a shipping container (test kit); the shipping fee is covered by the lab. You send it by FedEx or DHL. They deliver the blood sample to the lab the next morning.
[ 24. May 2008, 10:53 AM: Message edited by: hshbmom ]
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METALLlC BLUE
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posted
Unfortunately my LLMD doesn't believe in co-infections, so I need to figure everything out on my own and try to get my primary to help me order the test. She's Lyme Friendly but not literate yet.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
hshbmom
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posted
That stinks Blue. Sounds like a common problem though. You should look at the coinfection symptoms list and go from there
You're right, you don't have a LLMD, but a Lyme friendly doctor. That's better than no treatment or diagnosis.
Be thankful; at least she'll treat you for Lyme. Has she been receptive to literature supporting the existence of coinfections?
Move on to someone more informed if you can. If your PCP is uninformed, she'll probably not treat you with the right meds, right dose, or the right length of time. Good intentions may not get you completely well.
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quote:Originally posted by ByronSBell 2007: That is strange..... have a LLMD look at the smear and treat for both, I have both of those infections.
Hemobartonella is a very old genus name and some of the bacteria in it have been renamed. If you don't mind, what is the full species name of the hemobartonella infection you have been diagnosed with? (I mean the two-part name, ie Hemobartonella whateveri). Thanks.
Elena
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hshbmom
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posted
8 Legs,
I have edited my post a couple time because I initially misunderstood the lab's interpretation.
At first I read Hemobartonella as "hemobartonella", thinking there was a bartonella infection in the blood...then realized the capital H denoted a different genus of bacteria.
The test results only say Hemobartonella or Mycoplasma, without mention of a particular species.
Byron was referring to Bartonella.
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hshbmom
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posted
We received additional results from MDL in NJ that found Mycoplasma with PCR tests on biopsies from the stomach & small intestine.
Again, no species was mentioned, only the genus Mycoplasma.
The test was listed as "Mycoplasma general". So maybe we have a Mycoplasma species that is not identified or doesn't have a specific test.
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northstar
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Test code: B0047 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Mycoplasma haemofelis by real time polymerase chain reaction
Included on P0021 - Feline Bloodborne Panel
Hemobartonellosis in cats is caused by Mycoplasma haemofelis, previously known as Haemobartonella felis. Cats infected with this organism typically develop regenerative anemia as the bacteria attack the cat's red blood cells.
Similar to Mycoplasma haemocanis, the bacteria can be transmitted from one animal to another by blood-feeding arthropods such as fleas and ticks. M. haemofelis can also be transmitted from female cats with clinical disease to their newborn offspring in the absence of arthropod vectors. The severity of disease produced by M. haemofelis varies, from cats that are mildly anemic and without clinical signs to cats that are markedly depressed and die as a result of severe anemia. The most common clinical signs in ill cats are depression, weakness, anorexia, weight loss and pale mucous membranes. Studies have estimated the prevalence of this bacterium in the feline population from 0.9 to 28%.
Mycoplasma haemofelis has not been successfully grown in agar or cell cultures due to its fastidious growth requirements. Traditionally, diagnosis relied on microscopic identification of organisms attached to the surfaces of erythrocytes in Wright-Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smears. However, this method not only lacks sensitivity but also is not adequately specific because the morphology of M. haemofelis can easily be confused with other microorganisms such as rickettsia. Molecular detection by PCR is the best way to detect M. haemofelis in blood of infected cats. Using PCR analysis, it is possible to detect the pathogen in blood samples obtained from cats during parasitemia, during most of the carrier phase, and even after challenge with immunosuppressive drugs which would prevent detection by serological techniques.
Utilities:
* Confirm the disease causing agent * Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Mycoplasma haemofelis infection * Ensure that cat populations are free of M. haemofelis * Early prevention of spread of M. haemofelis among a group of cats * Minimize human exposure to M. haemofelis
Specimen requirement: 0.5 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) or ACD (yellow top) tube, shipped overnight at room temperature.
For specimen types other than those listed here, please call to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.
For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.
Turnaround time: 2 business days
Methodology: Qualitative real time PCR
Normal range: Nondetected
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northstar
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AffectedAnimals: Essentially all cats have the potential to be infected with Haemobartonella felis. Cats infected with feline leukemia virus appear to be at higher risk for infection and are likely to have more severe signs of illness.
Overview: Haemobartonellosis, or feline infectious anemia, is a parasitic disease caused by Haemobartonella felis.
The disease process begins when H. felis organisms attach themselves to the red blood cells of infected cats. H. felis may be spread by a number of routes, although fleabites are thought to be the major mode of transmission.
While some infected cats have no symptoms, others may develop severe anemia and illness. The infection is diagnosed microscopically when the organisms are found on the surface of red blood cells in a blood smear.
However, since the organisms may not always be present, treatment is often initiated in an anemic cat if there is no other explanation for the anemia. Specific treatment for feline infectious anemia includes tetracycline antibiotics and prednisone.
Patients may require supportive care, including blood transfusion. Although treatment does not eliminate the infection completely, cats that survive are thought to have a good long-term outlook.
Clinical Signs: The severity of clinical signs associated with Haemobartonella infection usually corresponds to the degree of anemia present, or the speed with which it develops.
Cats with mild anemia may show no overt signs of illness. In severely anemic cats, or in cats that rapidly become anemic, signs can include depression, lethargy, inappetance, pallor, jaundice and splenomegaly.
The temperature may be elevated, but in cats with life-threatening anemia, the body temperature is often subnormal.
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Symptoms: Cats with mild, Haemobartonella-induced anemia may not show any symptoms of disease. In cats with severe anemia, or in cases where the anemia develops quickly, symptoms include weakness, depression, reduced appetite, decreased activity, and pale or jaundiced mucous membranes. Cats that are severely ill may be in shock, with below normal body temperature.
Description: Feline infectious anemia is caused by the organism Haemobartonella felis. This organism may be spread by fleabites, cat bites, blood transfusion, and by mothers to their kittens.
Some cats infected with Haemobartonella have no symptoms, while others can develop life-threatening anemia. Cats that are also infected with feline leukemia virus are expected to have more severe signs of illness.
Symptoms can include fever, depression, and loss of appetite. Signs of anemia may include lethargy, weakness, pale or jaundiced mucous membranes, and increased respiratory rate and effort.
Severely affected cats may appear to be prostrate and depressed, or in shock. They can die suddenly with no apparent warning.
The anemia arises as infected red blood cells are attacked and destroyed by the immune system. The spleen is one of the major sites of red blood cell destruction.
If the hemolytic process is severe, pigments from red blood cell breakdown may accumulate in the blood stream, resulting in jaundice.
Haemobartonella should be considered as a possibility in any anemic cat or any cat with evidence of hemolysis.
The diagnosis is based on microscopic identification of H. felis on a blood smear. Since the appearance of H. felis on red blood cells is cyclical, the organisms may not be present all the time. In many cases, treatment is begun even if the diagnosis is only suspected and not confirmed.
Treatment of haemobartonellosis includes tetracycline antibiotics and prednisone. Blood transfusions may be required in patients with severe anemia.
In cats that recover, a chronic carrier state develops. These chronic infections may persist for the life of the cat. Without treatment, as many as one out of every three cats with haemobartonellosis will die from the disease.
Although they may be carriers of the organism, successfully treated cats have a good long-term outlook. Control of flea and tick infestations may help prevent re-infection with Haemobartonella.
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Diagnosis: The confirmation of H. felis infection rests on the microscopic identification of the organisms on the surface of red blood cells on a blood smear.
It is easy to confuse the organisms with other red blood cell changes. The presence of the organisms in an otherwise normal cat may be an incidental finding.
The absence of the organism in an anemic cat does not rule out the disease, since their appearance in circulation appears to be cyclical.
Furthermore, the parasites clear rapidly upon treatment with antibiotics, making detection difficult.
Special laboratory stains may be helpful in identifying the organism microscopically. A sophisticated test called polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, may also help establish the diagnosis. This test looks for genetic material unique to H. felis.
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Prognosis: With successful treatment, the outcome for cats with feline infectious anemia appears to be good.
Successful treatment does not completely eliminate the organism, and previously affected cats may serve as carriers.
Some authorities have suggested that carrier cats can relapse if their body defenses are weakened. However, no clinical evidence exists to support this concept.
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Transmission or Cause: The cause of Haemobartonellosis is an organism called Haemobartonella felis, a parasite that attaches to the surface of red blood cells in infected cats.
Fleabites may be the primary means of spread. The organism can be passed from mother cats to their kittens, but it is not known whether this spread occurs prior to birth, during birth, or through nursing.
The organisms may be passed via blood transfusion. Some authors suggest that cat bites may also transmit the organisms.
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Treatment: Treatment for haemobartonellosis includes blood transfusion, antibiotics, and prednisone. Blood transfusions are used to temporarily stabilize severely anemic cats, replenishing the number of red blood cells. The need for transfusion is based on the cat's overall condition.
Tetracycline antibiotics are employed to eradicate as many H. felis organisms as possible.
Doxycycline is probably the most frequently prescribed antibiotic in this class because it usually causes fewer side effects than other tetracyclines.
Suppression of appetite, nausea or vomiting are common signs of adverse drug reaction. The drugs do not completely eliminate the infection, but they appear to lessen the severity of the disease.
Prednisone is frequently prescribed in cases of feline infectious anemia. This corticosteroid medication is used to help block immune system-mediated red blood cell destruction.
Haemobartonellosis remains one of the few specifically treatable causes of severe anemia in cats. In many circumstances, treatment is started when the disease is suspected, even if the organisms are not identified. ====================
A genus of parasitic bacteria (order Rickettsiales) found in and on the surface of erythrocytes, but which rarely produce disease in animals without splenectomy.
They are identical to Eperythrozoon species, except that Haemobartonella species are not found free in the plasma nor are ring forms seen on the surface of infected erythrocytes.
Species are found in laboratory rats and in dogs, cats, and other domestic animals. The type species is Haemobartonella muris.
Synonym: Haemobartonella.
Origin: G. Haima, blood, + dim. Of A.S. Beretun, courtyard, grange, fr. Bere, barley, + tun, enclosure
(05 Mar 2000)
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northstar
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posted
jcm.asm.org/cgi/reprint/35/4/823.pdf
this is a pdf file. I found it on a search for haemobartonella human
I cant do a cut and paste, but on the first page:
Several reports have described Haemobartonella-like organisms infecting humans in the United States (1,6,12). Blood-sucking insects have been demonstrated to be or have been suggested to be vectors to Haemobartonella spp. and Eperthyozoon spp. (2, 10,24,25)
....are placed in the familyAnaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiaes...unlike Anaplasma..which replicate in the membraine-bround inclusions of erythrocytes, ....adhere to and primarily grow on the surface of erythrocytes....
(last page)......Although Haemobartonella spp. are often speculated to be related to Bartonella spp., which are hemotropic parasites and ...,our study showed that they are not related at all.
Morphologically, Bartonella spp. and Haemobartonella spp. are quite distinct.
Bartonella spp. have two membranes (Iouter and inner membranes), are much larger rods..., and possess unipolar flagella. Bartonella spp. are associated with both endothelial cells and erythrocytes, but Haemobartonella spp. are associated exclusively with erythrocytes (23a).Posts: 1331 | From hither and yonder | Registered: Sep 2005
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feelfit
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posted
My Fry lab smear done a few weeks ago also said Hemobartonella.
I had never seen this either, so I called Fry Labs and asked them exactly what this was. The response:
Bartonella in the blood.
Feelfit
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hshbmom
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posted
I called Fry Labs yesterday to clarify my question about Hemobartonella.
I asked whether they mean Hemobartonella spp vs Bartonella spp....VS Mycoplasma when the smear indicates an infection with either Hemobartonella or Mycoplasma.
I was told they have been doing additional DNA testing on people who have suspect Hemobartonella; these people are consistently testing positive for Mycoplasma with the DNA test.
Fry means Hemobartonella, not Bartonella in the blood, when they say Hemobartonella. But, those with what appears to be Hemobartonella or Mycoplasma have been having consistently positive DNA tests for Mycoplasma.
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feelfit
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posted
Well,Well, totally contradicts what they told me.
Wish that someone would make up their minds. Did I shoot 300 bucks into the wind?
Feelfit
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posted
I believe this is a terminology issue -- look up mycoplasma, cell-wall deficient bacteria, L form and 6 or 7 other terms that all explain the same thing: gram-negative bacteria that are super small, have thin cell walls and can act like viruses.
This is a terribly important issue, in terms of all of us getting on the same page. Many of these bugs that are literally insinuating themselves into any part of the human body -- including blood cells -- seem to be defying our own description.
It would help if we could all call them the same damned thing! I really like the Wiki definition here:
Bartonella (formerly known as Rochalimaea) is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria. Facultative intracellular parasites, Bartonella species can infect healthy people but are considered especially important as opportunistic pathogens.[1] Bartonella are transmitted by insect vectors such as ticks, fleas, sand flies and mosquitoes. At least eight Bartonella species or subspecies are known to infect humans.[2] In June 2007, a new species under the genus, called Bartonella rochalimae, was discovered.[3] This is the sixth species known to infect humans, and the ninth species and subspecies, overall, known to infect humans.
One way to remember this is remembering the root of "myco," meaning fungus or parasite. It needs our (host) cells to survive.
-------------------- My biofilm film: www.whyamistillsick.com 2004 Mycoplasma Pneumonia 2006 Positive after 2 years of hell 2006-08 Marshall Protocol. Killed many bug species 2009 - Beating candida, doing better Lahey Clinic in Mass: what a racquet! Posts: 830 | From Mass. | Registered: Aug 2006
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posted
For those with the Fry Labs findings of "Suggestive of Mycoplasma/Haemobartonella" in their blood smears - here is some new information that was presented at a recent Lyme conference in Kansas (March 2009) that I just learned from my LLND. Apparently this coinfection is common enough that they decided to isolate it and look at its genome.
It turns out it is not related to Bartonella at all - nor is it even a gram negative bacteria, thus antibiotics would have no effect on it. Instead, it is a protozoan parasite in the Apicomplexa phyla, which include Babesia and Malaria. They have this bug identified down to family, but not genus yet. But it appears closely related to Theileria, which is in the same family. A species of this, disseminated by ticks, causes Theileriosis in cattle, which is widespread in Africa. For now the working name for this bug (until they know more) is "Little Babesia". They should have it down to genus or maybe even species in about a year.
My case of "Lyme" is characterized by recurring fatigue episodes that are unpredictably timed. My Lyme diagnosis was based on a clinical diagnosis but the Igenex results were borderline (only 3 bands well expressed). One of the characteristics of the Apicomplexa is an asynchronous life cycle. If my case was just Lyme my episodes would be predictable. 10 months of increasingly powerful antibiotics with naturopathic support had little effect. Thus I am suspecting that this Apicomplexan is the primary source of my symptoms and who knows - I may not even have Lyme.
With this new information we've made some changes to my therapy. I just started Arteminisin, which is a powerful anti-malarial. If this works broad spectrum against all Apicomplexa then this may be the silver bullet I've been searching for - now 3 years into this! Am also taking a whole host of other things to boost Artiminisin's effectiveness. The other side of my therapy is boosting the immune system (this is working - my CD-57/HNK1 numbers are all very good).
Casey Burns
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disturbedme
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posted
This doesn't really make sense to me because those of us who also got the "Bartonella spp." answer in the same smear from them are also being told it's the mystery bug, not just the hemobartonella or mycoplasma.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
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