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05 June 2014 : Original article  

Bacterial tick-borne diseases caused by Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia spp. among patients with cataract surgery

Tomasz ChmielewskiABCDEFG, Joanna Brydak-GodowskaABCDEFG, Beata FiecekABCDEFG, Urszula RorotBDF, Elżbieta SędrowiczBDF, Małgorzata WerenowskaBDF, Dorota KopaczBDF, Agata HevelkeBDF, Magdalena MichniewiczBDF, Dariusz KęcikACDEG, Stanisława Tylewska-WierzbanowskaACDEG

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.890149

Med Sci Monit 2014; 20:927-931

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Clinical data have shown that tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Bartonella spp., Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia spp. can affect the central nervous system, including the eye. The aim of this study was to establish a relationship between the incidence of cataract and evidence of bacterial infections transmitted by ticks.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fluid with lenticular masses from inside of the eye and blood from 109 patients were tested by PCR and sequencing. Sera from patients and the control group were subjected to serological tests to search specific antibodies to the bacteria.

RESULTS: Microbiological analysis revealed the presence of Bartonella sp. DNA in intraoperative specimens from the eye in 1.8% of patients. Serological studies have shown that infections caused by B. burgdorferi sensu lato and Bartonella sp. were detected in 34.8% and 4.6% of patients with cataract surgery, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Presence of DNA of yet uncultured and undescribed species of Bartonella in eye liquid indicates past infection with this pathogen. Specific antibodies to B. burgdorferi sensu lato and Bartonella sp. are detected more frequently in patients with cataract compared to the control group. This could indicate a possible role of these organisms in the pathological processes within the eyeball, leading to changes in the lens. Further studies are needed to identify Bartonella species, as well as to recognize the infectious mechanisms involved in cataract development.

Keywords: Aged, 80 and over, Bacteria - metabolism, Bacterial Infections - microbiology, Bartonella - physiology, Borrelia burgdorferi - physiology, Cataract - microbiology, Cataract Extraction, Coxiella burnetii - physiology, Rickettsia - physiology, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Tick-Borne Diseases - microbiology

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Editorial

01 November 2023 : Editorial  

Editorial: Factors Driving New Variants of SARS-CoV-2, Immune Escape, and Resistance to Antiviral Treatments as the End of the COVID-19 Pandemic is Declared

Dinah V. Parums
Science Editor, Medical Science Monitor, International Scientific Information, Inc., Melville,

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.942960

Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e942960

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Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750
Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750