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Bartonella

Babesia and Bartonella Species DNA in Blood and Enrichment Blood Cultures from People with Chronic Fatigue and Concurrent Neurological Symptoms.

Breitschwerdt EB, Maggi RG, Bush JC, Kingston E. Babesia and Bartonella Species DNA in Blood and Enrichment Blood Cultures from People with Chronic Fatigue and Concurrent Neurological Symptoms. Pathogens. 2026; 15(1):2. doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15010002

  • Study included 50 individuals with chronic fatigue lasting 6 months to 19 years and neurological symptoms
  • 23 of 50 participants had evidence of Babesia and/or Bartonella infection
    • Babesia DNA detected in 12 of 50 participants (24%)
    • Bartonella DNA detected in 13 of 50 participants (26%)
    • Co-infection with both genera confirmed in 2 participants
  • Findings support a potential association between these infections and presentations consistent with ME/CFS
  • Authors emphasize the need for larger, prospective studies to clarify contribution or causality
Doxycycline Use in Adolescent Psychiatric Patients and Risk of Schizophrenia: An Emulated Target Trial
Lång U, Metsälä J, Ramsay H, Boland F, Heikkilä K, Pulakka A, Lawlor A, O’Connor K, Veijola J, Kajantie E, Healy C, Kelleher I. Doxycycline Use in Adolescent Psychiatric Patients and Risk of Schizophrenia: An Emulated Target Trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2025 Nov 5:appiajp20240958. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20240958. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41190738.
  • Study Overview: Large population-based analysis of >56,000 Finnish adolescents in mental health services who received antibiotics.
  • Key Finding: Doxycycline use linked to 30–35% lower risk of developing schizophrenia in adulthood vs. other antibiotics.
  • Mechanism: May reduce brain inflammation and moderate excessive synaptic pruning, a process tied to schizophrenia.
  • Implications: Suggests repurposing doxycycline as potential early preventive intervention for high-risk youth; needs clinical trials to confirm.
Bartonella henselae, Babesia odocoilei and Babesia divergens-like MO-1 infection in the brain of a child with seizures, mycotoxin exposure and suspected Rasmussen’s encephalitis
Breitschwerdt EB, Maggi RG, Robveille C, Kingston E. Bartonella henselae, Babesia odocoilei and Babesia divergens-like MO-1 infection in the brain of a child with seizures, mycotoxin exposure and suspected Rasmussen’s encephalitis. J Cent Nerv Syst Dis. 2025 Mar 12;17:11795735251322456. doi: 10.1177/11795735251322456. PMID: 40083671; PMCID: PMC11905044.
  • Despite cat and suspected tick exposure, Bartonella henselae and Borrelia burgdorferi serology remained negative.
  • Neurodiagnostic testing partially supported Rasmussen’s encephalitis; brain biopsy showed astrogliosis.
  • Bartonella henselae DNA was detected in brain tissue cultures.
  • Babesia odocoilei and Babesia divergens-like MO-1 were confirmed in blood and brain tissue from 2022–2023.
  • Infections, compounded by mycotoxin exposure, created a complex clinical case.