Bartonella tick-borne bacterial infection presentation set Sept. 26
The Lyme Disease Association of the Eastern Shore of Maryland will host a presentation on the bacterial infection known as Bartonella at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 26, at the South Coastal Library, 43 Kent Ave. in Bethany Beach.
The event will feature a presentation by Dr. B. Robert Mozayeni, a rheumatologist from Bethesda, Md. Bartonella has been found in two regional tick studies to be more prevalent in ticks than the bacteria causing Lyme disease, and ticks are proven vectors. Scientists have identified several strains of the bacteria that cause disease in animals and humans.
The bacteria can be transmitted to humans through the bite of ticks, fleas, biting flies and lice, as well as through contact with body fluids (i.e. saliva) of cats, dogs, horses, and farm and wild animals. The bacteria can live outside the host for up to seven days, increasing the potential for human infection.
“Bartonella is considered by some researchers to be an undiagnosed plague in our society today,” said Marilyn Williams, vice president of the Lyme Disease Association of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. “Laboratory testing is challenging, and the most commonly used IFA blood test has been found in research studies to miss up to 84 percent of active cases of Bartonella.”
Bartonella can affect every system of the body, with an emphasis on rheumatologic, neurological, cardiac, gastrointestinal and psychiatric/behavioral symptoms. The bacteria can also cause general symptoms of ill health, including fever of unknown origin and fatigue, as well as eye and skin problems.
Mozayeni recently participated in a research study involving 296 of his rheumatology patients from Maryland and Washington, D.C., who were previously diagnosed with conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and Lyme disease. Of the 296 patients, over 61 percent were found to be suffering from an active Bartonella infection. When they were treated for the infection, the majority of patient symptoms disappeared.
Mozayeni’s presentation will provide a background on the disease, a closer look at symptoms it can cause, diagnostic challenges, cutting-edge research, and his clinical and research experience with treatment.
The event is free and open to the public, and no reservations are required. Medical and counseling professionals are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Marilyn Williams at 410-726-4573 or easternshoremdlyme@yahoo.com.
