Copyright 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.
Comparative Immunology, Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (2001) Volume 24, n.3
A great deal of controversy and speculation surrounds the etiology of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in human patients and the existance of a similar illness in animals.
To evaluate the association with a presumptive staphilococcal infection and bacteremia, 7 dogs and 8 cats diagnosed with CFS (2 meeting the CDC working case definition) were submitted to rapid blood cultures and fresh blood smears investigations.
Nine out of 15 blood cultures proved Staph-positive and 4 isolates were specified as S. xilosus (3) and S. intermedius (1).
The presence of micrococci-like organisms in the blood was of common observation among these subjects, in association with fatigue/pain-related symptoms and biochemical abnormalities suggestive of a myopathy.
Following treatment with a low dosage arsenical drug (thiacetarsamide sodium, Caparsolate, iv., 0.1 ml/kg/day) all patients experienced complete remission. Micrococci disappeared from the blood at post-treatment controls made 10-30 days later.
The outcomes were compared with those of 5 healthy controls and 5 ‘sick with other illness’ patients showing significant difference.
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Reprinted with Permission of Walter Tarello
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