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A high frequency of viral agents yet absence of Borrelia burgdorferi is seen within the myocardium of subjects with normal left ventricular systolic function: an electron microscopy study.
- Source :
-
Folia microbiologica [Folia Microbiol (Praha)] 2016 Mar; Vol. 61 (2), pp. 129-35. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Jul 24. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- A wide range of viral agents is associated with the development of acute myocarditis and its possible chronic sequela, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). There is also increasing evidence that Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) is associated with DCM in endemic regions for Bb infection. This study sought to use electron microscopy to prospectively analyze the presence of viruses and Bb within the myocardium of 40 subjects with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and 40 patients with new-onset unexplained DCM during the same time period. Virus particles were found within the myocardium of 23 subjects (58%) of both cohorts studied, yet there was no statistically significant difference in virus family presence between those with DCM versus those with preserved LV systolic function. In contrast, Bb was detected only in those subjects with DCM (0 versus 5 subjects; p ˂ 0.05). Polymerase chain reaction was performed on samples from patients who were positive for Bb according to electron microscopy, and Bb was confirmed in 4 out of 5 individuals. Our results demonstrate that the prevalence of viral particles does not differ between subjects with preserved LV systolic function versus those with DCM and therefore suggests that the mere presence of a viral agent within the myocardium is not sufficient to establish a clear link with the development of DCM. In contrast, the presence of Bb was found only within myocardial samples of patients with DCM; this finding supports the idea of a causal relationship between Bb infection and DCM development.
- Subjects :
- Aged
Antiviral Agents adverse effects
Antiviral Agents therapeutic use
Blood Pressure
Borrelia burgdorferi genetics
Borrelia burgdorferi isolation & purification
Borrelia burgdorferi ultrastructure
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated physiopathology
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated virology
Female
Heart microbiology
Heart physiopathology
Heart virology
Humans
Lyme Disease classification
Lyme Disease microbiology
Lyme Disease physiopathology
Male
Microscopy, Electron
Middle Aged
Myocardium ultrastructure
Prospective Studies
Ventricular Function, Left
Virus Diseases drug therapy
Virus Diseases virology
Viruses classification
Viruses genetics
Viruses isolation & purification
Viruses ultrastructure
Borrelia burgdorferi physiology
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated microbiology
Virus Diseases complications
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1874-9356
- Volume :
- 61
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Folia microbiologica
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26205424
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-015-0417-8