About Mycoplasma
The bacteria Mycoplasmas of the class Mollicutes, were once thought to be viruses due to their ability to pass through filters that block the passage of ordinary bacteria, because of their deformable membrane.
They are now known as the smallest free-living, self-replicating, fastidious bacteria. Their lack of a cell-wall also renders traditional cell-wall active antibiotics useless. Mycoplasma species, including Mycoplasma fermentans, have been identified in blood-sucking arthropods. One representative are Ixodes ticks, which also transmit Lyme disease, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, and Bartonellosis.
In a published study, 17.4 % of 230 symptomatic US-residents in a endemic area for tick-borne diseases were tested positive for Mycoplasma.
Available Tests for Mycoplasma
EliSpot
Mycoplasma pneumoniae EliSpot
(2x ACD/CPDA tube)
IFA, ELISA, Immunoblot
Mycoplasma pneumoniae-IgM, Mycoplasma pneumoniae-IgA, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae-IgG antibodies
(1x Serum/SST tube)
PCR
Mycoplasma pneumoniae-PCR in blood
(2x EDTA tube or sputum, secretion)
Bacteria:
Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma fermentans (gram-positive, intracellular).
Vector / Transmission:
airborne infection (aerogen), human to human, ticks (not evidenced)
Symptoms:
Fatigue (100%), fever, joint pain, joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, insomnia, anxiety, emotional volatility, lack of concentration, memory loss, autism.
Associations:
Myalgic Encephalitis (ME), “Gulf War I syndrome”, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Autism, Chronic Fatique Sydrome (CFS), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
Risk factors:
Immune suppression (children/older people).