Another member of the herpes virus is considered among the Lyme disease Complex of co-infections. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV.) This virus, EBV, can remain alive but dormant in the body for the life of the patient. EBV (also known as HHV-4) is quite common and most people will contract it at some point in their lives. The most common method of EBV transmission comes through saliva, and this co-infection of Lyme disease’s symptoms is unlikely to present until 4-6 weeks. The disease is most often spread during this period. This is may be one of the co-infection of Lyme disease that should be tested and treated properly. If a patient with Mono continues to have fatigue beyond 6 weeks or doesn’t feel like they are 100% that is not uncommon when the patient has chronic Lyme disease.
Children and Autoimmunity, Autism-like Symptoms, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
EBV symptomology usually is not displayed by children who contract this Lyme diseases Complex co-infection. However, when an EBV infection occurs in adolescence or young adulthood, 35-50 percent of those individuals will contract mononucleosis.
In situations where Lyme disease and its co-infections are already present, they tend to reproduce at a far higher rate than they would otherwise, often leading to significant brain and autoimmune disease-like symptoms that can mimic those of Autism.
Fever, sore throat, swollen lymph glands, elevated white blood cells counts, and even swollen liver and spleen round out presenting symptoms of infectious mononucleosis – a disease directly affected by EBV. In fact there are some cases, albeit rare, that have seen impact on the heart and central nervous system.
If symptoms of mononucleosis persist beyond six months, Lyme disease testing or a Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) evaluation should be considered by care provider. More importantly in chronic Lyme disease complex the virus can stay active for years and not follow the course seen with simple mono. Because of biofilm communities these infections can be triggered by the other infections involved.
Co-infection of Chronic Lyme disease Co-infection Epstein Barr – Linked to Autoimmune Diseases and MS
A pattern of association has been drawn between Epstein-Barr and Multiple Sclerosis as well as other autoimmune diseases.With regards to Lyme disease co-infection EBV, a leading world researcher pointed out that among MS related brain lesions,abnormal accumulations of EBV infected B lymphocytes were found consistently. This observation shares similarities with studies focused on the pathological tissues of those suffering with other autoimmune diseases.
Lyme disease (and other tick-borne zoonotic illness) has been clinically shown to suggest viruses can be activated in its presence. Simply put, a human carrier of herpetic virus when combined with another infection can activate Epstein Barr, thereby accelerating patient fatigue, in addition to many other potential symptoms associated with other autoimmune diseases and neurological symptoms. This is where we see the Chronic Lyme disease impact Cancer and other autoimmune diseases.
Epstein Barr and Autoimmune Disease Link to Viruses and Chronic Fatigue
Immunologists have long suspected viruses as being the silent triggers of autoimmune diseases with their unrivaled ability to interfere with the immune systems of their hosts. EBV, which infects up to 95 percent of the human global population, has been repeatedly associated with MS through epidemiological and serological studies. However, direct proof of its involvement had been much harder to come by.
The virus can hide in the immune system’s B lymphocytes and remain relatively dormant throughout the life of the host. However, should the immune system fail to properly control it, EBV can reactivate and begin to cause tumors in thisprocess. Lyme Disease and it complex of infections may re-active this virus. It was demonstrated in a study conducted in Africa that Epstein Barr was activated and increased by addition of Malaria. Therefore, the combinations of infections and the patient’s immune system play critical role.
In 2007 it was shown that EBV is present in the brain lesions of MS patients after being transported into the central nervous system by B lymphocytes. It was also made evident that these infected B cells, when they do present in the brain, become the target of an immune attack. This often will cause a situation leading to chronic inflammation and eventually tissue destruction. Seemingly, EBV and its “unwilling smuggler” B cells are the main cause of brain damage in MS patients. This abnormal accumulation of EBV infected B cells is found among pathological tissues in other autoimmune diseases as well.
Progression of Autoimmune Diseases and MS
Infectious mononucleosis-causing pathogen, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV),plays a significant role in the facilitation of neurodegeneration among MS sufferers.At Envita, we work to speed healing time and boost the immune systems in those with EBV. In fact, EBV could be the environmental factor necessary to initiate the disease in adults. Moreover, it could likely be the increased immunological response to EBV infection in MS that actually leads to the disease’s characteristic immune dysregulation.
However, as MS patients do not usually have increased immune responses to other common viruses, the higher rate of EBV seroprevalence (coupledwith the higher anti-EBV antibody titre) cannot be the result of some hyper-immune state in MS patients. It seems instead that the increased risk for MS, particularly in those of higher age,decidedly points to an irrefutable link between MS and EBV. It may even be that EBV is completely requisite for MS to develop in adults. Patients really need to be tested for Lyme disease complex and co-infections to receive proper help.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry More Evidence
Professor of medicine and multiple sclerosis expert Robert Zivadinov shares, “A growing body of experimental evidence indicates that past infection with EBV may play a role in MS – but the relationship of EBV and the brain damage that can be seen on MRI scans had not been explored.”
In one study, one hundred thirty-five patients diagnosed with MS participated at University of Trieste’s Multiple Sclerosis Center. Researchers, led by Zivadinov, found definitively that higher levels of anti-EVB antibody measured at the study’s origin appeared to have a direct correlation to a decrease in both gray matter – and total brain volume – over the course of the three-year follow-up.With all this evidence these infections are ignored in patients with autoimmune disease and worse yet insurance companies fail to support their patients with proper treatments need to help patient treat infections and build immunity for health.
Virology of Epstein Barr
EBV is a DNA virus that multiplies within the nucleus of its host cells. It infects both B-cells and epithelial cells – establishing latent infections in the Bs and actually multiplying in the epithelials. Infected persons are then likely to produce virions (inert carriers of the EBV genome), carry and produce EBV-specific antibody, and harbor latently infected memory B-cells. Ultimately, what we see from EBV is an extremely sophisticated technique for the virus to avoid and escape the host’s immune system defenses.
Bringing about Cancer
Recent studies have shown that among immunosuppressed patients, EBV is closely linked to B-cell malignancies such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) and lymphoproliferative disease. EBV and some T-cell lymphomas are also likely related, while other epithelial tumors such as gastric cancers can similarly develop. The presence of multiple extrachromosomal copies of the viral genome in tumor cells and the expression of part of the EBV genome, characterize these tumors.
Envita Medical Centers
Envita is a premier integrative medical center that providescancer and chronic disease treatment options from across the globe. Envita’s LLMD (Lyme Literate Doctors) have developed revolutionary protocols to help patients improve their immune systems and their overall quality of life. Envita excels by treating disease causes rather than by addressing symptoms alone.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact Envita Medical Centers today.
References:
World health Organization viral cancers Epstein Barr
Genes and Immunity (2012)
National Center for Infectious Diseases, cdc.gov
Linking Epstein-Barr Virus To Multiple SclerosisScienceDaily (Sep. 14, 2009)