Multi-Matrix Real Time PCR in 108 Patients with Polymorphic Signs Suggestive of Fibromyalgia or Related to A Tick Bite

Author(s): Marie Mas, Alexis Lacout, Véronique Perronne, Yannick Lequette, Yves Gadiolet, Béatrice Rambeaud, Paul Trouillas, Michel Franck, Christian Perronne

Introduction: Ticks are frequently polyinfected and can thus transmit numerous micro-organisms. A large number of bacteria, parasites and viruses are transmitted by tick bites and could cause different signs and symptoms in patients. The main goal of this study was to search for these numerous micro-organisms in patients presenting with persistent polymorphic syndrome possibly due to a tick bite.

Patients and Methods: The following micro-organisms were searched for in saliva, urine, venous and capillary blood by using real time PCR : Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Bartonella spp., Bartonella quintana, Bartonella henselae, Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Brucella spp., Francisella tularensis, Mycoplasma spp., Chlamydia spp., Babesia spp., Theileria spp., EBV, HHV-6, CMV, VZV, Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), Bourbon virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, Dengue virus, Zika virus, Powassan virus, Eyach virus.

Results: 108 patients were included. 65.7% of the patients were poly-infected, and 23.1 % harboured at least three different micro-organisms. Borrelia spp. were not the most frequent bacteria observed, far behind Mycoplasma spp., Rickettsia spp. and Theileria spp. which were the most frequent micro-organisms observed. The most sensitive matrix was saliva, followed by urine, capillary blood and venous blood.

Conclusion: Our prospective study has shown that patients with SPPT with polymorphic signs suggestive of fibromyalgia or related to a tick bite, could harbor several tick-borne micro-organisms.