Investigation of the Microbial and Molecular Correlates of Morgellons Disease

Samantha Rice; Randy Wymore

Investigation of the Microbial and Molecular Correlates of Morgellons Disease

Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review

Abstract

Morgellons disease is a complex dermopathy that is controversial in the medical community. Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to the etiology or transmission of this disease. Due to the lack of information, the debate surrounding Morgellons is considerable. There are currently no accepted markers for diagnosis, which leads patients to a common differential diagnosis of delusional parasitosis or delusional infestation.^1,3 However, with further investigation, potential etiologies can be explored.

In this study:
• Lesions from patients are collected and de-identified so they are anonymous to the researchers.
• Lesions are studied for unusual microbial organisms; specifically, Bartonella henselae, Helicobacter pylori, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Treponema denticola.
• Borrelia burgdorferi have been detected in dermatological specimens, providing a baseline for spirochetal cause.¹
• We hypothesize microbial organisms could be the infectious cause of Morgellons disease.
• Identifying these related strains will help to determine if an infectious etiology of the dermopathy is present

Original language	American English
Pages	94
State	Published - 18 Feb 2022
Event	Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Research Week 2022 : Poster Presentation - Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, United States Duration: 14 Feb 2022 → 18 Feb 2022 https://medicine.okstate.edu/research/docs/rw2022_agenda.pdf (Research Week 2022 Agenda)

Conference

Conference	Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Research Week 2022
Country/Territory	United States
City	Tulsa
Period	14/02/22 → 18/02/22
Internet address	https://medicine.okstate.edu/research/docs/rw2022_agenda.pdf (Research Week 2022 Agenda)

Keywords

Morgellons disease
Lyme disease
fibers
Borrelia burgdorferi

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title = "Investigation of the Microbial and Molecular Correlates of Morgellons Disease",

abstract = "Morgellons disease is a complex dermopathy that is controversial in the medical community. Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to the etiology or transmission of this disease. Due to the lack of information, the debate surrounding Morgellons is considerable. There are currently no accepted markers for diagnosis, which leads patients to a common differential diagnosis of delusional parasitosis or delusional infestation.1,3 However, with further investigation, potential etiologies can be explored. In this study: • Lesions from patients are collected and de-identified so they are anonymous to the researchers. • Lesions are studied for unusual microbial organisms; specifically, Bartonella henselae, Helicobacter pylori, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Treponema denticola. • Borrelia burgdorferi have been detected in dermatological specimens, providing a baseline for spirochetal cause.1 • We hypothesize microbial organisms could be the infectious cause of Morgellons disease. • Identifying these related strains will help to determine if an infectious etiology of the dermopathy is present",

keywords = "Morgellons disease, Lyme disease, fibers, Borrelia burgdorferi",

author = "Samantha Rice and Randy Wymore",

year = "2022",

month = feb,

day = "18",

language = "American English",

pages = "94",

note = "Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Research Week 2022 : Poster Presentation ; Conference date: 14-02-2022 Through 18-02-2022",

url = "https://medicine.okstate.edu/research/docs/rw2022_agenda.pdf",

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TY - CONF

T1 - Investigation of the Microbial and Molecular Correlates of Morgellons Disease

AU - Rice, Samantha

AU - Wymore, Randy

PY - 2022/2/18

Y1 - 2022/2/18

N2 - Morgellons disease is a complex dermopathy that is controversial in the medical community. Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to the etiology or transmission of this disease. Due to the lack of information, the debate surrounding Morgellons is considerable. There are currently no accepted markers for diagnosis, which leads patients to a common differential diagnosis of delusional parasitosis or delusional infestation.1,3 However, with further investigation, potential etiologies can be explored. In this study: • Lesions from patients are collected and de-identified so they are anonymous to the researchers. • Lesions are studied for unusual microbial organisms; specifically, Bartonella henselae, Helicobacter pylori, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Treponema denticola. • Borrelia burgdorferi have been detected in dermatological specimens, providing a baseline for spirochetal cause.1 • We hypothesize microbial organisms could be the infectious cause of Morgellons disease. • Identifying these related strains will help to determine if an infectious etiology of the dermopathy is present

AB - Morgellons disease is a complex dermopathy that is controversial in the medical community. Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence to the etiology or transmission of this disease. Due to the lack of information, the debate surrounding Morgellons is considerable. There are currently no accepted markers for diagnosis, which leads patients to a common differential diagnosis of delusional parasitosis or delusional infestation.1,3 However, with further investigation, potential etiologies can be explored. In this study: • Lesions from patients are collected and de-identified so they are anonymous to the researchers. • Lesions are studied for unusual microbial organisms; specifically, Bartonella henselae, Helicobacter pylori, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Treponema denticola. • Borrelia burgdorferi have been detected in dermatological specimens, providing a baseline for spirochetal cause.1 • We hypothesize microbial organisms could be the infectious cause of Morgellons disease. • Identifying these related strains will help to determine if an infectious etiology of the dermopathy is present

KW - Morgellons disease

KW - Lyme disease

KW - fibers

KW - Borrelia burgdorferi

M3 - Poster

SP - 94

T2 - Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Research Week 2022

Y2 - 14 February 2022 through 18 February 2022

ER -

Investigation of the Microbial and Molecular Correlates of Morgellons Disease

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

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