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Journal of Psychiatry, December 2003). Another antiviral, aman- than the general population. Between 1995 and 1996, researchers tadine, has been used in German studies to bring about greatly at the University of Ancona did stool tests on 238 residents of four shortened hospitalisations and rapid remission of psychiatric mani- Italian psychiatric institutions and found parasites in 53.8% of the festations in many of the 4-15% of psychiatric patients who tested residents, including all of those residents with behavioural aberra- positive for Borna disease virus (BDV), compared to 0-2% of nor- tions (Giacometti). mal subjects (Bode, Ludwig). In our experience, parasites are often implicated in cognitive Smaller US studies found up to half of bipolar and schizophrenic dysfunction and chronic emotional stress disorders. To the patients to be Borna positive compared to none of the healthy con- untrained eye, classic symptoms like apathy, exhaustion, trols (Lipkin). BDV is thought to be transmitted via the salivary confusion, appetite and memory loss, "nervous stomach", social and nasal secretions of horses, sheep, cattle, rabbits, goats, deer, withdrawal, lethargy and loss of sex drive and motivation are cats and other animals. It is well known to cause encephalitis and frequently assumed to signal a depressive disorder without an behavioural disturbances in horses and other mammals, has tro- adequate differential diagnosis being made or even attempted. pism for limbic system and dopamine circuits, strongly correlates Adding to the confusion, classic indicators of acute infection such with depressive, bipolar, schizophrenic and as fever or elevated antibodies often reverse dysthymic disorders in humans—and Borna themselves in chronic cases due to secondary viral markers, isolated from the monocytes of hypothyroidism and immunodepression. patients with mood disorders, coincide with The problem with a "psychiatric" diagnosis acute episodes of those mood disorders. is that, while it attempts to describe a symp- Due to the frequency of cat ownership, a "Patients with tom or set of symptoms, it yields no clue as to large percentage of the US population (up to aes the root cause(s). Unfortunately, until 50%) has been exposed to Toxoplasma, but parasitic loads are Western psychiatry further recognises that the most immunocompetent carriers remain more likely to mind/body connection goes in both directions, asymptomatic until another immunological abe patients will continue to suffer from ade facto urden such as HIV or a separate parasite exhibit mental status lack of differential diagnostic criteria in clini- weakens the host defences and precipitates A cally identical syndromes. athogenic expression. That is what makes changes, and there Is Even for those clinicians who recognise the interpretation of the chronic state so tricky. an improvement In devastating psychological effects that chronic At the Research Institute for Infectious intestinal, focal and even dental mental status of a infections Mental Illness, we make sure to try to infections can have on normal brain identify any parasitic co-infections subset of psychiatric function, accurate diagnosis presents fore deciding on an appropriate course . . formidable challenges. In fact, some of treatment. . ee patients following standard parasite stool test procedures * Finally, while toxoplasmosis gets a treatment for identify less than 10% of active lot of attention due to the pioneering infections and even the "politically A " studies of Torrey and Yolken and the parasites 0 correct" holistic speciality labs miss nown mechanism of brain lesions, there many infections that are nondetectable in are many other infective agents that faecal specimens, have inconsistent may not target the brain specifically but shedding patterns, are extra-intestinal or can severely affect mental function are otherwise hard to identify. For through the cumulative downstream con- example, according to the World Health sequences of chronic infection. While Organization, over two billion people are the importance of this link in the infected with worms, yet these will aetiopathogenesis of mental illness is rarely recognised, these focal _ rarely show up in stool assays. (These numbers are not surprising, and systemic infections are very common and their psychiatric once you realise that the exposure vectors are potentially sequelae are often severe. (Parasites are the most common causes everything you eat, drink, breathe and touch. And if you think you of mortality and morbidity in the world.) have to leave the country to be exposed to exotic parasites in food, In this nonspecific category are scores of parasites, protozoa, think again...) helminths, bacteria, fungi and viruses which, if not directly invad- ing and disabling brain tissue and neurotransmitter function, TESTING PROCEDURES invade indirectly by depleting the host of essential nutrients, inter- At the Research Institute for Infectious Mental Illness, we use fering with enzyme and neuroimmune functions and releasing a multiple labs with complementary strengths and a combination of massive load of waste products, enteric poisons and toxins which advanced scientific diagnostic procedures including O & P (ova & disrupt brain metabolism. (A single mature adult tapeworm can parasites) microscopy, multifluid antigen and antibody detection, lay a million eggs a day; and roundworms, which infect about 25% stool cultures, enzyme immunoassay, mucosal markers, inflamma- of the world's population, lay 200,000 daily.) tion , imaging techniques and other indirect laboratory indi- ith a. nn. Va "Patients with ” more likely to exhibit mental status changes, and there is an improvement in mental status of a subset of psychiatric patients following Be- a a fe treatment for parasites”. TESTING PROCEDURES At the Research Institute for Infectious Mental Illness, we use multiple labs with complementary strengths and a combination of advanced scientific diagnostic procedures including O & P (ova & parasites) microscopy, multifluid antigen and antibody detection, stool cultures, enzyme immunoassay, mucosal markers, inflamma- tion assays, imaging techniques and other indirect laboratory indi- cators combined with extensive historical and clinical evaluations to identify chronic infectious stressors. Patients previously diagnosed with "chronic candidiasis" often find that Candida was merely a co-factor or consequence of more significant infections and infestations which created obstacles to long-term cure.) "Mental" symptoms often improve dramatically when hidden neuroimmune infections are treated successfully and normal brain PARASITES AND COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION Remember, the brain is your body's most energy-intensive organ. It represents only 3% of your body weight but utilises 25% of your body's oxygen, nutrients and circulating glucose. Therefore, any significant metabolic disruptions can impact brain function first. This link is borne out statistically. Mental patients have much higher rates of parasitic infection JUNE — JULY 2004 NEXUS = 39 parasitic loads are www.nexusmagazine.com