Earlier forms of mycoplasma were studied by Shyh Lo, formerly of Tanox Biosystems, a spin-off biotechnology company from the Baylor College of Medicine, but now affiliated with the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington D.C. Lo was credited with discovering a new pathogenic form of mycoplasma, and he currently holds several patents on methods for special handling of the organism for study and development. (Lo, et al., 1989), (Lo, 1993). Lo lists the following diseases that are caused by a mycoplasma: HIV, AIDS, Aids Related Complex (ARC), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Wegener’s Disease, Sarcoidosis, Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Kibuchi’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Lupus.

The National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's journal, "Emerging Infectious Diseases", published a comprehensive article about the pathogenesis of mycoplasma by Baseman and Tully (1997), who stated:
. . . mycoplasmas by themselves can cause acute and chronic diseases at multiple sites with wide-ranging complications and have been implicated as cofactors in disease. Recently, mycoplasmas have been linked as a cofactor to AIDS pathogenesis and to malignant transformation, chromosomal aberrations, the Gulf War Syndrome, and other unexplained and complex illnesses, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Crohn's disease, and various arthritides (Baseman & Tully, 1997, p. 1).

Several studies were done of individuals diagnosed with CFS, FMS, GWS and RA for the presence of mycoplasmal infections in their white blood cells. Using a forensic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in each of the studies, researchers found significant infections in each of these disorders. In the first study, in over 200 people with GWS, mycoplasmal infections were found (primarily M. fermentans) in about fifty percent (50%) of cases (Nicolson, et al., 1998). The second study included over 200 CFS and FMS cases, in which mycoplasmal infections were found, specifically M. fermentans, M. pneumoniae, M. homonis, M. penetrans (Nicolson, 1999; Nicolson, et al., 1999; Nicolson, 2000). In those with CFS, greater than sixty percent (60%) of cases were infected and in those with FMS, greater than seventy percent (70%) of cases were infected. In a third study with over 200 people diagnosed with RA, fifty percent (50%) were found to have mycoplasma (Haier, et al., 1999). Nijs, Nicolson, DeBecker, DeMeirlier and Nicolson (2002) also found a high prevalence of mycoplasma infections among European CFS cases. In their study, 261 Europeans with a diagnosis of CFS were examined using PCR. Of those with CFS, 68.6% were infected with mycoplasma. There was also a high frequency of mycoplasma infections in GWS and civilians previously diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (Nicolson, Nasralla, Hair & Promfet, 2002). Similar results in two separate studies (Choppa, Vojdani, Tagle, Andrin, & Magtoto, 1998; Vojdani, et al., 1998; Vojdani & Franco, 1999). One study, however, failed to replicate the previous results ( Vernon , Sanjay & Reeves, 2003).

A study by Nasralla, Haier and Nicolson (1999) found that people with CFS and FMS, who were sick for many years or had severe signs and symptoms, were also found to have multiple mycoplasmal species. The authors further concluded that people may accumulate chronic infections during the course of their illness, and that these multiple mycoplasma infections may contribute to the progression or severity of their illness.

Bandi (2006), discovered that ticks can carry more than just the organism that causes Lyme Disease. Mycoplasma fermentans incognitus can be transmitted by ticks. Ticks are known to carry many other organisms which further complicates the clinical pattern and treatment.

(Created 6/10/05 by Sharon Briggs)