Chronic Fatigue In Animals And Microorganisms That Cause It

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a disease that affects both people and animals. Below we talk about the role played by microorganisms in this pathology. 

There are several microorganisms capable of damaging the health of living beings. And in some cases, the effect they cause is that of a great fatigue that seems inexplicable. So today we are talking about the microorganisms that cause chronic fatigue in animals.

In order to get to the heart of this topic, two fundamental issues must first be clarified:

• A microorganism is a single-celled organism that is so small that it is only visible under the microscope or electron microscope. Viruses are an example of this, as they are ultra-microscopic. Pathogenic microorganisms are capable of causing disease in animals, plants and people.

• Fatigue is a symptom associated with various ailments such as physical exhaustion, impaired cognitive ability or altered sleep patterns. We must therefore not confuse it with the tiredness that one feels after having performed physical activity.

Below are some examples of animals suffering from chronic fatigue and the scientific evidence known to date. These will help us understand the importance of microorganisms which, although tiny, play a crucial role in animal health.

Chronic fatigue syndrome in animals

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is a disease that begins with a flu-like episode.

It manifests itself with symptoms such as intense fatigue, both physical and mental, which is prolonged over time (for at least six months). It can cause including problems with concentration and memory and muscle aches. Some professionals attribute it to a psychiatric disorder.

A few years ago it was believed that this pathology was exclusive to humans, but several studies have revealed cases of CFS in animals as well, such as in horses and some domestic animals, which would indicate a possible case of zoonosis.

The cause, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic fatigue seem not to be very clear these days, but it all points to a central nervous system (CNS) infection, viral or bacterial, followed by an immune system disorder. .

Thanks to some research, we can talk about a variety of pathogens capable of causing infections that last a lifetime by evasion of the immune system:

• Parvovirus.
• HHV6 (human herpes)
• Mycoplasma (pneumonia)
• Cytomegalovirus (herpes virus)
• Epstein-Barr variants (mononucleosis)
• And even mushrooms or other biotoxins.

Microorganisms that cause chronic fatigue

Bacteria, parasites and viruses are microorganisms that can cause fatigue, or to be more precise they can be involved in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Bacteria

A study conducted in England suggests that horses can also suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. The data, in fact, confirm the relationship of this disease between humans and companion animals.

The experiment was conducted on four horses, two presented with fatigue and chronic weakness for which it was difficult to carry out physical efforts. They looked depressed, had their heads down and their lips drooping, as well as looking sleepy and apathetic. The other two horses, on the other hand, had symptoms such as weakness, asthenia and were underweight.

Through a blood smear and blood culture tests, the four animals were found to have bacteria similar to Micrococcus, but absent in healthy horses.

The study author had previously analyzed blood samples from cats and dogs with Micrococcus that tested positive for Staphylococcus intermedius and  Staphylococcus xilosus . It is therefore possible to say that bacteria are microorganisms that cause chronic fatigue.

Parasites

In another experiment published in the journal Progress in Neurobiology , the scientists used mice as a model for studying fatigue. The results allowed to establish that both the infections caused by Cryptosporidium parvum and by Toxoplasma gondii interfered with the activity of the mice that ran in the wheels for several weeks.

The parasite Trypanosoma brucei (which causes sleeping sickness) causes daytime sleepiness and insomnia in infected mice. After it reaches the blood, it can invade other tissues, such as the nervous system. In all cases, these single-celled parasites have been shown to cause chronic fatigue in animals.

Virus

Other microorganisms that cause chronic fatigue are viruses. Numerous studies have confirmed that CFS is due to a set of brain syndromes attributed to viral encephalopathies. It turned out, in fact, that the following viruses could be associated with this pathology:

• Parvovirus
• Enterovirus
• Epstein-Barr
• Cytomegalovirus

While some of them are found directly in the CSF, and experts suggest that that’s where they cause infection, others are found in different parts of the body and indirectly infect the central nervous system.

Another article on medical hypotheses indicates that compared to bacteria, viruses are the most likely infectious agents to cause this disease. This statement is based on the following ideas:

• Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with impaired cognitive function and we know that viruses cause changes in behavior.

• Viruses of the genus Circovirus and Poliomavirus  can penetrate the brain and reproduce in it. Circovirus does not cause pathogenicity in humans, unlike animals. In the second case, post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome occurs in pigs, with symptoms similar to CFS.

• CFS typically occurs as a result of a systemic disease, infection, or severe stress. These conditions can cause the virus to enter the blood which will then pass to the central nervous system, suppressing the immune system and increasing its viral load, as observed with Circovirus.

Viruses of the Picornaviridae family , which includes enteroviruses, are present in the healthy population. Despite this, many enteroviruses have caused CFS and there are cases of several subtypes that occasionally affect the brain. On the other hand, viruses of the herpes and parvovirus family exhibit a similar profile.

Microorganisms always offer us some clues

The study of bacteria, parasites and viruses allows us to understand infectious diseases and to develop effective treatments against them.

But microbiology goes much further. This scientific field is intended to help us understand the importance of these “invisible” organisms, since without them life would not exist. Their function in nature is fundamental for numerous biological processes to occur, including vital ones.