Teiler's Disease

Theiler's disease

Theiler disease is a rare viral disease that causes damage to the central nervous system and can be fatal. This disease was first described in 1956 by American microbiologists D. Theiler.

The article below provides information about the history of the study of Theiler's disease, its pathogenesis, methods of diagnosis and treatment, and the epidemiology of this disease.

History of Theiler's study

The disease has been described in patients arriving from Africa. In the United States, the first cases were identified in 1935, possibly brought by American soldiers after their service in Africa. The first cases of Taylor's infection were noted in 16 states, by 1969 this list had grown to 50, and by 2008 - 140. Despite all the efforts of scientists, it was not possible to determine the main cause of Tayler's disease.

Pathogenesis of Theiler's disease

The exact cause of the disease is unknown. There are several theories to explain its development, including a primary viral infection, a disorder of the immune system, or an autoimmune response.

The virus that causes Theiler's infects cells of the nervous tissue. It can then enter the nervous system and cause inflammation, leading to cell death and impaired nerve function. The patient experiences changes in behavior, seizures, tremors and other symptoms.

One of the first symptoms of the disease is fever, which can last for several weeks. Behavioral changes and movement disorders appear later

Theiler, Theiler's disease (Theiler J.C., 1874-1936, American, virologist), a chronic vector-borne infection characterized by damage to the central nervous system, demyelinating encephalitis and tick-borne fever, the main zoonosis of the New World.

Theiler's disease is caused by a microorganism - tick-borne encephalitis virus (Borrelia). Described in 1964 by the Soviet virologist Yu. M. Losin and the American infectious disease specialist Eugene Thompson. The main source of infection is Ixodes dammini ticks, a parasite of humans and animals. Transmission of the infection occurs by pricking the proboscis containing the pathogen. Infection with Borrelia is possible through their carriers, rodents and birds, but the number of such cases is small. Every second person who has had an infection passes it on to the Ixodes tick as an adult. The infection is severe, lasting 3-20 days. Paroxysmal pain occurs in the head and neck area. There are convulsions, the temperature is elevated, the lymph nodes are enlarged and painful. Cortical blindness may occur. The patient often dies. Accurate diagnosis of the disease is difficult, since it has not yet been identified and specific tests for the pathogen have not been developed. A temporary solution can be obtained by conducting additional studies of peripheral blood for the presence of a specific antiglobulin reaction. During the disease, patients may develop lymphadenopathy, focal lesions of the cerebral parenchyma, and some changes in the electrical conductivity of the heart.