"A cluster of canine Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) was diagnosed according to current criteria accepted in human medicine. The fatigue and pain symptoms were associated with pyoderma, presence of micrococci-like organisms in the blood and the recovery of two vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus xilosus strains, from a pustule and from drinking water. Thiacetarsamide sodium, was administered intravenously at low dosage (0.1 mg/Kg/day) for three days in all dogs. Clinical and hematological parameters at days 4, 7 and 10 after therapy confirmed complete remission from the syndrome, which had lasted for more than 2 years and had been treated previously with several chemotherapeutics agents. The possible role of coagulase-negative staphylococci in the aetiology of CFS and the antimicrobial action of arsenicals are discussed."
"There has been a growing suspicion, now confirmed by research, that CFS or a condition very much like CFS occurs in companion animals, specifically, to date at least, in mammals."
http://www.sonic.net/cnds/cfspets.html
"A doctor and researcher, from Italy, is using arsenical compounds in the treatment of animals and humans with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
"Dr. Tarello, who holds a world patent on this finding [4], has utilized low dosage arsenical drugs for patients (animals and humans alike). Animals received thiacetarsamide sodium (Caparsolate) and obtained complete remission and subsequent recovery from their symptoms. Tests identified improvements from anemia, muscle enzymes, and red blood cell parameters."
http://www.ncf-net.org/forum/arsenic.html
...some pictures of mine taken from the blood of a cat (1), a dog (2) and a horse (3) diagnosed with CFS. This last picture will be published by Veterinary Record in the Letter describing two new cases of equine CFS in Italy.
here enclosed are some 'old' papers from Tedeschi et al (1975-78) which demonstrates the presence of stable and unstable (L forms) of staphylococci in the blood of healthy and auto-immune thrombocytopenic patients !!
Healthy people had a lower number of circulating bacteria. Interestingly also animals were found to carry these microorganisms !
You may be interested to know that other articles of mine on CFS in animals and humans responsive to arsenical medicaments have been published recently. They are listed at the site http://www.cfsresearch.org/cfs/tarello
from http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/brucellosis_g.htm
"Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria of the genus Brucella. These bacteria are primarily passed among animals, and they cause disease in many different vertebrates. Various Brucella species affect sheep, goats, cattle, deer, elk, pigs, dogs, and several other animals. Humans become infected by coming in contact with animals or animal products that are contaminated with these bacteria. In humans brucellosis can cause a range of symptoms that are similar to the flu and may include fever, sweats, headaches, back pains, and physical weakness. Severe infections of the central nervous systems or lining of the heart may occur. Brucellosis can also cause long-lasting or chronic symptoms that include recurrent fevers, joint pain, and fatigue."
Is there a treatment for brucellosis?
"Yes, but treatment can be difficult. Doctors can prescribe effective antibiotics. Usually, doxycycline and rifampin are used in combination for 6 weeks to prevent reoccuring infection. Depending on the timing of treatment and severity of illness, recovery may take a few weeks to several months. Mortality is low (<2%), and is usually associated with endocarditis."
A report from England has suggested that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome exists in equines and constitutes an emerging veterinary problem...
An arsenical drug, thiacetarsamide sodium, was administered to four horses with a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), already treated unsuccessfully with different medications. The CFS-like lethargy, with accompanying symptoms and signs, of the four animals obtained a complete remission after intravenous treatment with this drug at low dosage (0.1 mg/Kg/day). No adverse side effects were ever noticed. This clinical response was associated with recovery from anaemia and decrease of muscular enzyme values in two of the four horses. In all patients, micrococci-like bacteria found before treatment adhering to the outer surface of many red blood cells, disappeared at post-treatment controls. Considerations are made on the possible action of an arsenical drug, used isolately, in the treatment of CFS."
...The uncertainty about the diagnosis of CFS and the increasing public demand for an effective therapy and proper support, ha produced a certain degree of confusion and emotion in human medicine. Many medicaments have been tried and some partial success has been obtained. Treatment has mostly been focused on vitamins, aminoacids and health foods, in the belief that the fatigue is due to some metabolic impairment. These lines of treatment cannot be successful, as the disease is caused by factors that cannot be influenced by vitamins
It was thus deemed worthy reporting these four horses with Chronic ("Equine") Fatigue Syndrome, on which intravenous thiacetarsamide sodium in low dosages was successful in obtaining complete and lasting remission, whereas recurrences had occurred after extensive prior therapy following current criteria. The use of this single drug was able to cause a fast recuperation from lethargy and, in some cases, a cure of some associated condition such as anaemia, pyoderma and upper respiratory infection, concomitant with the primary chronic illness. These observations are not in contrast with the indications of The Merck Index for the use of similar arsenical drugs against some chronic equine conditions.
An added element of interest of this report is the finding of micrococci-like bacteria in the blood of the described horses before treatment, with constant and stable disappearance after treatment and clinical recovery. This element seems to suggest a possible connection of CFS with an underlying chronic bacterial infection resistant to other treatments.
(Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Horses)
Over the past two years Hobbes has been suffering from a chronic undiagnosed disorder. We have run many tests with little to no success in finding a diagnosis. Hobbes' symptoms include neurological abnormalities, bad allergic reactions, fevers, various illnesses, anemia, heavy sweating and breathing, and generalized fatigue (tiredness). Finally, during the month of May I stumbled upon a newly discovered disorder that is being researched by Dr. Walter Tarello D.V.M. a veterinarian in Italy. The disorder is called Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
The disorder is known to affect people but not widely known to affect horses. CFS affects horses slightly differently than people and causes very distinct abnormalities in the blood. Due to several abnormalities in Hobbes' bloodwork as well as the presence of micrococci on the individual blood cells, the diagnosis of CFS in Hobbes is 100% sure.
...Hobbes came through his first round of treatment with the Potassium Arsenite without complication.... He seems to feel much better.
Follow up blood work was done on Hobbes in August to determine if he had indeed been cured. The results of the blood work suggested the although Hobbes was feeling much better he was not completely cured. Dr. Tarello referred to him as a 'healthy carrier'. This meant that his clinical symptoms were almost completely normal but he still had a bit of infection left in his body...
After a few scary weeks following Hobbes' second treatment I am now very happy to say that he is definately feeling very good....His blood has not yet come back clear of the micrococci but the numbers are decreasing consistantly. More blood work was drawn at the end of October and we are hopeful that everything will come back normal. Hobbes came so close to dying back in March, 2001.
Results of the December, 2001 Bloodwork ... Hobbes' bloodwork has finally come back completely clear of infection. This means that Hobbes is 100% clinically cured.
** Dr. Walter Tarello D.V.M. in Perugia, Italy is the Veterinarian who has been researching Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in horses and treating Hobbes. He has published his research in the internet at:
http://www.geocities.com/cfsinhorses/
For more information regarding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in horses and the research being done you may also contact Dr. Tarello directly via e-mail at:
