A Review of the Scientific Literature As It Pertains to Gulf War Illnesses: Infectious Diseases

by Golomb, Beatrice Alexandra

• ISBN13: 9780833026767
• ISBN10: 0833026763
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-12-01
• Publisher: RAND CORPORATION

Summary

Numerous Gulf War veterans have reported a range of illnesses and symptoms after serving in the Persian Gulf. Some of the reported symptoms are similar to those caused by diseases known to be prevalent in that region. This report discusses these infectious diseases and considers them as potential causes of the symptoms reported by the veterans. The authors present a short summary of etiology, diagnosis, and treatment for several infectious diseases and infectious organisms, including bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. Two biological agents--anthrax and botulinum toxin--are also discussed.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Figure	xiii
Tables	xv
Summary	xvii
Acknowledgments	xxi
Introduction	1	(10)
Background	1	(1)
Purpose	2	(1)
Organization of This Document	2	(1)
Overview of What We Know About Diseases	2	(2)
Common Illnesses in Gulf War Veterans	4	(2)
Infectious Diseases in Gulf War Troops	6	(2)
Gastrointestinal Diseases	6	(1)
Respiratory Diseases	6	(1)
Other Diseases	7	(1)
Infectious Diseases in the Persian Gulf But Not Identified in Gulf War Troops	8	(1)
Other Infectious Diseases Considered	8	(3)
Infectious Diseases as a Possible Cause of Gulf War Illnesses	11	(4)
Reasons to Consider an Infectious Etiology	11	(1)
Epidemiologic Relationship	11	(1)
History of Infectious Diseases	11	(1)
Some Infectious Diseases Were Identified	12	(1)
Reasons to Dismiss an Infectious Etiology	12	(3)
Koch's Postulates	12	(1)
A Missing Specific Finding	13	(1)
Some Evidence Does Not Fit	13	(2)
Bacterial Diseases (Mycoplasma)	15	(16)
Background on Mycoplasmas	15	(2)
Mycoplasma and Disease in Those with Dysfunctional Immune Systems	16	(1)
Mycoplasma and Disease in Those with Normal Immune Function	16	(1)
Mycoplasma in Gulf War Veterans	17	(1)
Evaluating Elements of the Mycoplasma Hypothesis	17	(14)
Origin	18	(3)
Testing of Veterans for Mycoplasma	21	(2)
Theoretical Compatibility of Mycoplasma Infection with Symptoms in Gulf War Veterans	23	(2)
Evidence of Mycoplasma in Ill Gulf War Veterans	25	(1)
Treatment of Veterans with Antibiotics	26	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	27	(1)
Summary	28	(3)
Bacterial Diseases (Other Than Mycoplasma)	31	(16)
Typhoid Fever	31	(2)
Introduction	31	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	31	(1)
Diagnosis	32	(1)
Prevention	32	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	32	(1)
Summary	32	(1)
Mycobacteria Tuberculosis	33	(2)
Introduction	33	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	33	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	33	(1)
Diagnosis	34	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	34	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	34	(1)
Summary	34	(1)
Enteric Agents: Enterotoxigenic E. Coli, Campylobacter, Shigella, and Other Salmonella	35	(3)
Introduction	35	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	35	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	35	(2)
Diagnosis	37	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	37	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	37	(1)
Summary	38	(1)
Meningococcus	38	(3)
Introduction	38	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	38	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	38	(1)
Diagnosis	39	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	40	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	40	(1)
Summary	40	(1)
Brucella	41	(3)
Introduction	41	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	41	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	42	(1)
Diagnosis	42	(1)
Prevention	43	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	43	(1)
Summary	43	(1)
Cholera	44	(3)
Introduction	44	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	44	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	44	(1)
Diagnosis	44	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	45	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	45	(1)
Summary	45	(2)
Viral Diseases	47	(22)
Viral Hepatitis	47	(4)
Introduction	47	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	47	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	48	(1)
Diagnosis	49	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	49	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	50	(1)
Summary	50	(1)
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever	51	(2)
Introduction	51	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	51	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	51	(1)
Diagnosis	52	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	52	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	52	(1)
Summary	52	(1)
West Nile Fever	53	(2)
Introduction	53	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	53	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	54	(1)
Diagnosis	54	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	54	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	54	(1)
Summary	54	(1)
Sindbis	55	(2)
Introduction	55	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	55	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	55	(1)
Diagnosis	56	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	56	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	56	(1)
Summary	56	(1)
Rift Valley Fever	57	(2)
Introduction	57	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	57	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	57	(1)
Diagnosis	58	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	58	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	58	(1)
Summary	58	(1)
Rabies	59	(2)
Introduction	59	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	59	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	60	(1)
Diagnosis	60	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	60	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	60	(1)
Summary	61	(1)
Dengue	61	(2)
Introduction	61	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	62	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	62	(1)
Diagnosis	62	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	63	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	63	(1)
Summary	63	(1)
Sandfly Fever	63	(3)
Introduction	63	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	64	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	64	(1)
Diagnosis	65	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	65	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	65	(1)
Summary	65	(1)
Leishmaniavirus	66	(3)
Introduction	66	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	66	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	66	(1)
Diagnosis	66	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	67	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	67	(1)
Summary	67	(2)
Parasitic Diseases	69	(20)
Leishmaniasis	69	(7)
Introduction	69	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	70	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	71	(1)
Diagnosis	72	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	73	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	73	(3)
Summary	76	(1)
Malaria	76	(4)
Introduction	76	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	77	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	77	(1)
Diagnosis	78	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	78	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	79	(1)
Summary	79	(1)
Giardia	80	(2)
Introduction	80	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	80	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	80	(1)
Diagnosis	81	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	81	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	82	(1)
Summary	82	(1)
Amoeba	82	(3)
Introduction	82	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	83	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	83	(1)
Diagnosis	84	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	84	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	85	(1)
Summary	85	(1)
Schistosomiasis	85	(4)
Introduction	85	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	86	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	86	(1)
Diagnosis	87	(1)
Treatment and Prevention	87	(1)
Correlation with Gulf War Illnesses	88	(1)
Summary	88	(1)
Biological Warfare Agents	89	(4)
Anthrax	89	(1)
Introduction	89	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	90	(1)
Prevention	90	(1)
Botulinum Toxin	90	(2)
Introduction	90	(1)
Epidemiologic Information	91	(1)
What Infected Patients Experience	91	(1)
Summary	92	(1)
Unidentified Infections	93	(4)
General Processes for Identification	93	(1)
Representational Difference Analysis (RDA)	94	(1)
Serial Analysis of Genomic Expression (SAGE)	94	(1)
CDNA Expression Analysis	94	(3)
Conclusions and Recommendations	97	(2)
Appendix: Additional Consideration On Mycoplasma	99	(4)
Bibliography	103