Breitschwerdt, Edward B, Maggi, Ricardo G, Bush, Janice C et al. · Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025 · DOI
This study looked for two types of bacteria—Babesia and Bartonella—in the blood of 50 people with ME/CFS and neurological symptoms. Researchers used special DNA tests to detect these bacteria. They found that about 24% of participants had Babesia infection and 26% had Bartonella infection, suggesting these bacteria might play a role in some ME/CFS cases.
This research addresses a long-standing clinical observation that some ME/CFS patients may have concurrent tick-borne infections, potentially explaining a subset of ME/CFS cases. If Babesia or Bartonella contribute to ME/CFS symptoms in some patients, identifying and treating these infections could lead to improved outcomes for affected individuals. The study provides preliminary evidence justifying further investigation into infection-associated ME/CFS.
This study does not prove that Babesia or Bartonella cause ME/CFS, nor does it establish that these infections are necessary or sufficient for ME/CFS development. Without a control group of healthy individuals or those with other conditions, the study cannot determine whether these infection rates are higher in ME/CFS patients than in the general population. The cross-sectional design establishes association only, not causation.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Breitschwerdt, Edward B, Maggi, Ricardo G, Bush, Janice C, & Kingston, Emily (2025). <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Bartonella</i> Species DNA in Blood and Enrichment Blood Cultures from People with Chronic Fatigue and Concurrent Neurological Symptoms.. Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland). https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens15010002
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-breitschwerdt-2025-babesia-bartonella,
author = {Breitschwerdt, Edward B and Maggi, Ricardo G and Bush, Janice C and Kingston, Emily},
title = {<i>Babesia</i> and <i>Bartonella</i> Species DNA in Blood and Enrichment Blood Cultures from People with Chronic Fatigue and Concurrent Neurological Symptoms.},
journal = {Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/pathogens15010002},
note = {PubMed: 41598986},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/breitschwerdt-2025-babesia-bartonella},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-26. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/breitschwerdt-2025-babesia-bartonella
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