Morgellons disease: a filamentous borrelial dermatitis
Marianne J Middelveen and Raphael B Stricker
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Abstract
Morgellons disease (MD) is a dermopathy characterized by multicolored filaments that lie under, are embedded in, or project from skin. Although MD was initially considered to be a delusional disorder, recent studies have demonstrated that the dermopathy is associated with tickborne infection, that the filaments are composed of keratin and collagen, and that they result from proliferation of keratinocytes and fibroblasts in epithelial tissue. Culture, histopathological and molecular evidence of spirochetal infection associated with MD has been presented in several published studies using a variety of techniques. Spirochetes genetically identified as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto predominate as the infective agent in most of the Morgellons skin specimens studied so far. Other species of Borrelia including Borrelia garinii, Borrelia miyamotoi, and Borrelia hermsii have also been detected in skin specimens taken from MD patients. The optimal treatment for MD remains to be determined.

Keywords: Morgellons disease, dermatitis, Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, spirochetes
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Introduction
Morgellons disease (MD) is an emerging dermopathy with worldwide distribution. The name “Morgellons” is derived from a disease recognized in the seventeenth century in French children by Sir Thomas Browne. These children were noted to have “coarse hairs” protruding from their backs.1 The distinguishing feature of MD is the appearance of skin lesions with filaments that lie under, are embedded in, or project from skin (Figures 1 and ​and2).2). Filaments can be white, black, or brightly colored.2–6 Fur thermore, MD patients exhibit a variety of manifestations that resemble symptoms of Lyme disease (LD), such as fatigue, joint pain, and neuropathy.2–6 A study found that 98% of MD subjects had positive LD serology and/or a tickborne disease diagnosis,5 confirming the clinical association between MD and spirochetal infection. Conversely, 6% of LD patients in an Australian study were found to have MD.7

More at this link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5072536/?fbclid=IwAR3vqCqJXomynod4k_GcbRQ8w0QQ5iNsOFHErVEV5cJmK3BbhIlHGKXAmtU

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