The Pleo^TM Preparation Pleo^TM San Brucel
Its Action Principle Brucella melitensis in Therapy

by Joachim Hartmann (biologist), Germany
©Copyright 1998 by Semmelweis-Verlag, Germany
(Explore Issue: Volume 8, Number 6)

The gram-negative Pleo^TM morphic bacillus Brucella melitensis belongs to a genus of pathogens responsible for mostly-chronic infectious diseases in man and animals. So-called "brucellosis" has three main variants:

1. Malta Fever
Pathogen: Brucella melitensis
Vectors: sheep, goats

2. Bang's Disease
Pathogen: Brucella abortus
Vector: cattle

3. Brucella Suis
Pathogen: Brucella suis
Vector: pigs, hares, reindeer

Host specificity is not strict; almost all domestic and wild animals, guinea pigs and even birds can become infected with Brucellosis. Ultimately, all Brucella species are human and animal pathogenswhich has led to a situation in bacterial nomenclature where only the species Brucella melitensis is listed, under which all the others are subsumed. Since Brucella species are bound to their host animals, they are considered obligate parasites under natural conditions. As an animal disease, they mainly induce abortions; the danger for man comes from the pathogen's excretions in infected animals, which gets into their milk, feces, urine and sexual organ secretions. Man becomes infected mainly through working around and with the host animals, e.g. assisting in abortions, slaughtering and meat processing (if the worker has even the slightest skin lesions). Another channel of transmission is via the digestive tract through the consumption of raw milk or milk products. Interestingly, Brucellosis also represents the most frequently caught infectious disease in laboratories that deal with microorganisms.

In man, it leads -- after local lymphogenic spreading of the pathogento a generalized infection in the bacteriemic stage. The distinguishing feature of Brucellosis is a moderately high fever that recurs repeatedly over months and years (undulating fever). In its most severe form, a typhous clinical picture with long-term high fever can even be fatal. Other characteristics include organ manifestations due to granuloma and abscesses in the spleen and liver, as well as endocarditis, joint affections, etc. This manifold disease picture of chronic Brucellosis, which is not easy to recognize in its nonspecific subfebrile form, also encompasses neurological and psychological symptoms.

Growing Brucella in vitro is typically intracellular in granulocytes and monocytes, and cal also occur strongly Pleo^TM morphic in a cell-wall-free form -- one reason for the long persistence of the pathogen after the symptoms have faded. In this form, the germs also escape the effects of antibiotic therapy and thus become foci for new fever attacks and organ manifestations.

As a gram-negative bacterium, Brucella melitensis has a very complexly structured lipopolysaccharide cell wall. Serological investigations have isolated three defined polysaccharides from Brucella melitensis:

1. The so-called "native hapten"

2. Polysaccharide B

3. Cell-wall lipopolysaccharide

Bound up with the lipopolysaccharide structure are the classic antigens A and M described for Brucella, which have been identified as polysaccharide side-chains. Lipopolysaccharide from Brucella has been put into use for active immunization, in which the production of protective antibodies is induced -- and yet no thymus-dependent immunological memory is generated, which would be necessary for any long-term defense against Brucella.

Polysaccharide B is a serologically inactive low-molecular-weight (ca. 5000 D) polysaccharide, a cyclic glucane such as also occurs in the bacterial species Rhizobium and Agrobacterium. It reacts neither with cattle serum nor with that of inoculated cows. It represents a classical hapten which originates in the soluble cytoplasm of the bacterium.

The "native hapten" reacts with the serum of infected cattle, yet not with that of cattle who have been inoculated with weakened living germs of Brucella melitensis. It has been shown that it is identical with a side-chain of the cell-wall polysaccharide of Brucella with a smooth colony form, and consists of an unusual pentasaccharide polymer. It is well suited to discover infected animals in herds, by using the radial immune diffusion test, in which antibodies in animal blood lead to precipitation of the Brucella hapten.

The preparation Pleo^TM San Brucel contains all the named polysaccharides, so that this agent has an immunizing effect, as well as the classical antigen and antibody binding effect of the haptens which qualify it as an intermediate agent for nosode therapy.

Julian lists the following as positive diagnostic for the Brucella melitensis nosode:

1. Feverish condition with heavy perspiration during physical exertion and at night
2. Muscle and joint pains, primarily in the lower limbs
3. Anorexia, emaciation
4. Headaches, irritability, nervousness
5. Emotional lability, sleeplessness
6. Fainting spells, dizziness
7. Constipation: hard, dry stool
8. Herpes

Improvement: warmth, especially in sun.

Worsening: long periods of exertion, warm room, sea breeze, dampness, storms

Clinical diagnostic picture:

1. Malta fever, especially in the chronic stage
2. Myalgia
3. Subacute rheumatoid arthritis
4. Orchitis and Epididymitis
5. Neurasthenia

Pleo^TM San Brucel is available in the U.S. through Pleo^TM morphic Product Sales, Inc., Glendale, Arizona, phone 602-439-7977, and in Germany under the name of Sanukehl Brucel from Sanum-Kehlbeck in 6X drop form for external and internal use ; it is registered in Holland as injection form 6X for subcutaneous and intramuscular administration.

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