iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrllll thsbc dteWhich Bacteria and Viruses Have Been Associated with
Triggering Hashimoto’s?
A variety of bacterial infections have been implicated in triggering auto-
immune thyroiditis, including Helicobacter pylori (the same bacteria that
causes ulcers), Borrelia burgdorferi (associated with Lyme disease), and
Yersinia enterocolitica.
Antibodies to Yersinia (indicating exposure) in people with Hashimoto’s
were found fourteen times more often than in people without Hashimoto’s.
Yersinia membranes contain a site that binds TSH, making it a prime sus-
pect based on the molecular mimicry theory. Infection with this bacteria
can induce antibodies against sites that recognize and stimulate TSH re-
ceptors—like TPO or thyroglobulin. People can contract a Yersinia entero-
colitica infection from contaminated meat, poultry, dairy products, and
seafood (especially oysters). In 2012, a consumer group found 67 percent
of pork sold in the United States was contaminated with Yersinia.
Physicians can run blood tests, breath tests, and stool antigen tests for
H. pylori. Testing for Lyme disease and associated co-infections including
Borrelia is available as a blood test (I recommend IGeneX Lab) , while
the presence of Yersinia can be tested in a comprehensive stool analysis or
through blood tests that test for antibodies to the bacteria.
Additionally, some viruses—including the Coxsackie virus, hepatitis
C virus, HTLV-1 (human T-lymphotropic Virus 1), enterovirus, ru-
bella, mumps, parvovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus (the virus that causes
mono)—have been implicated.
Antibodies indicating exposure to these viruses were more prevalent in
Hashimoto’s patients than in healthy controls. Interestingly, the Epstein-
Barr virus also causes antibodies to T3. This would show up as elevated
T3 but as low free T3 on lab tests.
Dr. Brownstein reports that he finds underlying infections in many auto-
immune illnesses. These underlying infections may be among the causes
of the autoimmune condition. Many symptoms of the conditions im-
prove or resolve on treatment of the infections.
Some organisms that have been identified by Dr. Brownstein in
Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune conditions include: Borrelia burg-
dorferi, Brucella, Candida albicans, Chlamydia, Coxiella, fungi, hepati-
tis B, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycoplasma, Neisseria, Parvovirus,
Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus, and Treponema pallidum.