Numerous infectious diseases are described as idiopathic, meaning that "the cause is a complete mystery." For many idiopathic diseases, the causes become clear when certain techniques are applied to the patient's blood or other tissues. Cell Wall Deficient Forms: Stealth Pathogens, Third Edition describes these techniques. In the case of tuberculosis, a disease that has recently regained importance because the strains have acquired antibiotic resistance, the book describes a method that is widely used abroad. This method typically renders the diagnosis within 72 hours. The book examines a plethora of issues and provides answers to the following questions:
o What organism should be added to the childhood vaccine, especially for boys?
o What bacteria in its pleomorphic state is found in direct smears of synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis cases?
o In which chronic diseases ( presently considered as being of unknown origin) is an acid-fast organism routinely found in smears of 72 hour blood cultures?
o Which "bacterium" has a life cycle in the human erythrocyte as complex as that of Plasmodium malaria?
o Which common pathogen's L Form can permanently damage myocardium mammaliam?
Cell Wall Deficient Forms: Stealth Pathogens, Third Edition discloses significant aspects of microbiology, aspects that are not taught, and which go unrecognized in the clinical laboratory.