Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), constitutes a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairment in communication, including language, social skills and comportment often involving rigidity of interests and repetitive, stereotypical behaviors [1]. Ancillary symptoms may encompass obsessive-compulsive, sleep, hyperactivity, attention, mood, gastrointestinal, self-injurious, ritualistic, and sensory integration disorders. ASD is generally considered a life-long disability of yet undetermined etiology, without an established confirmatory laboratory test, and as yet without universally established, curative pharmacological or behavioral therapy [2-4]. The incidence of autism appears to be increasing. In 2011, Manning et al. [5] using birth certificate and Early Intervention data reported that in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts between 2001 and 2005 the incidence of ASD diagnosed by 36 months of age increased from 56 to 93 infants per 10,000. Whether this increased incidence reflects better reporting and/or diagnosis or whether other factors are involved remains to be determined. None-the-less, such an increase in incidence is alarming. These data appropriately have spawned much research into the exploration of potential etiologies as well as the development of diagnostic tests, particularly in terms
