Archive for the ‘Babesia’ Category

Patients Want Canadians to Know About Lesser-Known Tick-Borne Diseases

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/be-vigilant-patients-want-canadians-to-know-about-lesser-known-tick-borne-diseases

‘Be vigilant’: Patients want Canadians to know about lesser-known tick-borne diseases

While these infections are indeed spreading, it has nothing to do with the climate.  Faulty climate change maps which have been used to push a ‘climate change’ agenda have been debunked, with many experts finally coming forth and denying that man has anything to do with the climate at all.
Important to note: neither of these spreading pathogens are listed as a nationally notifiable disease in Canada, which simply means nobody has a clue as to their prevalence.  This is true for many of the “lesser  known” tick-borne diseases as well, and is a real problem.  You can’t state how big a problem is if you aren’t even looking for it.
One of the patients sent her tick to a private lab and paid out of pocket for tests that look for a wide range of pathogens. 
This is another real problem that needs to be addressed.  Since everyone and their brother knows ticks are spreading everywhere and are often infected with pathogens transmitted to animals and humans, tick testing should be widely available and FREE.  There is no tick testing for the public right here in Wisconsin, an epicenter for Lyme, Powassan, and other infections.  This simply shouldn’t be.
Rather than fund more faulty, erroneous climate change research, how about we fund labs for something practical like testing ticks and all the pathogens they carry?
Since so many patients slip through the cracks, testing ticks directly would help us know what pathogens are in an area and an idea about prevalence.

This information; however, should never be used against patients, which has happened historically.  The lunacy of telling someone they can’t have Lyme disease because certain ticks don’t exist there or “there aren’t any recorded cases,” is shear madness and defies all sound logic.  Ticks travel everywhere due to migrating birds and other animals that don’t understand borders.

For more:

To be clear, a test only picks up what it is created to pick up.  To this day, many strains of of the pathogens infecting humans do not have testing, and those that do aren’t accurate.

Category:

Activism, Babesia, Rickettsia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Testing, Ticks, Transmission

Molecular Detection of Anaplasma, Babesia odocoilei, Babesia spp. & Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Songbirds

https://www.jelsciences.com/articles/jbres1619.pdf

Molecular Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia odocoilei, Babesia species and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Songbirds

John D Scott1 *, Elena McGoey2, Ana Morales3 and Risa R Pesapane2,4 1 Upper Grand Tick Centre, 365 St. David Street South, Fergus, Ontario, N1M 2L7, Canada 2 School of Environmental and Natural Resources, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA 3 McGill Bird Observatory, Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada H9X 0A6 4 Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, 1920 Coffey Rd., Columbus, OH 43210, USA

Abstract

The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is known to carry various tick-borne zoonotic pathogens with the potential to cause debilitating human and animal diseases. Juvenile I. scapularis parasitize songbirds and, perhaps, these avifauna are competent hosts of common microbial pathogens. We extracted brachial venous blood from 18 groundforaging passerine birds that were parasitized by I. scapularis larvae and nymphs. Using molecular identification, namely PCR, DNA sequencing, and Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), we targeted Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Babesia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Overall,

  • 15 (83%) of 18 passerine birds were positive for 3 microbial zoonotic pathogens that comprised of A. phagocytophilum (n = 8), Babesia odocoilei (n = 6), Babesia spp. 20-5A74 (n = 1), and B. burgdorferi sensu lato (n = 9).
  • The pathogen load consisted of 8 singles, 5 doubles, and 2 triples.
  • One novel Babesia sp. (Babesia spp. 20-5A74) was found, and the remaining Babesia infections were B. odocoilei.

Our findings reveal that ground-foraging, passerine birds are avian hosts of zoonotic pathogens. We provide the first-ever documentation that songbirds are hosts of B. odocoilei. Based on our data, B. odocoilei outnumbered other Babesia spp., and elucidated the authentic fact that B. odocoilei is the predominant Babesia sp. in North America. As avian hosts, passerine birds play a significant role in the enzootic transmission cycle of B. burgdorferi sensu lato, A. phagocytophilum, and Babesia species.

Important excerpts:

In the USA, tick researchers have reported B. odocoilei in Indiana [41-43], Michigan [44] Maine [42,43], Massachusetts [41-43], New York [45], Oklahoma [46,47], Pennsylvania [48,49] Texas [50,51], Virginia [52], and Wisconsin [42,43]. As well, B. odocoilei has been detected in I. pacificus in California [53]. In Canada, B. odocoilei has been detected in Saskatchewan [54], Ontario [7,15,55-59], and Quebec [55,57,58]. And yet, acarologists and ecologists have not reported B. microti in these three provinces [7,15,21,55-59]. Babesia odocoilei, which is a sequestering Babesia sp., can be recalcitrant to treat in human patients [7].

Not only do groundfrequenting songbirds transport ticks, they may also be hosts for tick-borne, zoonotic pathogens. Migratory songbirds widely disperse zoonotic pathogens across North America and, therefore, one does not have to frequent or live in an endemic area to contract human babesiosis caused by B. odocoilei.

For more:

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Babesia, Lyme, research, Testing, Ticks

Examining Babesia

http://  (Approx. 51 Min)

Examining Babesia

Project Lyme

Dec. 6, 2022

Dr. Henry Lindner got involved with tick-borne illness after removing two ticks from his 10 year old daughter.  After a delayed diagnosis and under prescribed prophylactic treatment, his daughter now suffers with a chronic infection that has physically and mentally disabled her.

For more:

Category:

Babesia, Testing, Ticks, Treatment

When Babesiosis Turns Deadly

https://danielcameronmd.com/when-babesiosis-turns-deadly/

WHEN BABESIOSIS TURNS DEADLY

babesiosis-turns-deadly
In their case report “Fatal Babesiosis in an Immunocompetent Patient,” Selig and colleagues describe a 48-year-old man who died within days of being admitted to the hospital from babesiosis and yet, he didn’t have any significant risk factors for severe presentation of the illness. [1]

By Dr. Daniel Cameron

The man presented to the emergency department with fatigue, generalized weakness and intermittent subjective fevers. The symptoms had worsened over a 2-week period.

The patient also complained of headaches, vision changes, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. And had a medical history of type 2 diabetes and intermittent asthma.

“He denied any known recent tick or animal exposures, any recent travel, or previous blood transfusions,” the authors write. 

“On arrival to the ED, the patient was tachycardic, afebrile, and normotensive,” the authors write. “A blood parasite smear returned with small ring-form parasites with 25% [red blood cells] infected, consistent with babesiosis.”

“Human babesiosis is an emerging infectious disease with a progressively rising number of cases in the Northeast over the last few decades.”

The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit and began treatment with azithromycin and atovaquone, along with doxycycline for any co-infections, such as Lyme disease.

However, the next day, the patient’s conditioned deteriorated and he required endotracheal intubation with mechanical ventilation. Several days later, he died.

“A few days following the patient’s death, babesia studies returned with PCR positive for B. microti and positive anti body findings (IgG 1:128 and IgM 1:160) confirming the babesiosis diagnosis,” the authors write.

PODCAST: Delayed onset Babesia

The authors suggest, “Clinicians should be aware that even in patients without the classic risk factors of asplenia, advanced age, and immunocompromised status for severe presentations of babesiosis, a deadly case can present.”

They noted that although their patient suffered from type 2 diabetes, an immunocompromised condition, diabetes has not previously been shown to be a significant risk factor for severe babesiosis.

Related Articles:

The case of an untreated Babesia infection
Wide range of babesia symptoms and presentations

References:
  1. Selig T, Ilyas S, Theroux C, Lee J. Fatal Babesiosis in an Immunocompetent Patient. R I Med J (2013). 2022 Aug 1;105(6):20-23. PMID: 35881994.

For more:

Category:

Babesia, research, Uncategorized

25 Specialists for 3 Infections: The Realities of Tick-Borne Disease

https://www.globallymealliance.org/blog/devin-wethauser?

25 Specialists for 3 Infections: The Realities of Tick-Borne Disease

by Devin Wethauser on August 19, 2022

<img class="" style="box-sizing:inherit;height:319px;max-width:100%;" src="https://www.globallymealliance.org/hubfs/Gala%20PR%20Image%20%2834%29.png&quot; alt="25 Specialists for 3 Infections: The Realities of Tick-Borne Disease” width=”383″>
Devin Wethauser shares her story of fighting Lyme disease, Bartonella, and Babesia in an effort to spread awareness.

It all started with the most intense stomach ache I’ve ever had, six days before my sixteenth birthday. That was the beginning of a journey I had never imagined would become my life. My symptoms were random and involved every part of my body, which sent me to over 25 different specialists. In my senior year of college, while under the care of an integrative medicine doctor, my diagnosis of Lyme, Bartonellosis and Babesiosis was confirmed.

thumbnail_image0I have had almost every symptom in the book, but specifically for Bartonella, I have had and continue to endure headaches, pain behind the eyes, muscle pain, poor appetite, swollen glands, horrible fatigue, random fevers, tachycardia, exacerbation of anxiety and depression, and severe brain fog.

Under the care of my LLMD, I have experimented with so many treatments, which unfortunately for me, have yet to help my conditions. These treatments have included the typical ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, doxycycline, herbals, low dose immunotherapy, and disulfiram. I am now on a combination of dapsone, rifampin, and doxycycline.

I have also developed some difficult mental health issues that made me seek out therapy. This experience, in particular, gave me purpose in my life. I realized that being a therapist, specifically for chronically ill people, is how I take the best of me and my experiences to help others.

The disease has completely changed my life. Since I’ve been sick for over a decade, I don’t remember what it’s like to feel healthy and pain free. I learned that the path I had originally carved out for me was no longer available. I’m not able to work full time as I don’t have the energy to do so. I have also developed some difficult mental health issues that made me seek out therapy. This experience, in particular, gave me purpose in my life. I realized that being a therapist, specifically for chronically ill people, is how I take the best of me and my experiences to help others. I graduated with an undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship thinking I’ll be starting a fashion business. However, now I’m currently working on my graduate degree to become a licensed professional clinical counselor and a licensed drug and alcohol counselor.

Screen Shot 2022-08-16 at 3-05-16 PMThe advice I’d share with others is that you must recognize every single person diagnosed with tick-borne infections is going to have a completely different journey. One person will be in remission from doxy while another (me) has yet to get there after trying countless treatments. At times, hope can be fleeting, but it’s important to hang on to that small sliver. I also think it’s extremely important to seek out therapy to process, build perspective and develop tools. Having these illnesses and diseases causes grief and trauma. Using professional help to navigate all this was critical for my journey.

In addition, you will have many non-believers, including those in the medical profession. I recently went to the emergency room for low oxygen saturation. The ER doctor said “you’re too young to be on all of these medications. What kind of treatment is this for LYMES disease? I’m going to cure you tonight.” This is a perfect example of why we need GLA and other organizations to fund research for better treatments. Once there’s a better treatment that LLMD’s can use and prove it works, then we can start educating ignorant doctors like the ER doctor in my story.

To read more blogs, click here.

The above material is provided for information purposes only. The material (a) is not nor should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, nor (b) does it necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of Global Lyme Alliance, Inc. or any of its directors, officers, advisors or volunteers. Advice on the testing, treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient’s medical history.
GLA Contributor

Devin Wethauser

GLA Contributor

*Opinions expressed by contributors are their own. Devin is currently working as a personal stylist and shopper as she’s completing her Master’s Degree in Counseling and Psychology. In her free time, she binge-watches The Office or Seinfeld, goes fishing, or cuddles with her two Rottweilers named Mack and Biggie.

Email: dwville@gmail.com

Category:

Babesia, Bartonella, Lyme