Archive for the ‘Babesia’ Category

Pathogens & Persistence: Chronic Disease Drivers

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Pathogens & Persistence: The Chronic Disease Drivers

Oct. 6, 2024

Ticktective™ Episode 43 (Oct 6, 2024):

Steven E. Phillips, MD, is a Yale-trained expert on zoonotic infections and coauthor of the book CHRONIC. He specializes in treating medicine’s most complex cases, which include Lyme & other vector-borne diseases and Long COVID. Additionally, he has served as an expert for the states of CT, NY, RI, and VT, providing testimony during their respective public hearings, which resulted in changes to existing healthcare laws. Dr. Phillips has been a longstanding public face of the Lyme pandemic. He is currently spearheading a drug development effort to bring the public a durable, effective treatment for some of these infections, which will hopefully change how we treat a range of rheumatologic and neurologic illnesses. Dr. Phillips also sits on the Bay Area Lyme Foundation’s scientific advisory board.

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Babesia, Bartonella, Lyme, mosquitoes, Testing, Ticks

Rejuvenate Cells & Combat Chronic Illness With a Fasting Mimicking Diet

https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/fasting-mimicking-diet

Rejuvenate Your Cells and Combat Chronic Illness with a Fasting Mimicking Diet

By Dr. Marty Ross

Sept. 2024

If you’re grappling with chronic Lyme disease, Bartonella, Babesia, or mold toxicity, the term “fasting” may seem hard to think about. However, the Fasting Mimicking Diet (FMD) offers a scientifically backed, less intense method that promises significant health benefits. Imagine rejuvenating your injured cells and potentially alleviating symptoms without the extreme measures associated with traditional fasting.

Interested? Let’s explore how FMD may be the game-changer you need.

What is the Fasting Mimicking Diet?

The Fasting Mimicking Diet is a revolutionary dietary protocol that mimics the effects of fasting while still allowing some nutrient intake. Developed by Dr. Valter Longo and his team at the University of Southern California, this diet aims to provide the health benefits of fasting without the hardship of complete food deprivation. It’s a five-day plan that involves reduced calorie intake, typically between 750 to 1,100 calories per day, mainly from plant-based foods, while ensuring that your body enters a fasting-like state.

Understanding Cellular Rejuvenation

Cellular rejuvenation refers to the process of renewing old or damaged cells. This concept is critical for those with chronic illnesses like Lyme disease, Bartonella, Babesia, and mold toxicity, where cellular damage and inflammation from oxidation damage could lead to ongoing symptoms. FMD has been shown to trigger autophagy, a crucial cellular cleanup process where the body removes damaged cells and regenerates new ones. This process not only helps in maintaining cellular health but also stimulates the production of stem cells, which are essential for repairing and regenerating tissues and can help remove senescent zombie cells. By doing so, FMD promotes cellular regeneration and can lead to improved overall health for people living with chronic tick-borne infections and mold toxicity. FMD also potentially enhances longevity and reduces the risk of various age-related diseases.

Key Health Enhancing and Anti-Aging Pathways Affected by the Fasting Mimicking Diet

  • Autophagy Pathway: FMD induces autophagy, a critical process for cellular cleanup and renewal. This promotes the removal of damaged proteins and organelles, supporting longevity and overall health, and may help reduce cellular debris linked to chronic infections like tick-borne diseases and mold toxicity.
  • Cellular Senescence: FMD aids in addressing cellular senescence, where cells lose their ability to divide and function optimally while often developing a pro-inflammatory secretory profile known as the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP). Chronic infections are a cause of early cellular senescence. By removing these senescent cells and fixing the effects of SASP, the diet may reduce inflammation and tissue damage, contributing to healthier aging, an extended lifespan, and improved health for people with chronic infections and mold-related issues.
  • Improvements in Immune Function: FMD enhances immune function by promoting the regeneration of immune cells and supporting a balanced immune response. This can lead to a more robust defense against infections and a reduction in inflammation, benefiting individuals with chronic illnesses such as tick-borne diseases and mold toxicity. Enhanced immune function contributes to healthier aging and improved resilience against stressors, ensuring better overall health and longevity.
  • mTOR (Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin): FMD reduces signaling through the mTOR pathway, which is closely linked with cell growth, aging, and immune function. Inhibiting mTOR activity can enhance cellular stress resistance, longevity, and may aid in managing chronic infections by improving immune response.
  • IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1): FMD lowers levels of IGF-1, a hormone that promotes growth and has been associated with aging and cancer. Reducing IGF-1 can lead to decreased cellular proliferation and increased autophagy, which may benefit those dealing with persistent infections and inflammation.
  • AMPK (AMP-Activated Protein Kinase): By activating AMPK, the diet enhances energy metabolism and promotes the breakdown of fats. This pathway is associated with improved longevity, protection against age-related diseases, and could also support detoxification and energy balance in individuals facing mold toxicity and chronic infections.
  • Sirtuins Activation: The diet stimulates sirtuins, a family of proteins that regulate cellular health and longevity. Activation of sirtuins is linked to improved DNA repair, enhanced stress resistance, and extended lifespan; these functions may also aid individuals with chronic tick-borne infections and mold toxicity by bolstering cellular resilience and repair mechanisms.  (See link for article)

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Category:

Babesia, Bartonella, diet and nutrition, Lyme, Mold

Antibiotics vs Herbs: One Doc’s Experience

https://www.treatlyme.net/guide/recovery-crystal-ball-of-odds-and-timelines

In my free Lyme Q&A Webinar called Conversations with Marty Ross MD, people ask me questions related to recovery. Here are some of those questions.

  • Do herbal antibiotics work?
  • Do prescription antibiotics work better than herbal antibiotics?
  • How long will it take me to recover from Bartonella, or Babesia, or Borrelia?
  • Can I recover from chronic Bartonella, Babesia or Borrelia?

Video Article

In the video in the top link, I answer these questions based on my extensive twenty year clinical experience treating persistent tick-borne infections like Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia using the best herbal and prescription antibiotic approaches. What I discuss is based on my experience. Unfortunately the research answering these questions is very limited or even non-existent.  (See link for article and video)

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**Comment**

Please remember, this is simply ONE practitioner’s experience.

Dr. Horowitz recommends treating Babesia for 9 months to a year.  I agree with this and it was our experience.

Regarding Lyme disease, I believe it has more to do with how long you have had it as well as how many other coinfections and comorbidities you have.  The more coinfections and comorbidites – the longer it’s probably going to take – particularly the older you are.  Mold, MCAS, allergies, etc. all play a large role in this a – and are as important as the infection(s).  

For reference, it took FIVE years of treatment followed by 3-4 relapses necessitating treatment before we reached ‘remission.’  Maintaining  the immune system is imperative and that means balancing hormones as well as minerals, vitamins, etc.  I guarantee you WILL NOT get better if you live in a moldy environment or do not deal with these other factors.  

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Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichiosis, Herbs, Lyme, Mycoplasma, Parasite Treatment, Rickettsia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Tickborne Relapsing Fever, Toxoplasmosis, Treatment, Tularemia

Ross Lyme & Tick-borne Diseases Protocol Version 4

https://www.treatlyme.net/lyme-disease-treatment-guidelines

About The Ross Lyme & Tick-borne Diseases Protocol—Version 4

New in Version 4

The Ross Lyme & Tick-borne Diseases Protocol–Version 4 update, released 6/17/24, has a number of significant changes.

Name change. In Version 4, I have updated our name to include “tick-borne”. This recognizes that people can have Bartonella, Babesia, or other tick-borne diseases, separate from having Lyme (Borrelia) infection.

But there are more significant updates than our name change. Version 4

  • Emphasizes plant-based foods recommendations in Part 2. Diet;
  • Promotes healthy intestinal microbiome—even on antibiotics with a new Part 3. Healthy Intestinal Microbiome; and
  • Includes an herbal antibiotic only option to treat the three Bs (Borrelia, Bartonella, and Babesia) simultaneously in Part 12. Lyme Infection and Part 13. Bartonella & Babesia Infections.
  • Moves lifestyle, and related areas, of sleep, diet, healthy intestinal microbiome, and exercise to the front of the protocol to emphasize the key role these areas have in recovery.

Introduction

These are support and treatment guidelines to treat chronic Lyme or tick-borne infections. This protocol addresses most problems that keep a person from getting well. It is more comprehensive than the antibiotic focused Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS), and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. While herbal and prescription antibiotics may decrease the germ load in chronic Lyme and tick-borne infections, they often do not correct the underlying problems that cause ongoing symptoms.

The Ross Lyme Support Protocol includes essential steps for the beginning and throughout a chronic Lyme disease or tick-borne infection treatment. It is designed to:

  • boost the immune system,
  • improve detoxification,
  • speed recovery,
  • kill the infections, and
  • protect and repair from the harmful effects of the infections and the herbal or prescription antibiotics.

While the following Lyme disease and tick-borne infection treatment approach focuses on a limited number of areas, it may correct most of the problems like:

  • low energy,
  • pain,
  • insomnia,
  • brain, neurologic, and thinking problems (brain fog), and
  • immune compromise and suppression.

Herxheimer Reactions. When a person starts a Lyme disease or tick-borne infection treatment or changes herbal and prescription antibiotics, it is common to experience some worsening in symptoms. See Herxheimer Die-off Reaction: Inflammation Run Amok for more information about this and the steps you can take to treat it.

Treatment Length and Persistence. Generally, it takes a minimum of six months to see if these supports and treatments will help. Supplements can speed recovery, but treating Lyme still takes time. Once you have marked improvement, then you can likely stop many of these nutritional supports except for probiotics, curcumin, ashwagandha, and a good multivitamin. See Getting Healthy: Will I? When? How Do I? for more information about Lyme disease and tick-borne infection treatment length and persistence.

About Supplements. Throughout this protocol I include supplements as nutritional supports based on their known functions. Basic research and my clinical experience show they may help the various symptoms and problems in Lyme disease and tick-borne infections.  (See link for article)

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**Comment**

Lots of great info here.

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Babesia, Bartonella, Detoxing, diet and nutrition, Lyme, Pain Management, Sleep, Supplements, Treatment

Atypical Babesia Symptoms in Elderly Man

https://danielcameronmd.com/babesia-symptoms-elderly-man/

ATYPICAL BABESIA SYMPTOMS IN ELDERLY MAN

babesia-symptoms

Babesiosis is a tick-borne illness that can cause a wide variety of symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose. The number of cases in the U.S. has been rising – particularly concerning given that Babesia can be transmitted immediately following a tick bite or unknowingly through a tainted blood transfusion. Furthermore, this illness can be deadly or cause serious complications in immunocomprised patients.

By 

In the article “An Atypical Case Presentation of Babesiosis,” Allen and colleagues describe a unique patient who contracted Babesiosis but did not exhibit many of the typical Babesia symptoms, such as night sweats, chills, shortness of breath and weight loss.¹ Instead, his symptoms were limited to weakness, fever, tachycardia and leg pain.

CASE REPORT

A 75-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with generalized weakness that had been ongoing for one week, a fever and tachycardia. He also had mild swelling of his left leg and leg pain, which he described as intermittent stabbing pain in his left thigh.

The man had a past medical history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia. His initial laboratory test results revealed mild anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal dysfunction. All other testing was normal.

The patient was treated empirically with acetaminophen and intravenous ceftriaxone and vancomycin.

“On the first day of hospitalization, blood parasites were noted to be present on the patient’s complete blood count (CBC),” the authors’ state.

His treatment was switched and he was prescribed a 10-day course of azithromycin and atovaquone for a possible diagnosis of Babesiosis. However, the patient’s condition deteriorated rapidly.

“The patient’s renal function, anemia, thrombocytopenia and mental status progressively worsened and by hospital day 3 the patient was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit.”

He was then treated successfully with a red blood cell exchange and plasma exchange therapy.

“The patient’s kidney function improved, along with his anemia and thrombocytopenia,” the authors’ state. “The percentage of parasitemia had decreased to 1% from a maximum of 22% on Day 1 of admission.”

Subsequently, PCR testing for Babesiosis was positive for Babesia microti.

Authors’ conclude:

  • “Tick-borne illnesses should be included in the differential even in low-risk populations and non-endemic regions due to the severity of disease complications.”
  • “When patients present with vague symptoms, it is important to keep a broad differential.”
  • “In this case, it could have been beneficial to inquire if the patient spent time outdoors or had any pets or other means by which he may have been exposed to a tick.”
Related Articles:

How long does it take for a tick to transmit Babesia?
Neurologic complications of Babesia
Patient contracts Babesia from a blood donor

References:
  1. Allen D, Getto L (May 10, 2024) An Atypical Case Presentation of Babesiosis. Cureus 16(5): e60036. doi:10.7759/cureus.60036

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**Comment**

Babesia parasitemia load can vary from 1%-80%, but >10% is considered high, and those who have one of the following: severe hemolytic anemia and/or severe pulmonary, renal or hepatic compromise should be considered for exchange transfusion.

Since this poor man had a high level of parasites and was going downhill in a hurry, lowering the parasite load was crucial to his turnaround.  Just shows you how quickly these cases can escalate.  I’m thankful the authors remind doctors to consider TBIs even in non-endemic regions, although, these are becoming less and less by the day.

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Babesia, research, Testing, Ticks, Treatment