Archive for the ‘Ehrlichiosis’ Category

Cats Carry All Types of Ticks & Tick-Borne Diseases

https://danielcameronmd.com/cats-carry-types-ticks-tick-borne-diseases/

CATS CARRY ALL TYPES OF TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES

Did you know the cat you may be cuddling with on your couch every evening could be infected with a host of tick-borne diseases? Unlike our canine friends, cats are typically not symptomatic when it comes to such diseases. But as researchers have found, that doesn’t mean they are free from disease.

By

Updated: April 22, 2019

In a study by Shannon and colleagues, 160 ticks and blood samples were collected from 70 healthy cats brought to the Mid Atlantic Cat Hospital in Queenstown, Maryland. [1]

The authors found that the cats were carrying 3 species of ticks including 83 Lone Star ticks (Amblyomma americanum), 7 American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) and 70 black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis.)

Out of the 160 ticks, 22 (13.8%) tested positive by PCR for Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi, or Borrelia miyamotoi. However, only 25 of the 70 cats were able to be fully tested.

Nine of those cats (36%) were positive for exposure to at least one of the following tick-borne pathogens: Borrelia burgdorferi, Ehrlichia ewingii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia miyamotoi, Bartonella clarridgeiae and Bartonella henselae.

“We also found at least one cat blood sample to test positive for antibodies to each of the four tick-borne agents we screened for,” the authors state.

According to the authors’ review of the literature, the risk to pet owners is unclear. “Pet ownership has been implicated in vector-borne pathogen transmission and has been identified as a potential risk factor for such diseases in some studies, but not others.”

Nevertheless, screening for ticks may prove helpful, providing advanced warning of disease risk to humans “upon recognition of an uncommon or unexpected pathogen in a pet or pet-derived parasite,” Shannon concludes.

Author’s note: Keeping your cat indoors can prevent it from picking up ticks that could be passed onto you or other family members. 

Related Articles:

More than 50% of mice infected with the Lyme bacteria in Kentucky

Tracking ticks in West Virginia using man’s best friend

The risk of a tick bite for pet owners

References:
  1. Shannon AB, Rucinsky R, Gaff HD, Brinkerhoff RJ. Borrelia miyamotoi, Other Vector-Borne Agents in Cat Blood and Ticks in Eastern Maryland. EcoHealth. 2017.

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**Comment**

For some reason many people believe cats are immune to tick bites.  This article clearly shows this to be a fallacy.  Besides being bitten by ticks and infected with the pathogens within them, cats are known for carrying and transmitting Bartonella:

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/05/28/woman-wakes-up-with-black-eye-swollen-face-after-cat-scratch-that-left-her-on-iv-drip-for-four-days/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/06/28/cat-scratch-disease-vet-suffers-extreme-fatigue-for-a-decade-after-catching-rare-severe-case-of-bartonella-infection-that-isnt-rare/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/03/24/cat-scratch-disease-caused-teens-schizophrenia-like-symptoms-report-says/

As you can see from these links, Bartonella is far more than swollen lymph nodes, and many do not even present with that symptom at all.  If you suspect Bartonella, please print and fill out this questionnaire:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2011/09/25/the-bartonella-checklist-copyrighted-2011-james-schaller-md-version-11/  If you have a preponderance of symptoms, take this to your doctor and discuss it.  For Bartonella treatments see:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/category/bartonella-treatment/

In my experience, not only do many Lyme patients also have Bartonella, it is often harder to resolve than Lyme.  Testing for these coinfections is just as abysmal as Lyme testing is so knowing symptoms is a must for a clinical diagnosis as many will never test positive.  This website is full of patients who had Bartonella who were negative on testing.

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Bartonella, Borrelia Miyamotoi (Relapsing Fever Group), Ehrlichiosis, Lyme, Uncategorized

Is Rickettsia the Same as Lyme Disease?

https://www.bca-clinic.de/en/is-rickettsia-the-same-as-lyme-disease/

Is Rickettsia The Same As Lyme Disease?

29. August 2019in BCA-clinic

What Is Rickettsia?

Rickettsial diseases or rickettsioses are infections caused by various bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia. These bacteria are transmitted through the bites of certain hard-bodied ticks and some other arthropods. Rickettsial diseases are not to be confused with rickets, which is a condition affecting the bones and resulting from vitamin D deficiency.

The infections caused by Rickettsia bacteria have traditionally been classified into two groups: spotted fever and typhus. However, they’re sometimes divided into further categories. Either way, all groups include species of pathogens that can infect humans. Although Rickettsia bacteria can be found worldwide, the most common rickettsial illnesses are normally contracted in Africa and Asia.

Lyme disease is also transmitted to humans by ticks. It’s the most common tick-borne illness in the northern hemisphere. However, Lyme isn’t a rickettsial disease, since it’s caused by a bacterium of a different genus: Borrelia burgdorferi.

However, the same tick that carries Rickettsia bacteria might also be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. Therefore, it’s possible to contract both illnesses via one tick bite. Therefore, the answer to question ‘is Rickettsia a Lyme co-infection?’ is that yes – rickettsiosis can be a potential co-infection of Lyme disease.

What Are The Symptoms of Rickettsia Diseases?

Some of the most common rickettsial diseases are Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and typhus. All of these are generally difficult to diagnose. Some of them rarely cause symptoms, and most of them only cause moderate illness even when symptomatic. However, certain forms of spotted fever and typhus may be fatal if left unrecognised and untreated. The sooner these illnesses are diagnosed, the easier they are to treat using antibiotics.

The clinical presentation of rickettsial diseases varies greatly. Even infections caused by the same species of bacteria may produce different symptoms in different patients. Nonetheless, the most common symptoms include

  • fever
  • headache
  • fatigue
  • malaise
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • rashes and eschar (a piece of dry and dark dead skin at the site of the bite). These tend to develop within two weeks after the bacteria have entered the body.

African tick bite fever is one of the mildest forms of rickettsiosis. Patients usually present with fever, headache, muscle pain and an eschar shortly after contracting the disease during a visit to southern Africa.

Fever is a common symptom of all rickettsial diseases.

 

Mediterranean spotted fever is a serious and potentially life-threatening illness. It’s prevalent in the Mediterranean region, including northern Africa. In addition to fever, rashes and an eschar are typical signs of the illness.

Patients with Rocky Mountain spotted fever often experience fever, headache, nausea, and stomach pain. A rash at the site of the bite is also commonly seen, but eschars aren’t usually present.

The only common symptom of murine or endemic typhus is fever. About half of all patients also develop a rash. Scrub typhus can be contracted in Asia, and it’s characterised by a severe fever, headache and muscle pain. An eschar, cough, enlarged lymph nodes and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) may also occur in some patients.

The symptoms of ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis are similar to those of other rickettsial diseases. However, they’re also known to significantly reduce white blood cell count in affected people.

Is Rickettsia The Same As Lyme Disease?

Rickettsiosis and Lyme disease share several symptoms in their early stages, such as fever, headache, fatigue, malaise and muscle pain. Moreover, all of these symptoms also overlap with those of the flu and other non-specific viral infections, making diagnosis even more challenging.

The only distinctive sign of Lyme disease is the circular bull’s eye rash that develops around the tick bite within a few weeks. However, the rash can also appear elsewhere on the body, and in 20-30% of patients it’s not seen at all.

The diagnosis of Lyme and rickettsial diseases is usually based on a combination of factors, including signs, symptoms, patient history and laboratory tests. Unfortunately, currently there aren’t any completely reliable diagnostic tests available for Lyme disease: in the first weeks after infection, there’s a 60% rate of false negative results. Serological assays for rickettsiosis are more reliable, but these can take 10–12 days to provide a decisive result.

Tests such as serological assays are required to identify rickettsiosis.

What To Do If You Think You’ve Been Infected With Rickettsia

Ticks are very tiny, and their bites aren’t painful. Many people don’t even realise they’ve been bitten.

It’s important to note that being bitten by a tick doesn’t mean you’ve contracted an illness. In fact, out of the approximately 800 different tick species in the world, less than 60 can transmit infections to humans and animals. Most types of tick also have to be attached to the host’s body for an extended period of time in order to pass on any bacteria.

Nevertheless, you must see your doctor if you have a fever and any other flu-like symptoms or a rash shortly after being bitten by a tick. You should also arrange a medical appointment if you don’t recall being bitten but you do experience some suspicious symptoms within a few weeks of returning from a high-risk area. Be sure to tell your doctor about your recent travels, so that they can evaluate the probability of a tick-borne infection and order any appropriate diagnostic tests.

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**Comment**

According to information written in Carl Tuttle’s petition against the IDSA, he mentions an article that indicates the persistent form of Lyme disease might be caused by another organism altogether.

https://www.lymedisease.org/lymepolicywonk-is-persistent-lyme-disease-caused-by-another-organism-identified-by-dr-willy-burgdorfer-over-35-years-ago-why-hasnt-anyone-looked-into-it/  By Lorraine Johnson Oct 12, 2016

Excerpt:

“The STAT article reports that both Jorge Benach and Allen Steere now say it is time to take a closer look at Rickettsia helvetica’s role in Lyme disease. Benach says the research “should be done” because public health concerns warrant a closer look.”

Tuttle also discusses correspondence between Dr. Alan Steere and Willy Burgdorfer dating back to 1980 discussing serological results of sera tested for various Rickettsia and the Swiss Agent (cgP-09) and (TC P-17) being identified in a number of patients:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/777uylhnlc6ytgc/Correspondence_from_Allen_C_Steere_to_Dr_Burgdorfer_regarding_decoded_results_of_serological_tests_against_rickettsia_1980%20%20%20%20%281%29.pdf?dl=0

And according to Allison Caruana, President of The Mayday Project, borrelia associated with Lyme disease are unlike other borrelia, as these organisms are known for an amorphous slime layer:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/10/29/the-scientific-connection-between-stari-chronic-lyme/

She states:

“Dr. Willy Burgdorfer reviewed and tested patient blood samples from Dr. Anderson for C9P09, which is a rickettsial helical Mycoplasma; P09 being a Rickettsia bellii and C9 being a Mycoplasma (FIG. 2).35 This is further supported by the theory that an endosymbiotic infection produces spirochetes that are uncultivable Mycoplasmas, which are also called spirochetes. 1, 22, 31, 32

The “Swiss Agent” is documented by Dr. Willy Burgdorfer (FIG. 3),25 who also wrote a speech on “Pandora’s Box”.5 Although the Swiss Agent paper is associated with the suspected African Swine Flu, Dr. Willy Burgdorfer appears to be famous for leaving clues throughout his work regarding Lyme disease. Upon reviewing the structure of the Lyme disease “Swiss Agent” and the “Pandora Giant Virus”, there is a striking resemblance that deserves further examination.”

I don’t think we actually know precisely what the agent(s) causing Lyme disease is. This would explain why it can’t be picked up in current testing and why many fail treatment.

While it’s true that the early stages can often yield unspecific symptoms, an experienced eye will be able to diagnose a patient with tick borne illness.  Also, please remember that in some patients their only symptoms are psychological: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2015/10/18/psychiatric-lymemsids/  Any acute onset behavior changes should be suspect. Please don’t mess around with mainstream medicine should this occur. Get to an experienced and recommended ILADS practitioner who understands the mental illness aspect of tick borne disease.

Regarding the “classic” bullseye rash, please know that while it is diagnostic of Lyme disease, in the first ever patient sample, only a quarter had it:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/1976circularletterpdf.pdf

Here this nifty table shows that anywhere from 27-80% get it depending upon who’s counting:  https://www.lymedisease.org/lymepolicywonk-how-many-of-those-with-lyme-disease-have-the-rash-estimates-range-from-27-80-2/

Rashes-larger-blog-3

The article’s statement that 20-30% of patients don’t get the rash must be taken from the inaccurate CDC count which is always abysmally low.  No one I work with gets the rash.  No one!

Please read this well written article on why we need to stop treating tick-borne illness like a typical infectious disease:

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/08/01/why-we-need-to-stop-treating-lyme-disease-like-a-typical-infectious-disease/

More on Rickettsia:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/08/12/tick-borne-pathogens-bartonella-spp-borrelia-burgdorferi-sensu-lato-coxiella-burnetii-rickettsia-spp-may-trigger-endocarditis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/07/21/human-seroprevalence-of-tick-borne-anaplasma-lyme-and-rickettsia-species-in-northern-california/

Seventeen (6.8%) samples were seropositive for antibodies against at least one pathogen: five for A. phagocytophilum, eight for B. burgdorferi, and four for Rickettsia spp.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/01/03/tick-bite-in-ear-gave-uk-teacher-rickettsial-typhus-infection/

 

 

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Rickettsia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ticks

Invasive Tick Detected in 6 Additional Tennessee Counties

https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/2019/10/17/invasive-tick-detected-in-six-additional-tennessee-counties.html

Invasive Tick Detected in Six Additional Tennessee Counties

Thursday, October 17, 2019
Asian_Longhorned_Tick2

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Tennessee Department of Health, and University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture today announced the detection of the invasive Asian longhorned tick in an additional six Tennessee counties:  Knox, Jefferson, Claiborne, Cocke, Putnam, and Sevier. The tick was detected in Union and Roane Counties in May.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there is no evidence to date that the tick has transmitted pathogens to humans in the U.S. There are concerns that the tick may transmit the agent of Theileriosis in cattle, and heavy infestations can cause blood loss and lead to death.

It is important to be aware of this tick, as cattle and canines are particularly susceptible to tick bites. Livestock producers are reminded to be vigilant when purchasing animals, apply a tick treatment to cattle prior to bringing them to your farm, and always use best practices for herd health. Dog owners should provide their animals with a tick preventative and check for ticks.

“Tennessee has numerous animal hosts and a suitable habitat for this tick species,” Dr. R.T. Trout Fryxell, Associate Professor of Medical and Veterinary Entomology for UTIA, said. “While it is always important to be diligent and keep an eye out for all ticks, the unique biology of the Asian longhorned tick helps this species to establish quickly and become a problem.”

Tips to prevent tick bites in animals and livestock include:

·         Coordinate with your veterinarian to determine appropriate pest prevention for pets and livestock.

·         Check pets and livestock for ticks frequently.

·         Remove any ticks by pulling from the attachment site of the tick bite with tweezers.

·         Monitor your pets and livestock for any changes in health

If your animals are bitten by a tick, Dr. Trout Fryxell suggests putting the tick in a ziplock bag, writing down the date and where the tick was most likely encountered, and storing it in a freezer.

For additional information about the longhorned tick in the United States, click here. To find more information on tick-borne diseases, click here.

________________

**Comment**

The Asian Tick has been found in the following 12 states:  Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut and Tennessee.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/10/26/researchers-conclude-asian-longhorned-tick-contributes-minimally-to-lyme-disease-in-the-u-s/  This article admits it can transmit Lyme.  It’s also suspected of transmitting the following: Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Borrelia species.

For a great read: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/12/three-surprising-things-i-learned-about-asian-longhorned-ticks-the-tick-guy-tom-mather/

To take this tick lightly would be foolish.

 

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme, research, Rickettsia, Transmission

Deer, Fragmented Forests, Ticks, a Lyme-like Disease….and a Little Praise for Possums

https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2019/deer,-fragmented-forests,-ticks,-a-lyme-like-disease-and-a-little-praise-for-possums.php  Full Article Here

Deer, fragmented forests, ticks, a Lyme-like disease … and a little praise for possums

Joanna Weeks drags a cloth to collect ticks in the College Woods

It’s a drag:  In a photo from 2013, Joanna Weeks ’13 drags a cloth to collect ticks working with W&M biologists Matthias Leu (left) and Oliver Kerscher. The three were among the co-authors on a 2019 paper that examines the link between a Lyme-like tick-borne disease and fragmented forested habitat.  Photo by Joseph McClain

 

by Joseph McClain |  October 17, 2019

 

“…Say — what’s that?”

“Nothing but a tick.”

“Where’d you get him?”

“Out in the woods.”

“What’ll you take for him?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to sell him.”

—Tom and Huck, in Tom Sawyer

Ticks were evidently so rare in Samuel Clemens’ Hannibal that a single live specimen had value enough to tempt Tom Sawyer to part with his newly shed tooth. Matthias Leu says it was the same in the Switzerland of his more recent youth.

“When I was a boy, I spent all my time in the forest,” Leu said. “I never saw one tick. And in Switzerland now, you should not leave the trails because there are so many ticks. So, it’s not just in North America; it’s global.”

__________________

**Comment*

Great read which exposes the fact that little is known about the Ehrlichia chaffeensis bacterium which gives similar symptoms as Lyme disease. According to biologist Matthias Leu, “There probably has been a lot of ehrlichiosis that was misdiagnosed as Lyme.” Leu and his colleagues studied the habitat of the Lone Star Tick and found that forest fragmentation causes more edges which deer love, giving ticks an easy meal.

Leu explains that deer are “competent hosts,” serving not only as a meal for the tick, but also a reservoir for ehrlichiosis, capable of infecting the next feasting tick with Ehrlichia chaffeensis. He states that fawns and yearling deer are especially important in transmission of the bacterium.

According to this study, health providers often fail to consider ehrlichia when treating tick borne infections:  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181001171202.htm

“The failure to test for Ehrlichia, even as more and more evidence suggests that the infection may be just as common as other endemic tick-borne diseases, appears to impact patient care with antibiotics prescribed less frequently when testing is not ordered.”

For more on Ehrlichia:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/12/02/everything-thats-known-about-ehrlichiosis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/15/ehrlichiosis-masquerading-as-thrombotic-thrombocytopenia-purpura/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/02/north-carolina-ehrlichia-often-overlooked-when-tick-borne-illness-suspected/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/24/oklahoma-ehrlichiosis-central/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/03/09/dogs-ehrlichiosis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/05/04/ehrlichiosis-a-tick-borne-illness-that-can-imitate-blood-related-cancers/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/12/02/everything-thats-known-about-ehrlichiosis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/15/ehrlichiosis-masquerading-as-thrombotic-thrombocytopenia-purpura/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/02/north-carolina-ehrlichia-often-overlooked-when-tick-borne-illness-suspected/

 

 

 

Category:

Ehrlichiosis, research, Testing, Ticks, Transmission, Treatment

More Than Lyme: Tick Study Finds Multiple Agents of Tick-borne Diseases

NEWS RELEASE 

More than Lyme: Tick study finds multiple agents of tick-borne diseases

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY’S MAILMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

IMAGE
IMAGE: THREE PRIMARY HUMAN-BITING TICK SPECIES PRESENT ON LONG ISLAND WERE EXAMINED IN THIS STUDY. LEFT — BLACKLEGGED TICK ALSO KNOWN AS THE DEER TICK, MIDDLE — THE AMERICAN DOG TICK,… view more 

CREDIT: SANTIAGO SANCHEZ-VICENTE, STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY

In a study published in mBio, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, Jorge Benach and Rafal Tokarz, and their co-authors at Stony Brook University and Columbia University, reported on the prevalence of multiple agents capable of causing human disease that are present in three species of ticks in Long Island.

Tick-borne diseases have become a worldwide threat to public health. In the United States, cases more than doubled, from 22,000 in 2004 to more than 48,000 in 2016, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Tick-borne diseases range from subclinical to fatal infections with disproportionate incidence in children or the elderly. Moreover, some infections can also be transmitted by blood transfusions and cause severe disease in patients with underlying disorders. While public attention has focused on Lyme disease, in recent years, scientists have uncovered evidence that ticks can carry several different pathogens capable of several different tick-borne diseases, sometimes in a single tick.

In the new study, researchers collected ticks from multiple locations throughout Suffolk county in the central and eastern part of Long Island, where seven diseases caused by microbes transmitted by ticks are present. In total, they examined 1,633 individual ticks for 12 separate microbes. They found that more than half of the Ixodes (deer ticks) were infected with the Lyme disease agent, followed by infections with the agents of Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis. Importantly, nearly one-quarter of these ticks are infected with more than one agent, resulting in the possibility of simultaneous transmission from a single tick bite.

Notably, the lone star tick, a species originating from the southern U.S., has expanded its range, possibly fueled by climate change. This study documents that the invasive lone star tick is abundant in Long Island, and that it is a very aggressive tick that can transmit a bacterium that causes a disease known as Ehrlichiosis. The lone star tick has also been implicated in cases of a novel form of meat allergy, and the immature stages can cause an uncomfortable dermatitis.

“Polymicrobial infections represent an important aspect of tick-borne diseases that can complicate diagnosis and augment disease severity,” says corresponding author Jorge Benach, PhD, Distinguished Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. “Some of the polymicrobial infections can be treated with the same antibiotics, but others require different therapies, thus enlarging the number of drugs to treat these infections.”

“In evaluating tick-borne infection, more than one organism needs to be considered,” says senior author Rafal Tokarz, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology in the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, and a graduate of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stony Brook University. “This study emphasizes the need to focus on all tick-borne diseases, not just Lyme.”

###

The first author is Santiago Sanchez, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stony Brook University. Teresa Tagliafierro from Columbia and James Coleman from Stony Brook are co-authors of the study.

This study was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health to Benach. Support was also provided by the Island Outreach Foundation in Blue Point, NY, to the Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine. Support from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation (CU18-2692) was provided to Tokarz.

 

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

__________________

**Comment**

Again, climate change has nothing to do with tick proliferation and disease spread: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/13/study-shows-lyme-not-propelled-by-climate-change/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/07/ticks-on-the-move-due-to-migrating-birds-and-photoperiod-not-climate-change/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/06/17/ontario-public-health-officials-called-out-on-shoddy-biased-research-utilizing-an-erroneous-climate-change-model-to-program-a-futuristic-tick-problem/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/17/uw-madison-phd-in-ecological-climatology-climate-change-computer-models-fudged-except-russian-model/  Dr. Patrick Michaels, director of the Center for the Study of Science at the Cato Institute, provides insight into the debate over climate change and the political games played to create policy.

Political games surrounding Lyme/MSIDS have gone on long enough. Do research on important issues that will help patients.

 

 

 

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme, research, Ticks, Transmission

North Central Integrated Pest Alert

https://www.ncipmc.org/projects/pest-alerts1/

image.png

They have the following for ticks and specific diseases:

https://www.ncipmc.org/projects/pest-alerts1/brown-dog-tick-vector-for-rocky-mountain-spotted-fever/

https://www.ncipmc.org/projects/pest-alerts1/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever-rickettsia-rickettsii/

https://www.ncipmc.org/projects/pest-alerts1/ticks-and-tick-borne-diseases/

 

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme, Rickettsia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ticks, Tularemia, Viruses

Researchers at Upstate Medical University Collect CNY Ticks For Testing in a Pilot Study

https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/researchers-at-upstate-medical-university-collect-cny-ticks-for-testing-in-a-pilot-study/ News Video Here

Researchers at Upstate Medical University collect CNY ticks for testing in a pilot study

LOCAL NEWS

by:

Posted:

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — A team of researchers with Thangamani Lab at Upstate Medical University have begun a multi-year pilot project studying the ticks in the Central New York region.

They’re trying to figure out which species of ticks are in the area, what they’re carrying, and how those infections impact a person’s health and their treatment.

“The deer ticks, they transmit 7 different pathogens,” said lead researcher, Saravanan Thangamani. “Almost 60% of ticks collected in Onondaga County are positive for Borrelia burgdorferi. That is the agent for Lyme disease.”

Some of the ticks also carry infections like Powassan virus, Ehrlichia, and Bartonella.

One of the goals of this 3-5 year study is to understand what happens if a tick bites someone when it’s carrying more than one infection.

“Does it make the Lyme disease worse, does it make the Powassan worse, or it doesn’t do neither?” asks Thangamani.

Researchers are also trying to track down the ticks’ path. To do so, they’re asking anyone who gets bit by a tick to mail it in for free testing.

“Send us the zip code so we know which zip code has particular pathogen prevalence and then does it change over time,” said Thangamani.

To have a tick tested, put it in a zip-lock bag with a moist towelette with the following information:

  • The date
  • Location
  • If the tick was found on a human or pet
  • Your email

More info:  https://thangamani-lab.com/free-tick-testing

You can mail the tick to:

Thangamani Lab
505 Irving Avenue
Suite 4209
SUNY Center for Environmental Health and Medicine
SUNY Upstate Medical Center
Syracuse, NY 13210
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**Comment**

I called and they stated anyone can utilize their FREE tick testing. 
They will send you the results of what pathogens were found.

Category:

Activism, Bartonella, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme, Testing, Ticks, Viruses