Archive for the ‘Lyme’ Category

Monitoring Roadkill for Borrelia Genospecies

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33266311/

Hedgehogs, Squirrels, and Blackbirds as Sentinel Hosts for Active Surveillance of Borrelia miyamotoi and Borrelia burgdorferi Complex in Urban and Rural Environments

Karolina Majerová 1 2, Václav Hönig 2 3, Michal Houda 4, Petr Papežík 5, Manoj Fonville 6, Hein Sprong 6, Natalie Rudenko 2, Maryna Golovchenko 2, Barbora Černá Bolfíková 7, Pavel Hulva 8 9, Daniel Růžek 2 3, Lada Hofmannová 5, Jan Votýpka 1 2 10, David Modrý 2 5 11
Affiliations expand

PMID: 33266311DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121908

Free article

Abstract

Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex, is one of the most common vector-borne zoonotic diseases in Europe. Knowledge about the enzootic circulation of Borrelia pathogens between ticks and their vertebrate hosts is epidemiologically important and enables assessment of the health risk for the human population. In our project, we focused on the following vertebrate species:

  • European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
  • Northern white-breasted hedgehog (E. roumanicus)
  • Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
  • Common blackbird (Turdus merula).

The cadavers of accidentally killed animals used in this study constitute an available source of biological material, and we have confirmed its potential for wide monitoring of B. burgdorferi s.l. presence and genospecies diversity in the urban environment.

High infection rates were observed in all four target host species; mixed infections by several genospecies were detected on the level of individuals, as well as in particular tissue samples.
  • 90% for E. erinaceus
  • 73% for E. roumanicus
  • 91% for S. vulgaris
  • 68% for T. merula

These findings show the usefulness of multiple tissue sampling as tool for revealing the occurrence of several genospecies within one animal and the risk of missing particular B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies when looking in one organ alone.

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**Comment**

You have to admire their tenacity!

And this needs to be done on human autopsies!  The high infection rates aren’t surprising because they are looking in multiple tissues.  This should be shared widely as a reason why human patients are not getting the attention they deserve.

This doctor shows how Lyme is in tissues and doesn’t hang out long in the blood:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/12/15/lyme-disease-is-a-small-vessel-disease-dr-klemann/  This is why serology testing and short-term treatments don’t work.

Category:

Borrelia Miyamotoi (Relapsing Fever Group), Lyme, research, Testing

Bill’s Lyme Story

https://globallymealliance.org/bills-lyme-story/

william beesmer_planned giving_blog

Bill’s Lyme Story

This blog post is part of our People to Highlight Series during our 2020 Year-End Appeal. Each week we’ll be spotlighting a GLA community member who has helped to advance our mission. To support GLA during our year-end appeal, donate here.

FIGHTING BACK: MY HEALING JOURNEY

by Bill Beesmer

When I was four years old, my dad died, leaving behind sixteen children for my mother to raise alone. We lived in a small house with no indoor plumbing. I do not know how my mother, who was pregnant when our father died, found the strength and resources to raise, feed, and clothe all of us. I refuse to allow a poorly diagnosed case of Lyme disease to take me out without a fight. I owe that to my mother, myself, and every person who has been impacted by this disease. I am honored to share my story.

In 2013 during the July Fourth weekend, two significant events occurred. I turned seventy years old, and I also found an engorged tick on my bathroom floor. I live alone and I do not have pets, so I assume the tick had been on me as I had just spent days doing yard work. The next business day, I took the tick and myself to my general practitioner (GP). I had no sign of a rash or an entry location, so doxycycline was not prescribed, and the tick was not sent to a lab for testing. In hindsight, these were huge mistakes. I did not know any better and neither did my GP.

Within a few weeks, I developed excruciating pain in my lower back and buttocks requiring a rescue squad trip to the emergency room. This happened twice, and I was never tested for Lyme, even though I told the doctors about the tick. Shortly after that, I developed pain and weakness on my right side from my ribs to my toes. Within five weeks, my right side atrophied, and I lost 40 pounds. The back pain never abated or lessened. I was in constant agony. Finally, my GP sent me to a neurosurgeon who ordered an MRI of my thoracic spine, a CAT scan, and an EMG. The neurologist that performed the EMG wrote in his report that I had experienced diabetic neuropathy. Having been a type II diabetic for over 50 years, this did not make sense to me. Later, a neurologist and an infectious disease doctor refuted this, agreeing it was tick-borne disease related.

My deterioration continued, and In February of 2014, I had my severely swollen right knee aspirated by an orthopedic surgeon.  Knowing about the tick encounter, the surgeon had my knee fluid tested. Tests were positive for Lyme. That is how and when I learned I had Lyme disease.

In the following months and years, I saw many doctors, including a neurologist, an infectious disease doctor at Mass General Hospital in Boston, and two “Lyme-literate” doctors. The infectious disease doctor ordered a spinal tap, and my spinal fluid tested positive for Lyme disease. My treatment was a PICC line placed in my right arm to receive 28 consecutive days of Rocephin infusions. My last infusion was in February 2020.

Since July 2013, I have spent more than $30,000 on out-of-pocket medical expenses. This includes supplements, blood tests, and doctor visits not covered by insurance, primarily because Lyme-literate doctors do not accept insurance. It stings to have to write a check for Lyme diagnosis and treatment. This is happening to hundreds of thousands (maybe millions) of people tolerating Lyme and other co-infections with limited resources. This disease needs to be covered by insurance.

I first learned of Global Lyme Alliance (GLA) when searching online for a dynamic Lyme organization. I reviewed several Lyme groups’ history and financial statements. I was looking for a trustworthy nonprofit organization where I could confidently donate to Lyme research. After examining GLA’s financial statements and speaking with key staff members, GLA rose to the top of my list very quickly.

Global Lyme Alliance has been helpful to me in many ways. The staff has always responded promptly to my many questions, often directing me to research sites, articles and informing me of medical advances. A few years ago, GLA invited me to a Lyme research summit for donors. The presenters were doctors, scientists, and clinical researchers from hospitals and medical schools throughout the United States. I was impressed to learn that GLA grants had funded much of their work due to donations made possible by GLA donors like me. The summit was a fantastic experience. Lyme had taken so much from me, and I needed to know people were fighting back.

Given the rampant spread of Lyme disease and co-infections with no current cure, I decided to get involved and do more. When I was asked to become a GLA Lyme Education Ambassador, it was the icing on the cake. I have learned so much about Lyme disease and the advances being made. To this day, I often call GLA staff with questions or for guidance. They are always there to help.

Bill speaking at Onteora High School in Boiceville, NY

I am honored to help educate people in my area, the beautiful Hudson Valley, and raise Lyme disease awareness. I disburse GLA posters and flyers, I speak at social clubs and schools, and wherever I can find an audience. The pandemic has curtailed all that, so we have had to find creative ways to raise funds for these programs and much-needed research. I want to thank my family and friends, who helped me generate over $75,000 while fundraising for GLA in 2019.

I am sure that you know somebody who has experienced the devastating impact of Lyme disease and how helpless they felt. Look at what my mom was capable of when it seemed like there was no help in sight. She taught me how to fight for what was right, which is exactly what I am doing. I ask you to join forces with me and GLA to make meaningful progress on Lyme patients’ behalf. It is never too late to help. Your contribution will make a difference. Thank you for stepping up.

Read more stories in our People to Highlight Series.

Category:

Activism, Lyme

Lyme Disease is a Small Vessel Disease: Dr. Klemann

http://

Dr. Wolfgang Klemann – Lyme disease is a small vessel disease

July 2, 2016

In this short video, Dr. Klemann describes how quickly borrelia leaves the blood (within hours) to infect small vessels. This, along with biofilm and round-body forms are reasons why blood (serology) testing will not work.

He describes how borrelia has an enzyme to break down collagen tissue, form colonies and a protective slime layer.  He states that antibiotics target the outer layer of the biofilm, but not the inner layer and that longer treatment is imperative for effectiveness.

As it stands, the CDC/IDSA only acknowledges the acute stage of Lyme disease, with short treatment.  They ignore those with chronic/persistent illness and simply state it doesn’t exist or is a figment of your imagination.  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/12/10/ten-things-you-should-know-about-the-new-idsa-lyme-guidelines/

Do not mess around with these doctors.

Get to an ILADS trained Lyme literate doctor who understands treatment nuances and that treatment often surpasses the accepted narrative of 21 days of doxycycline.  Please see:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/11/25/what-makes-a-doctor-lyme-literate/

This is not to say you won’t have to perhaps see a regular doctor for specific issues, as Lyme/MSIDS affects so many organs; however, the main doctor in charge of treating tick-borne illness should be Lyme literate.

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/02/13/lyme-disease-treatment/

 

 

Category:

Lyme, Treatment

The Desperate Need for an Accurate Lyme Disease Test

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/desperate-need-accurate-lyme-disease-test-rosie-milsom/

The desperate need for an accurate Lyme disease test

1607078449009Stephen Bullough before and after Lyme disease

Rosie Milsom

Fundraising & Comms Manager | Helping charities to diversify and increase their income, engage with their supporters, and make a difference

Yesterday, as part of our Big Give Christmas Challenge, we got a very strong reaction and boost to the campaign when we shared the story of Stephen Bullough. I’d like to share that with you now, and the best way is within an article because it’s too long to fit into a LinkedIn post.

His story helps demonstrate the importance of having an accurate test available on the NHS – and a better understanding of the disease from the medical profession.

An 8th Dan in karate and World, European and British champion, Stephen fell ill 2016 after recalling rash in 2015. He had neurological symptoms including seizures, and later vision problems.

He saw several consultants, but no one joined up the dots between the symptoms, and he was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

Feeling failed by the NHS, Stephen’s wife Angela began doing her own research and sent his bloods to a lab in Europe, which showed positive for Lyme. Tests done on the NHS had returned as negative.

The positive test was dismissed by Stephen’s neurologist, who said not wanting to believe he had FND was another symptom of the illness.

In 2018, Stephen suffered a series of seizures that resulted in him losing his sight and use of his legs. Still, he got no treatment.

He was certified as blind by a top local ophthalmologist, but again his neurology consultants didn’t accept this as true.

On Father’s Day this year, Stephen was blue lighted to hospital with a Glasgow Coma Scale 3 after series of back to back seizures. He was referred to ICU, but once in ward a doctor refused to treat him, saying that his medical notes suggested the seizures were fake. Luckily, a nurse’s son had epilepsy. She recognised the seizures and subsequently reported the doctor.

Stephen now has severe issues with his heart and nervous system, and is unlikely to ever walk again. He needs round the clock care.

After a recent stay in hospital, a community response doctor was sent to visit Stephen at his home. He happened to be a member of Global Lyme Alliance and listened to Angela’s story in shock.

He consequently carried out a thorough examination, confirming that Stephen has late stage Lyme with secondary and extensive damage to the central nervous system.

He is now on extensive medication and vitamins to help manage his condition.

Angela says:

“To say we’ve been living through four years of hell is an understatement.  If there was a more accurate test on the NHS, we could have gotten Stephen diagnosed and treated more quickly. Now, our lives have been devastated by this illness, and the stress has impacted my health too.”

At the time of writing this, we’re just £138 away from our Big Give Christmas Challenge target. Funds raised are going towards our Innovation Fund for Lyme disease, which will see us give grants to research projects which aim to find a truly accurate test and effective treatments for Lyme disease.

The campaign is accepting donations until Tuesday 8th December at 12pm, but will only be doubled up to £6,000. If you’re moved to support us, please donate via the link below, or get in touch with me if you’d like to talk about other opportunities for support after this time.

Thank you

https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/a051r00001fHSDfAAO

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**Comment**

While COVID testing is purposely designed to show mostly ALL positives, Lyme/MSIDS testing is designed to show nearly ALL negatives:

Category:

Lyme, research, Testing, Treatment

How Many “Negative” Lyme Tests Are Due to B. Miyamotoi?

https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-sci-miyamotoi-or-lyme/

LYME SCI: How many “negative” Lyme tests are due to B. miyamotoi?

By Lonnie Marcum

July 20, 2020

is it lyme or something else
Do you have all the symptoms of Lyme disease but test negative? Besides the fact the standard test for Lyme misses half the cases, there may be another reason—Borrelia miyamotoi.

A new study out of San Francisco State University (SFSU) has found more Borrelia miyamotoi than Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) in Ixodes pacificus ticks in some areas of Northern California.

Borrelia miyamotoi disease poses a difficult problem for patients and doctors who are unfamiliar with it. Its symptoms may present as viral-like or Lyme-like and there is currently no FDA-approved test.

What is Borrelia miyamotoi?

The family of tick-borne Borrelia is divided into two broad groups that correspond to the disease manifestations they cause in humans: Lyme disease or relapsing fever. Borrelia miyamotoi is in the tick-borne relapsing fever group (TBRF).

Unlike B. miyamotoi, most North American TBRF species (B. hermsii, B. turicatae, B. parkeri), are transmitted by soft-bodied ticks.

B. miyamotoi is different. It’s transmitted by the same blacklegged tick that carries Lyme disease and several other pathogens.

Furthermore, B. miyamotoi can be transmitted from the adult female tick to her eggs. This is called transovarial transmission. It means that baby ticks can be infected with B. miyamotoi from the get-go.

In contrast, blacklegged ticks don’t start out being infected with Lyme. They must acquire the infection by feeding on an animal that carries it—such as a mouse or squirrel.

The research and findings

For the SFSU study, researchers collected 1,358 Ixodes pacificus ticks and 370 rodents from eight different sites in Northern California from April to May 2018. The ticks included 894 larvae, 281 nymphs and 183 adults.

On average the following tested positive for B. miyamotoi:

  • 0.11% of the larvae
  • 4.98% of nymphs
  • 8.74% of the adult ticks

With the prevalence of infection increasing at each life stage of the tick, and each stage including one blood meal, the researchers estimate that horizontal transmission (from mammal to tick) accounts for 97% of B. miyamotoi infection in nymphal ticks and 43% of infection in adult ticks.

Interestingly, the researchers detected B. burgdorferi in 9.86% of nymph and 2.33% of the adult I. pacificus ticks—a decrease in prevalence of 76% from one life stage to the next. In addition, an average of 5.21% of the mice had blood that tested positive for B. miyamotoi.

During the same time, researchers also took skin biopsies from the ears of the rodents they had collected, and examined them for the presence of miyamotoi infection and Lyme.  They found more B. miyamotoi in the blood samples and more B. burgdorferi in the skin.

This matches with other types of TBRF, which are more easily detected in human blood samples, especially when the person is symptomatic. In contrast, Lyme disease is harder to detect in blood samples after it disseminates throughout the body.

The SFSU authors conclude, “the human risk of B. miyamotoi in the western USA may be even greater than B. burgdorferi in certain disease hot spots.”
How this study compares

The SFSU study only included counties around the San Francisco Bay Area. However, a prior California Department of Public Health 12-year study found B. miyamotoi in I. pacificus ticks in 24 out of 48 California counties.

Another study published in 2018 by Professor Robert Lane, along with researchers at UC Berkeley and Yale, examined a biobank of frozen blood samples. The results showed that 26 out of 101 samples collected from residents of Mendocino County, California, in the 1980s were reactive for relapsing fever borreliosis, including B. miyamotoi.

Similarly, another study published in 2018 looked at blood samples drawn from patients in 25 California counties. The results showed positive testing for TBRF in 16 of those counties, with the highest rates of positivity coming from Santa Clara, Alameda, Marin and San Francisco.

That study used a novel laboratory technique that can detect multiple species of TBRF. Co-author Jyotsna Shaw, of IGeneX, Inc., says “we hope that these techniques can be used to develop accurate FDA-approved tests for the future.”

A hidden epidemic?

B. miyamotoi was discovered in ticks more than 20 years ago in Japan. But it wasn’t proven to cause illness in humans until 2011, when the first human cases were reported in Russia.

It is now known to be widespread in North America, wherever Ixodes scapularis ticks and Ixodes pacificus ticks are found.

Unfortunately, Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD) is not reportable to the CDC, and the standard test for Lyme disease will not detect it. Because of this, many patients are likely going undiagnosed, and therefore we really have no idea how widespread the illness is.

The symptoms of Borrelia Miyamotoi Disease (BMD)

(according to the CDC)

Symptoms

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Fatigue
  • Severe headache
  • Muscle or joint pain
  • Dizziness, confusion, vertigo (uncommon)
  • Rash (uncommon)
  • Shortness of breath (uncommon)
  • Nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and anorexia (uncommon)

A recent feature in the New York Times discusses a difficult case where a patient tested negative for Lyme and many other conditions. Medical detective work by Dr. Brian Fallon of the  Columbia Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Center eventually determined that she suffered from B. miyamotoi. (She tested negative for Lyme disease. So what was wrong?)

LymeSci is written by Lonnie Marcum, a Licensed Physical Therapist and mother of a daughter with Lyme. Follow her on Twitter: @LonnieRhea  Email her at: lmarcum@lymedisease.org .

References

Sambado, S., J. Salomon, A. Crews, and A. Swei. (2020) Mixed transmission modes promote persistence of an emerging tick-borne pathogen. Ecosphere 11(6):e03171. 10.1002/ecs2.3171

Krause PJ, Carroll M, Fedorova N, Brancato J, Dumouchel C, Akosa F, et al. (2018) Human Borrelia miyamotoi infection in California: Serodiagnosis is complicated by multiple endemic Borrelia species. PLoS ONE 13(2): e0191725. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0191725

Padgett K, Bonilla D, Kjemtrup A, Vilcins I-M, Yoshimizu MH, Hui L, et al. (2014) Large Scale Spatial Risk and Comparative Prevalence of Borrelia miyamotoi and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ixodes pacificus. PLoS ONE 9(10): e110853. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0110853

Jeomhee Mun, Rebecca J. Eisen, Lars Eisen, Robert S. Lane (2006) Detection of a Borrelia miyamotoi Sensu Lato Relapsing-Fever Group Spirochete from Ixodes pacificus in California , Journal of Medical Entomology, 43 (1) 120–123, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/43.1.120

Geoffrey E Lynn, Christine B Graham, Kalanthe Horiuchi, Lars Eisen, Tammi L Johnson, Robert S Lane, Rebecca J Eisen (2018) Prevalence and Geographic Distribution of Borrelia miyamotoi in Host-Seeking Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) Nymphs in Mendocino County, California, Journal of Medical Entomology, 55(3), 711–716, https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjx258

Borrelia miyamotoi Disease | Tick-borne Diseases | Ticks | CDC https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/tickbornediseases/borrelia-miyamotoi.html

Test Order | Submitting Specimens to CDC | Infectious Diseases Laboratories | CDC https://www.cdc.gov/laboratory/specimen-submission/detail.html?CDCTestCode=CDC-10532 via @CDCgov

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**Comment**
 
 
Since Borrelia miyamotoi is not a reportable illness to the CDC, no one has any clue about prevalence but reports are coming in continually that it’s highly likely to be a much bigger problem than ‘authorities’ believe.
 
It was recently discovered that:

Also, Borrelia miyamotoi has been in California ticks for a long time:

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/15/b-miyamotoi-in-ca-ticks-for-a-long-time/

The following case shows how you can become infected while traveling:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/10/24/a-case-of-borrelia-miyamotoi/

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/11/18/what-you-need-to-know-about-borrelia-miyamotoi/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/06/17/borrelia-miyamotoi-infection-in-a-highly-endemic-area-of-lyme-disease/

Category:

Borrelia Miyamotoi (Relapsing Fever Group), Lyme, research, Testing