Archive for the ‘research’ Category

Active Surveillance of Pathogens From Ticks Collected in New York Suburban Parks and Schoolyards

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32697888/

Abstract

Schoolyards and suburban parks are two environments where active tick surveillance may inform local management approaches. Even in a state such as New York with a robust active tick surveillance programme operated by the state Department of Health, these settings are not routinely covered. The goal of this study was to highlight the importance of active surveillance for tick-borne pathogens by describing their prevalence in ticks collected from schoolyards and suburban parks and to guide the use of integrated pest management in these settings. Tick dragging was performed in three regions of New York State: Long Island, the Lower Hudson Valley and the Capital Region. A total of 19 schoolyards and 32 parks were sampled. The location, habitat and weather at the time of tick collection were recorded. Ticks were speciated and tested for the presence of 17 pathogens with a novel application of nanoscale real-time PCR.

  • The causative agents of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus disease were all detected from Ixodes scapularis in various sites throughout the capital region and south-eastern counties of New York state.

 

  • The most common agent detected was Borrelia burgdorferi

 

  • coinfection rates were as high as 36%

 

  • This surveillance study also captured the first of the invasive Asian longhorned tick species,Haemaphysalis longicornis, in New York state (collected 2 June 2017).

Results from this study highlight the importance of collaborative efforts and data sharing for improvement of surveillance for tick-borne disease agents.

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**Comment**

This study doesn’t surprise me one bit.  New York is a hot-zone and it only follows that parks and schoolyards would be prime tick locations.  Here in Wisconsin, they’ve found ticks even in shortly cut grassy playing fields that school children use. They aren’t just in the shrubby and wooded areas commonly thought of.

It is imperative we get the word out.  By taking simple precautions you can make your children tough targets:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/12/tick-prevention-2019/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/20/ticks-lyme-disease-information-for-families/

You can purchase pre-treated socks from Wisconsin Lyme Network AND help by having part of the proceeds go toward Wisconsin doctor education for tick-borne illness:  https://wisconsinlymenetwork.z2systems.com/np/clients/wisconsinlymenetwork/giftstore.jsp  These socks make great stocking stuffers for Christmas.

Lastly, this study shows the importance of coinfection as 36% of ticks were infected with more than one pathogen.  ‘Authorities’ have not dealt with this crucial issue that’s affecting many patients and the need for them to rethink and revise their ‘guidelines’ that they’ve left virtually untouched for over 40 years. Treatment is far more complex than they are admitting to:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/category/lyme-disease-treatment/

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

research, Testing, Ticks

Researcher: ‘No Viable SARS-CoV-2 Detected On Surfaces’ in Real Life Situations

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/laninf/PIIS1473-3099(20)30561-2.pdf

Exaggerated risk of transmission of COVID-19 by fomites

Published Online July 3, 2020 https://doi.org/10.1016/ S1473-3099(20)30561-2

Emanuel Goldman

egoldman@njms.rutgers.edu

Professor of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, New Jersey Medical School – Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA

In my opinion, the chance of transmission through inanimate surfaces is very small, and only in instances where an infected person coughs or sneezes on the surface, and someone else touches that surface soon after the cough or sneeze (within 1–2 h). I do not disagree with erring on the side of caution, but this can go to extremes not justified by the data. Although periodically disinfecting surfaces and use of gloves

are reasonable precautions especially in hospitals, I believe that fomites that have not been in contact with an infected carrier for many hours do not pose a measurable risk of transmission in non-hospital settings.

A more balanced perspective is needed to curb excesses that become counterproductive.

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**Comment**

Earlier studies did not use real life situations.

In this video, Dr. Popper discusses a study that showed passive contact with bleach (what they are wiping shopping carts and everything else down with) was associated with a major increase in self-reported influenza.  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/30/breaking-down-covid-19-face-masks-do-not-work/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

research, Transmission, Viruses

Brain Death Secondary to RMSF Encephalitis

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32426169/

Brain Death Secondary to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Encephalitis

Steven D Rhodes 1, Alicia M Teagarden 2, Brian Graner 3, Riad Lutfi 2, Chandy C John 4
Affiliations expand

Free PMC article

Abstract

A two-year-old female presented with acutely altered mental status following eight days of fever and rash. She had been camping at an Indiana campground 11 days prior to the onset of illness and was evaluated twice for her fever and rash prior to admission. Laboratory evaluation on admission revealed thrombocytopenia, hyponatremia, and elevated transaminases. The patient developed diffuse cerebral edema, and despite intensive care, the edema led to brain death from Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).

We present this case to highlight the importance of considering RMSF and other tick-borne illnesses in a child with prolonged fever and rash in a nonendemic area and also the difficulty of diagnosis in early stages of disease. A detailed travel history, evaluation of key laboratory findings (white blood count, platelet count, and transaminases), and close follow-up if rash and fevers persist may help to improve detection of RMSF.

If a tick-borne illness such as RMSF is suspected, empiric doxycycline therapy should be started immediately, as lab confirmation may take several days and mortality increases greatly after five days of symptoms.

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**Comment**

This should serve as a stern wake-up call to health professionals on how quickly tick-borne illness cases can go South – in this case, death.

Why they didn’t treat this toddler is beyond me – she had the rash and fever.  

Another important point is Indiana is NOT an endemic area for RMSF, yet she got it – proving AGAIN that doctors need to seriously throw the maps away.  Those maps have been the bane of our existence.  Time and time again they are finding ticks where they shouldn’t be, carrying things they shouldn’t have.

WAKE UP DOCTORS!

How many more have to die?

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/06/30/rocky-mountain-spotted-fever-can-be-deadly-how-to-prevent-diagnose-treat-it/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/16/new-tick-causes-epidemic-of-rmsf/  RMSF, normally transmitted by the American dog tick and the closely related Rocky Mountain wood tick, has also been spread by the brown dog tick — a completely different species.  
And here, we discover it’s been found in the Asian Longhorned tick and is capable of being transmitted within ticks through ova.  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/05/05/asian-longhorned-tick-able-to-transmit-rmsf-in-lab-setting-also-transmitted-within-ticks-through-ova/

Category:

research, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Cipro Derivatives Show Promise Against Babesia In Vitro

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32677000/

. 2020 Jul 16.

doi: 10.1007/s00436-020-06796-z. Online ahead of print.

Inhibitory effects of novel ciprofloxacin derivatives on the growth of four Babesia species and Theileria equi

Gaber El-Saber Batiha 1 2, Dickson Stuart Tayebwa 1 3, Amany Magdy Beshbishy 1, David D N’Da 4, Naoaki Yokoyama 1, Ikuo Igarashi 5
Affiliations expand

Abstract

The problems of parasite resistance, as well as the toxic residues to most of the commercially available antipiroplasmic drugs severely weaken their effective, curative, and environmental safe employment. Therefore, it is clear that the development of treatment options for piroplasmosis is vital for improving disease treatment and control. Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that targets mainly the DNA replication machinery by inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase enzymes. As a result, ciprofloxacin is used for treating several bacterial and parasitic infections.

In this study, the efficacy of 15 novel ciprofloxacin derivatives (NCD) that had been developed against drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis was evaluated against piroplasm parasite multiplication in vitro. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of the most effective five compounds of NCD (No. 3, 5, 10, 14, 15) on Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Babesia caballi, and Theileria equi were 32.9, 13.7, 14.9, and 30.9; 14.9, 25.8, 13.6, and 27.5; 34.9, 33.9, 21.1, and 22.3; 26.7, 28.3, 34.5, and 29.1; and 4.7, 26.6, 33.9, and 29.1 μM, respectively. Possible detrimental effects of tested NCD on host cells were assessed using mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH/3T3) and Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cell lines. Tested NCD did not suppress NIH/3T3 and MDBK cell viability, even at the highest concentration used (500 μM).

Combination treatments of the identified most effective compounds of NCD/diminazene aceturate (DA), /atovaquone (AQ), and /clofazimine (CF) showed mainly synergistic and additive effects. The IC50 values of NCD showed that they are promising future candidates against piroplasmosis. Further in vivo trials are required to evaluate the therapeutic potential of NCD.

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For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/category/babesia-treatment/

Category:

Babesia, research, Treatment

Bartonella Causing Encephalitis

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32675979/

. 2020 Apr 24;33(3):440-441.

doi: 10.1080/08998280.2020.1756141. eCollection 2020 Jul.

Cat scratch disease causing encephalitis

Jerry Fan 1, Hameed Ali 1

Free PMC article

Abstract

Cat scratch disease is often a benign infection caused by Bartonella henselae, which is transmitted from scratches or bites from kittens. Presentations can vary from localized lymphadenopathy to neurologic manifestations. We present a case of a 22-year-old man with a 3-week history of an enlarged inguinal lymph node who presented with status epilepticus.

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**Comment**

Unfortunately, many still consider Bartonella “benign” when for many it is extremely severe and tenacious.  I would consider it as bad if not worse than Lyme in many respects.  Many also do not have lymph node involvement. Some patient’s only manifestation is psychological.

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/category/bartonella-treatment/  There is a checklist within this link of symptoms.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/05/05/good-news-for-bartonella-patients-identification-of-fda-approved-drugs-with-higher-activity-than-current-front-line-drugs/  My husband and I use Berberine for Bartonella maintenance successfully.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/24/human-bartonellosis-an-underappreciated-public-health-problem/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/16/5-questions-to-discuss-with-your-physician-when-bartonellosis-is-suspected/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/02/27/advanced-imaging-found-bartonella-around-pic-line/

 

Category:

Bartonella, research