Archive for the ‘research’ Category

Tick-borne Diseases Causing Autonomic Dysfunction

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28730326/?i=5&from=lyme%20hiv

Infectious diseases causing autonomic dysfunction.

Review article

Carod-Artal FJ. Clin Auton Res. 2018.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To review infectious diseases that may cause autonomic dysfunction.

METHODS: Review of published papers indexed in medline/embase.

RESULTS: Autonomic dysfunction has been reported in retrovirus (human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human T-lymphotropic virus), herpes viruses, flavivirus, enterovirus 71 and lyssavirus infections. Autonomic dysfunction is relatively common in HIV-infected patients and heart rate variability is reduced even in early stages of infection. Orthostatic hypotension, urinary dysfunction and hypohidrosis have been described in tropical spastic paraparesis patients. Varicella zoster reactivation from autonomic ganglia may be involved in visceral disease and chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. Autonomic and peripheral nervous system dysfunction may happen in acute tick-borne encephalitis virus infections. Hydrophobia, hypersalivation, dyspnea, photophobia, and piloerection are frequently observed in human rabies. Autonomic dysfunction and vagal denervation is common in Chagas disease. Neuronal depopulation occurs mainly in chagasic heart disease and myenteric plexus, and megacolon, megaesophagus and cardiomyopathy are common complications in the chronic stage of Chagas disease. Parasympathetic autonomic dysfunction precedes left ventricle systolic dysfunction in Chagas disease. A high prevalence of subclinical autonomic neuropathy in leprosy patients has been reported, and autonomic nerve dysfunction may be an early manifestation of the disease. Autonomic dysfunction features in leprosy include anhidrosis, impaired sweating function, localised alopecia ,and reduced heart rate variability. Urinary retention and intestinal pseudo-obstruction have been described in Lyme disease. Diphtheritic polyneuropathy, tetanus and botulism are examples of bacterial infections releasing toxins that affect the autonomic nervous system.

CONCLUSIONS: Autonomic dysfunction may be responsible for additional morbidity in some infectious diseases.

__________________

**Comment**

Autonomic nervous system dysfunction or dysautonomia is when the autonomic nervous system does not work properly and may affect the the heart, bladder, intestines, sweat glands, pupils, and blood vessels. https://www.healthline.com/health/autonomic-dysfunction#types (Go here for a full explanation)

Some symptoms include:

dizziness and fainting upon standing up, or orthostatic hypotension (POTS)
an inability to alter heart rate with exercise, or exercise intolerance
sweating abnormalities, which could alternate between sweating too much and not sweating enough
digestive difficulties, such as a loss of appetite, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or difficulty swallowing
urinary problems, such as difficulty starting urination, incontinence, and incomplete emptying of the bladder
sexual problems in men, such as difficulty with ejaculation or maintaining an erection
sexual problems in women, such as vaginal dryness or difficulty having an orgasm
vision problems, such as blurry vision or an inability of the pupils to react to light quickly

Peripheral nervous system dysfunction is when the nerves outside of the brain and spine do not react properly to signals from the brain which can cause the following symptoms: https://medlineplus.gov/peripheralnervedisorders.html#cat_95

Numbness
Pain
Burning or tingling
Muscle weakness (things slip through your hands)
Sensitivity to touch
loss of balance and coordination (not knowing where your feet are)
muscle cramping/twitching
difficulty walking or moving the arms
Unusual sweating
Abnormalities in blood pressure or pulse

Urinary retention is the inability to empty the bladder completely.

Intestinal pseudo-obstruction is a clinical syndrome caused by severe impairment in the ability of the intestines to push food through. Some call it “palsy of the gut.” Great article here: http://www.lymenet.de/literatur/vtsherr_gut.htm

Please see this case report of a poor woman suffering with both urinary and intestinal symptoms with Lyme: http://www.jnmjournal.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.5056/jnm14118 The patient’s gastrointestinal function recovered and the pain subsided significantly following treatment with antibiotics.

As I look at these symptoms, they are a literal rap sheet for tick borne illness. The symptoms are widely variable and involve nearly every organ of the body. While you may hear about the digestive, vision, urinary, and burning pain and numbness symptoms, you will only hear about the sexual dysfunction in close circles, but it is real and it can be devastating if you don’t understand it. Word needs to get out.

Most doctors are clueless so print this out so you can talk about it with them.

Category:

Lyme, research, Ticks, Viruses

First Identification in China of Guertu Virus From Ticks

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/29802259/

A novel tick-borne phlebovirus, closely related to severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus and Heartland virus, is a potential pathogen.

Shen S, et al. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2018.

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Abstract

Tick-borne viral diseases have attracted much attention in recent years because of their increasing incidence and threat to human health. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome phlebovirus (SFTSV) and Heartland virus (HRTV) were recently identified as tick-borne phleboviruses (TBPVs) in Asia and the United States, respectively, and are associated with severe human diseases with similar clinical manifestations. In this study, we report the first identification and isolation of a novel TBPV named Guertu virus (GTV) from Dermacentor nuttalli ticks in Xinjiang Province, China, where TBPVs had not been previously discovered. Genome sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed that GTV is closely related to SFTSV and HRTV and was classified as a member of the genus Phlebovirus, family Phenuiviridae, order Bunyavirales. In vitro and in vivo investigations of the properties of GTV demonstrated that it was able to infect animal and human cell lines and can suppress type I interferon signaling, similar to SFTSV, that GTV nucleoprotein (NP) can rescue SFTSV replication by replacing SFTSV NP, and that GTV infection can cause pathological lesions in mice. Moreover, a serological survey identified antibodies against GTV from serum samples of individuals living in Guertu County, three of which contained neutralizing antibodies, suggesting that GTV can infect humans. Our findings suggested that this virus is a potential pathogen that poses a threat to animals and humans. Further studies and surveillance of GTV are recommended to be carried out in Xinjiang Province as well as in other locations.

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**Comment**

More and more research showing viruses in ticks is coming out. I pray authorities are taking note. While the viruses may or may not cause direct symptoms, they certainly must be considered in patient cases as the overall immune system will be impacted and have the potential to make cases more severe. We desperately need research in this area.

Many practitioners find patients improve when anti-viral medications are used and the immune system is strengthened.

**For more on Thrombocytopenia Syndrome** https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/20/11/14-0888_article

(SFTS) is a newly emerging infectious disease. Symptoms and laboratory abnormalities are fever, thrombocytopenia (low platelet count), leukocytopenia (low white blood cell count), and elevated liver serum enzyme levels. Multiorgan failure occurs in severe cases, and 6%–30% of case-patients die. The syndrome is caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV) (genus Phlebovirus, family Bunyaviridae). SFTS case-patients were first reported in China (1) and more recently were reported in Japan (2) and South Korea (3). Two case-patients with symptoms consistent with a similar virus, Heartland virus, were reported in the United States (4).

Ixodid tick species are implicated as vectors of SFTSV (1,5,6). One study described a SFTSV prevalence in Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks, a major vector of SFTSV, of 0.46% minimum infection rate in South Korea (7); in another study, SFTSV was detected in ticks that had bitten humans (6). From these studies, we realized that SFTSV was common throughout the country. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of SFTS in South Korea and isolate the SFTSV to analyze its phylogenetic properties.
The major signs and symptoms of the 35 case-patients, including fever (100%), gastrointestinal symptoms (74%), fatigue (74%), thrombocytopenia (100%), and leukocytopenia (100%), were similar to those of case-patients in China and Japan (9).

It is mentioned that the “Asian” SFTSV and the “U.S.” HRTV have similar clinical manifestations.

Please know that ticks do not regard borders and are being transited everywhere by migrating birds and other mammals and even reptiles.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/06/08/hemorrhagic-fever-virus-found-on-ticks-on-migratory-birds/ An example of Hemorrhagic fever virus on ticks on migratory birds.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/19/monster-ticks-found-in-germany-threaten-europe-with-deadly-disease-crimean-congo-fever/ This recent article shows a tick with a disease that shouldn’t be in Germany but is. They also found one tick to have a tropical form of tick typhus.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/08/11/death-from-tick-borne-virus-sfts/ 1st recorded death in Japan from SFTS and the patient didn’t even have a tick bite but rather a cat bite demonstrating the first recorded mammal to mammal transmission.

The aforementioned haemaphysalis longicornis (Asian Longhorned tick or bush tick) tick is in now in at least 7 U.S. states: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/19/rutgers-racing-to-contain-asian-longhorned-tick/. So again, although it’s considered an Asian tick it’s here which means the potential to transmit the diseases considered “Asian” could be here as well.

Category:

research, Testing, Ticks, Transmission, Viruses

Case of Optic Neuritis Secondary to Lyme Disease

http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/_WMS/publications/wmj/pdf/117/2/83.pdf

Pinky Jha, MD, MPH; Sophie G Rodrigues Pereira, BS; Abhishek Thakur, BS; Gurdeep Jhaj, MD; Sanjay Bhandari, MD

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Optic neuritis is a condition associated with various systemic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, and is also considered a rare complication of Lyme disease.

Case:

A 46-year-old white woman presented with sudden onset of bilateral vision loss. After extensive workup, she was diagnosed with Lyme optic neuritis based on the clinical presentation and positive serology. She was treated with doxycycline for 2 weeks.

Discussion:

Lyme disease is caused by infection with the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. The most commonly affected areas include the skin, joints, heart, and nervous system. Lyme optic neuritis is a challenging diagnosis and therefore often underreported. Doxycycline or ceftriaxone for 2 weeks are recommended for treatment.

Conclusion:

We report this case to increase awareness among clinicians to include Lyme disease in the differential diagnosis of optic neuritis for unexplained cases of vision loss, particularly in Lyme endemic areas.

__________________

**Comment**

Here we see another study stating a Lyme symptom (optic neuritis) is rare but at least has the integrity to state it is often underreported and for clinicians to include it when confronted with a case of unexplained vision loss. Please know that when researchers boldly claim something is rare, it automatically has the ability to cause clinicians to not even consider it.

A more honest statement would be: Although optic neuritis is rarely found in the literature, it is often underreported with the true number of cases unknown.

I’m also thankful more researchers are publishing case reports because frankly, it’s the only way the truth is going to get into the literature. If enough case reports pop up it will no longer be considered rare.

Also, the 2 weeks of doxy/ceftriaxone is based on outdated CDC Lyme guidelines that are not considering numerous factors including but not limited to coinfections with other tick borne pathogens as well as the fact many patients have persistent symptoms that need addressing. Until these issues are dealt with, patients are doomed.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey from hell, it’s that tick borne illnesses rarely fit into a nice, neat little box such as this study. This poor woman could very well have numerous symptoms besides optic neuritis but these researchers aren’t going to connect the dots which is why we must educate ourselves, our loved ones, and frankly, anyone who will listen. Familiarize yourself with symptoms of not only Lyme but of the various coinfections.

Regarding optic neuritis and Lyme: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/07/21/growing-list-of-eye-problems-in-lyme-disease/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/07/30/tick-inside-eye/

Bartonella, a coinfection, commonly affects the eyes. Authorities are still squabbling over whether ticks can transmit it but in my experience it is common with Lyme/MSIDS patients so it’s either being directly transmitted or a latent infection is reactivating upon a tick bite:

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/10/23/opthalmic-manifestations-of-bartonella-infection/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/04/06/ocular-bartonellosis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/10/bartonella-henselae-neuroretinitis-in-patients-without-cat-scratch/

Even though there may be a lack of systemic signs and symptoms of CSD in a patient with neuroretinitis, B henselae infection should be considered.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/05/20/bartonella-endocarditis-opportunistic-infection-in-cancer-patients-and-eye-inflammation/ (Scroll down to the third study.

Category:

Lyme, research, Treatment

Why Do Officials Continue to Deny Gestational Lyme?

https://www.lymedisease.org/gestational-lyme-faber/

Why do officials continue to deny the reality of gestational Lyme?

by Sue Burke Faber

Aug. 2018

I’ll never forget a couple of years ago when our whole crazy Lyme journey began. I had been diagnosed here in Canada with positive two-tier tests for a European strain of Lyme and one of our daughters also tested positive by Canadian serology for European Lyme, but without travel history to Europe.

I thought this was a great example of possible maternal-fetal transmission and brought it to the attention of my local public health unit. They weren’t so excited.

My concerns were relayed in writing to a senior health official at Public Health Ontario (who is not a physician or a clinician). He called the local region back and told them to promptly close my daughter’s file and that he did not consider maternal-fetal transmission be a mode of exposure. That was it, case closed.

Sometime later, I was to receive an official letter in the mail from Public Health stating that both my case and my daughter’s case would not be counted in the Canadian statistics as confirmed OR probable cases of Lyme disease. It was a slap in the face and made no sense whatsoever.

That wasn’t all. The letter went on to say that they (Public Health) had done a literature search on congenital transmission of Lyme disease and ‘no scientific evidence to support congenital Lyme disease transmission in the scientific literature was found.’ They also included a list of the articles that they had reviewed.

I looked at the list and felt sick. They had listed articles including the very first case report from 1985 – which clearly described unequivocal evidence of congenital transmission – as well as case reports of deceased babies with overwhelming spirochetosis in their organs and tissues. Their conclusion just didn’t make ANY sense.

I picked up the phone and called my local health unit. I was practically in tears. I asked to come in and speak in person with the region’s chief medical officer. I wanted to show them the full articles and case reports, which clearly described this alternate mode of transmission.

I was denied a face-to face meeting but offered a 30-minute call. I asked the chief medical officer if they had actually reviewed the documents which were listed the letter to me. I was told that wasn’t their job. I was also told to follow up with my family doctor if I had any further concerns and no further action was taken.

This complete ignorance and lack of engagement ignited a fire deep within my spirit for justice – not just for the sake of my own children, but indeed all the families struggling to get recognition and care for their children. I was determined that this placating, paternalistic, rigid denial would not continue to be the narrative – and if things were going to change, I would have to dig deep into the literature to prove the truth for myself.

And I did.

It has taken two years and the support of some incredible people helping me find and access the original peer-reviewed research. Research which clearly documents transplacental transmission, in fact Canadian documentation by Health and Welfare Canada that documents transplacental transmission. An entire chapter in a reference medical textbook devoted to an in-depth analysis of the literature at the time of maternal-fetal transmission and its serious implications and need for further research.

And as I started reading, digging, analyzing and processing the literature, the anger which had indeed ignited my journey transitioned and was replaced by unbridled passion. Passion to ensure that the truth be brought to the surface and that this truth be handed to the right people with integrity and influence, to answer the hard questions and start tackling this issue.

Rigid denial is no longer an option. Ignorance cannot stand up to truth. Evidence demands a verdict and, that verdict is not that maternal-fetal transmission is plausible or possible, but rather, it has been described and proven and agreed upon by scientists, researchers and physicians alike.

It is clear that further research and urgent investigation of transplacental transmission of Lyme disease is needed and requires an all-hands-on-deck, streamlined, multi-disciplinary approach. We need a patient-first, evidence-based integrative model of bringing together patients with lived experience, front-line clinicians, researchers and scientists – to examine the issues and dig broader and deeper together.

This must be a process which is firmly anchored in transparency, integrity and scientific rigor, with patients as trusted partners.

Frontline healthcare professionals and mothers themselves need to be aware of the risk of maternal-fetal transmission. Families who come forward and identify that they are concerned that Lyme could have been passed on to their children need to be taken seriously.

Urgent action is needed.

At LymeHope, we have respectfully asked to be partners with the Public Health Agency of Canada as its mandate is “to promote and protect Canadians’ health by preventing and controlling chronic and infectious diseases and injuries as well as preparing for and responding to public health emergencies.”

Lyme disease is an infectious disease which is not only zoonotic (tick transmission) but has been proven and even documented by Canadian Federal Health authorities to be transferred from human-to-human, mother to child. There are also valid concerns that this disease could be transmitted sexually and through the blood supply.

This disease is affecting the lives and futures of Canadians, and we believe that PHAC has a duty and responsibility to all Canadians to act. We must not defer or wait for others to take a lead. They weren’t the ones to identify and amplify these issues in the first place – we at LymeHope were – when we first spoke at the Parliamentary Standing Health Committee in June 2017.

My testimony here: https://youtu.be/-gByuqmZBNk

I trust that this alternate mode of transmission will be recognized for what it is – in Canada, and an apology made to all those who have suffered as a result of this rigid denial of truth.

Babies have died, parents have grieved, childhoods have been lost, hearts have been broken, Lyme sufferers have ended their lives by suicide. The suffering, neglect and pain only continues to mount.

This is why I hold onto hope and I won’t stop. This is why I engage in a way which is respectful, asking for change makers, experts, policy makers and influencers to come together and examine the truth which exists and to take action. We need healing, restoration and reconciliation.

So for all the parents out there who have been told “there is no evidence” of maternal-child transmission, we have now done the work for you. Click on this link to access the document which has direct quotes from the medical and scientific literature on Lyme and Pregnancy/Congenital transmission.

https://www.lymehope.ca/advocacy-updates/march-03rd-2018

You can confidently share the evidence that does exist and ask again for help. Call your MP and MPP, speak to your respective professional associations and work within your sphere of influence.

Never give up. And remember, change will happen as we move forward together. One day at a time, one step at a time, one prayer at a time.

Sharing hugs to all the mamas today – who never give up hope for their littles.

Sue Burke Faber is co-founder of LymeHope, an advocacy organization in Canada.

________________

**Comment**

The head in the sand denialism is killing people. We need to how ALL the tick borne illnesses are transmitted. Somehow they can quickly determine Zika is transmitted STD, but they can’t seem to figure out if Lyme is despite it being found in vaginal secretions and semen: https://f1000research.com/articles/3-309/v3. Why isn’t work being done on this? Wait! I know the answer. They are doing climate studies….

There’s been a denialism regarding other insects being able to transmit as well even though German researchers have found borrelia in mosquitoes: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/07/23/german-study-finds-borrelia-in-mosquitos/ DNA of Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia bavariensis and Borrelia garinii could be detected in ten Culicidae species (mosquitoes) comprising four distinct genera (Aedes, Culiseta, Culex, and Ochlerotatus). Positive samples also include adult specimens raised in the laboratory from wild-caught larvae indicating that transstadial and/or transovarial transmission might occur within a given mosquito population.

Entomologists often point to a 30 year old ancient study by Magnarelli et al when denying other insects: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=3170711 Prevalence of infection for hematophagous insects (blood sucking) ranged from 2.9% of 105 Hybomitra lasiophthalma (horse fly) to 14.3% of seven Hybomitra epistles (horse fly) …Groups of 113 field-collected mosquitoes of Aedes canadensis and 43 Aedes stimulans were placed in cages with uninfected Syrian hamsters. Of these, 11 females of both species contained B. burgdorferi and had fed fully or partially from the hamsters. No spirochetes were isolated from the hamsters, but antibodies were produced in one test animal.

Again, why are we relying on a study covered with an inch of dust? I know the answer to that too. Climate studies…..

For more info on congenital Lyme: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/06/19/33-years-of-documentation-of-maternal-child-transmission-of-lyme-disease-and-congenital-lyme-borreliosis-a-review/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/24/congenital-transmission-of-lyme-myth-or-reality/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/02/24/pcos-lyme-my-story/ All my initial symptoms were gynecological.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/10/15/pregnancy-in-lyme-dr-ann-corson/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/26/transplacental-transmission-fetal-damage-with-lyme-disease/

Category:

Activism, Lyme, research, Transmission

Validation of Babesia Proteasome as a Drug Target

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211320717301574?via%3Dihub

Validation of Babesia proteasome as a drug target

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpddr.2018.08.001 Get rights and content

Open Access funded by National Institutes of Health

Under a Creative Commons license

Abstract

Babesiosis is a tick-transmitted zoonosis caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia. Treatment of this emerging malaria-related disease has relied on antimalarial drugs and antibiotics. The proteasome of Plasmodium, the causative agent of malaria, has recently been validated as a target for anti-malarial drug development and therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of epoxyketone (carfilzomib, ONX-0914 and epoxomicin) and boronic acid (bortezomib and ixazomib) proteasome inhibitors on the growth and survival of Babesia. Testing the compounds against Babesia divergens ex vivo revealed suppressive effects on parasite growth with activity that was higher than the cytotoxic effects on a non-transformed mouse macrophage cell line. Furthermore, we showed that the most-effective compound, carfilzomib, significantly reduces parasite multiplication in a Babesia microti infected mouse model without noticeable adverse effects. In addition, treatment with carfilzomib lead to an ex vivo and in vivo decrease in proteasome activity and accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins compared to untreated control. Overall, our results demonstrate that the Babesia proteasome is a valid target for drug development and warrants the design of potent and selective B. divergens proteasome inhibitors for the treatment of babesiosis.