5 Blood Tests You Need Every Year
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There’s many great articles on the Holtdorf site. Check them out. |
Archive for the ‘Testing’ Category
Active Surveillance of Pathogens From Ticks Collected in New York Suburban Parks and Schoolyards
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32697888/
Active surveillance of pathogens from ticks collected in New York State suburban parks and schoolyards
- PMID: 32697888
- DOI: 10.1111/zph.12749
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/
Babesia and Tick-borne Encephalitis Diagnosed in England
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/rare-tick-borne-infections-diagnosed-in-england
Rare tick-borne infections diagnosed in England
PHE calls for people to be tick aware as the first case of a babesiosis is diagnosed in England.
Public Health England (PHE) can confirm the diagnosis of a case of babesiosis and a probable case of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in England. This is the first record of a UK-acquired case of babesiosis and the second case of TBE being acquired in the UK.
Babesiosis is caused by a parasite which infects red blood cells whilst TBE is a viral infection that affects the central nervous system. Both are rare infections spread by the bite from an infected tick.
Both patients have been transferred to hospital, where they are receiving appropriate treatment and supportive care.
PHE regularly undertakes work to understand the potential risks of tick-borne infections in England. This year, PHE has surveyed sites in Devon close to where the person with babesiosis lives, collecting and testing hundreds of ticks – all tested negative for the parasite which causes babesiosis.
PHE has tested deer blood samples from Hampshire in areas near to where the person with probable TBE lives and they have shown evidence of likely TBE virus infection, which matches similar results found in 2019.
The risk of babesiosis or TBE for the general public is very low. However, a number of infections can develop following a tick bite, including Lyme disease, and there are things we can all do to reduce our risk of being bitten by ticks while enjoying the outdoors this summer.
It is important to ‘be tick aware’ and take precautions to reduce your risk of being bitten by ticks when enjoying green spaces this summer including:
- keeping to footpaths and avoiding long grass when out walking
- wearing appropriate clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt, and trousers tucked into your socks makes it less likely that a tick will bite and attach
- considering the use of repellents containing DEET
- making it a habit to carry out a tick check regularly when you’re outdoors and when you get home
- if you have been bitten by a tick, it should be removed as soon as possible using fine tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool which is sold by many outdoor stores, vets and pharmacies. Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upwards slowly and firmly. Once removed, wash your skin with water and soap, and apply an antiseptic cream to the skin around the bite
- contact your GP promptly if you begin to feel unwell, remembering to tell them you were bitten by a tick or recently spent time outdoors
Dr Katherine Russell, Consultant in the Emerging Infections and Zoonoses team at PHE, said:
It is important to emphasise that cases of babesiosis and TBE in England are rare and the risk of being infected remains very low. Lyme disease remains the most common tick-borne infection in England.
Ticks are most active between spring and autumn, so it is sensible to take some precautions to avoid being bitten when enjoying the outdoors. Seek medical advice if you start to feel unwell after a tick bite.
Background
About babesiosis
Most people with babesiosis will have either no symptoms or mild symptoms of infection; people with weakened immune systems can become very ill and present with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle ache, fatigue, and jaundice.
About TBE
Around 2 thirds of people with TBE infections will have no symptoms. For those who develop symptoms, there are often 2 phases. The first is associated with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache and fatigue. This can then progress to a more serious second phase that involves central nervous system, which can lead to meningitis, encephalitis and paralysis.
If you develop flu-like symptoms after being bitten by a tick, visit your GP.
Go to hospital if you:
- get a stiff neck and a severe headache
- get pain when looking at bright lights
- have a seizure (fit)
- have a change in behaviour – such as sudden confusion
- develop weakness or loss of movement in part of the body
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**Comment**
Authorities really need to stop saying infection is rare. Many doctors don’t know what to look for and many cases go undiagnosed, and therefore unreported. They should just state that it’s been found and refrain from telling people anything about numbers when frankly no one has been keeping track.
And it should be a real heads-up that they do need to start looking for it and recording it when it’s found.
Secondly, Babesia, according to Dr. Horowitz is one of the most tenacious coinfections he deals with and necessitates 9 months to a year of solid treatment. To say that people with Babesia mostly have no symptoms or mild symptoms is asinine because people bitten by a tick and typically getting Lyme in the process CAUSES a weakened immune system.
We know that those infected with multiple things have more severe illness for a longer duration of time. Authorities need to quit soft peddling their comments.
For more: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/category/babesia-treatment/
History of Lyme Disease As a Predictor of Atrial Fibrillation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32279835/
doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2020.03.003.Epub 2020 Mar 13.
History of Lyme Disease as a Predictor of Atrial Fibrillation
Abstract
In many cases, atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a history of cardiac inflammation. One of the potential pathogens responsible for atrial inflammation might be Borrelia burgdorferi – a pathogen involved in Lyme carditis. This study aimed to assess whether the serological history of Borrelia infection was associated with the risk of AF. The study included 113 AF patients and 109 patients in sinus rhythm. All patients underwent a clinical evaluation, echocardiography and had their blood taken for the assessment of anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies. Patients with AF compared with the non-AF group had more often serological signs of Borrelia infection (34.5% vs 6.4%; p <0.0001). The multivariate analysis showed that positive results for anti-Borrelia IgG antibodies were a strong independent predictor of AF (odds ratio 8.21; 95% confidence interval 3.08 to 21.88; p < 0.0001).
In conclusion, presented data show that exposure to Borrelia spp. infection is associated with an increased risk of AF. Whether the early treatment of Lyme disease lowers the risk of AF development remains to be explored.
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**Comment**
Imagine what the real numbers look like…..
They used blood tests as the foundation of the study and we know these tests miss anywhere from 70-86% of cases.
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/12/16/laboratory-testing-for-lyme-disease/
https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/12/lyme-testing-problems-solutions/
Asymptomatic Measles Common in Adults and Children, but Not Related to Illness
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12237431/
doi: 10.1099/0022-1317-83-10-2485.
Detection of measles virus genome in bone-marrow aspirates from adults
- PMID: 12237431
- DOI: 10.1099/0022-1317-83-10-2485
Erratum in
- J Gen Virol 2002 Dec;83(Pt 12):3205
Abstract
We investigated the presence of the measles virus genome in order to identify asymptomatic infections in the adult population. Bone-marrow aspirates were obtained from 179 patients, 20-96 years of age, for the diagnosis of malignant diseases (29 with malignant lymphoma, 28 with acute leukaemia, 21 with myelodysplastic syndrome, five with multiple myeloma and 96 with other diseases). The measles virus genome was detected in 17 (9.5%) of 179 individuals by RT-PCR and 28 (15.6%) through hybridization. The genomes detected in bone marrow were all in the same cluster, D5, the strain circulating during the study period, and no evidence of persistent infection was obtained. We conclude that asymptomatic infections of measles virus are common in adults and the presence of the measles virus genome would not be related to the pathogenesis of illness.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11536248/
doi: 10.1002/jmv.2045.
Detection of measles virus genome in lymphocytes from asymptomatic healthy children
- PMID: 11536248
- DOI: 10.1002/jmv.2045
Abstract
A total of 342 samples of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from 145 healthy individuals, which we examined for the presence of measles virus genome RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), to identify whether asymptomatic infection of measles virus has occurred in healthy children. Measles virus genome was detected in 11 (23.4%) of 47 nonimmunized individuals; all positives for RT-PCR were infants who experienced measles exposure. No genome was detected in those without measles exposure. In 83 individuals immunized with measles vaccine, the vaccine strain genome was detected in 10 (71.4%) of 14 recipients whose PBMC were obtained within 2 months of vaccination. Measles wild-type genome was detected in 36 (46.2%) of 78 individuals, 40 (25.2%) of 159 samples, who had been immunized more than 2 months before. The wild-type measles genome was also detected in 6 (46.2%) of 13 individuals who had been infected with measles in the distant past. The measles PCR-positive rate was not related to the period since immunization or natural infection. Sequence analysis of PCR products demonstrated they were all in the same cluster of D5 lineage, which was the circulating strain during the study period. We obtained 13 samples of nasopharyngeal secretion (NPS) simultaneously from individuals whose PBMC were positive for measles PCR but did not detect virus genome. Measles genome was, however, detected from NPS in cases of acute infection. We conclude that asymptomatic measles infection is common but would rarely become a source of transmission because of negative PCR in NPS.
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**Comment**
Hopefully you can see where I’m going with this. Just because you have the presence of a virus in your body does NOT mean you will become ill. COVID-19 is no different – and they have only identified “virus-like” particles, not the actual purified virus.
Madison Area Lyme Support Group 