Archive for the ‘Ticks’ Category

How to Spot the Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs

https://www.thesprucepets.com/lyme-disease-in-dogs-3384701

How to Spot the Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs

By Lianne McLeod, DVM

Updated 04/23/18

Lyme disease is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi and is spread by ticks. Ticks become infected with the bacteria by feeding on infected mice and other small animals. When an infected tick bites other animals, it can transmit the bacteria to these animals. Lyme disease is transmitted by the deer tick (black-legged tick) and a small group of other closely related ticks. The deer tick is small and may bite animals and people without being detected. Lyme disease affects a variety of species, including dogs, cats, and people. Up to 95 percent of dogs infected with B. burgdorferi do not develop symptoms (people are much more likely to become ill with Lyme disease).

There is no evidence that Lyme disease is spread by direct contact with infected animals. However, keep in mind that ticks can hitch a ride home on your pets and move on to the humans in the household. **Please see my comment at end of article**

Risk Factors

Dogs that spend a lot of time outdoors, especially in the woods, bush, or areas of tall grass are most commonly infected with Lyme disease. However, ticks can be carried into yards on other animals, and dogs can become infected anywhere ticks are found.

Infections occur during tick season (usually spring through early fall), but the time between infection and the appearance of Lyme disease symptoms can be up to 2-5 months. **Please see comment**

Lyme disease is seen across the US and in many other parts of the world. In the US. Lyme disease is most common in the northeastern US, along with the Pacific coast, and in the midwest.

Signs of Lyme Disease

When clinical signs do develop, they may be transient or recurrent, and can include:

  • Fever.
  • Decreased appetite.
  • Swollen, painful joints (dogs may be reluctant to move).
  • Lameness — limping which may be mild at first, then worsen, and may also shift from one leg to another.
  • Lethargy.
  • Swollen lymph nodes.

Some dogs with Lyme disease may develop kidney disease.

Signs of kidney disease may include depression, vomiting, loss of appetite, and increased thirst and urination (sometimes a lack of urination will develop). Dogs who develop kidney disease can become very ill and may not respond to treatment.

Neurological disease (behavioral changes, seizures) and heart complications, which are sometimes seen in humans, are rare in dogs.

Diagnosis of Lyme Disease

The diagnosis of Lyme disease must be based on a combination of factors, including history (tick exposure), clinical signs, finding antibodies to B. burgdorferi bacteria, and a quick response to treatment with antibiotics.

A positive antibody test is not enough to make a diagnosis on its own, because not all dogs that are exposed to B. burgdorferi get sick, and antibodies can persist in the blood for a long time after exposure.

Other diagnostic testing, such as blood and urine tests, x-rays, and sampling of joint fluid, may be done to check for signs of kidney disease and to rule out other conditions with similar signs and symptoms.

Treating Lyme Disease

Treatment with antibiotics usually produces rapid improvement in symptoms (antibiotics will be continued for a few weeks). Treatment may not be completely clear the bacteria, but produces a state where no symptoms are present (similar to the condition in dogs that don’t have symptoms from infection).

Kidney disease may develop some time after the initial infection, so is it a good idea to regularly check for excess protein in the urine of dogs that have had Lyme disease. Catching the kidney disease early in its course offers the best prognosis. If kidney disease is present, a longer course of antibiotics along with additional medications to treat the kidney disease is usually necessary.

Preventing Lyme Disease
  • Tick Control is extremely important for the prevention of Lyme disease (and many other diseases that can be transmitted by ticks). Check your dog daily for ticks and remove them as soon as possible, since ticks must feed for at least 12 hours (possibly 24-48 hours) before transmitting the bacteria causing Lyme disease. This is especially important in peak tick season and after your dog spends time in the bush or tall grass (consider avoiding these areas in tick season).  Products that prevent ticks such as monthly parasite preventatives (e.g., Frontline®, Revolution®) or tick collars (e.g., Preventic®) can be used; be sure to follow your veterinarian‘s advice when using these products. Keep grass and brush trimmed in your yard, and in areas where ticks are a serious problem, you can also consider treating your yard for ticks.  **Again, please see my comment at end of article**
  • Vaccines for Lyme Disease: Vaccination against Lyme disease is a controversial topic and is something that should be discussed in depth with your veterinarian. Many specialists do not recommend routine vaccination because so few dogs develop symptoms of Lyme disease, and when Lyme disease does occur in dogs, it is usually readily treated. Additionally, because arthritis and kidney problems associated with Lyme disease are at least partly related to the immune response to the bacteria (rather than the bacteria itself), there is concern that vaccination may contribute to problems. Vaccination is also not 100 percent effective, and it’s only helpful in dogs that have not already been exposed to B. burgdorferi. However, vaccination before exposure can help prevent dogs from getting Lyme disease and also prevent them from becoming a carrier of the bacteria. Where vaccines are used, it is usually recommended to start vaccinating dogs as young puppies (e.g., at around 12 weeks, with a booster 2-4 weeks later). The vaccine does not provide long-lasting immunity, so annual re-vaccination (ideally before tick season) is necessary. The recombinant form of the vaccine is considered to have less potential for side effects than the bacteria form of the vaccine.
Please note: this article has been provided for informational purposes only. If your pet is showing any signs of illness, please consult a veterinarian as quickly as possible.
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**Comment**
While there are many useful take-aways from this article, a number of myths continue to be propagated.  
  1. There is evidence that there is transmission by direct contact with animals.  http://www.lymerick.net/Transmission-Bb-contact.htm  (Here we see evidence of Bb in feces, urine, tick excretes, cow milk, food, in utero, transplacental, sexual, semen, and mucus membranes.)
  2. My vet treated my dog for longer than a couple of weeks.  I think that wise knowing the organism reproduces slowly.  They also have the canine equivalent of probiotics but they are designed for a dog’s micro biome so don’t give him yours.
  3. The fallacy of it taking 24-48 hours to be transmitted, is just that – a fallacy.  Please read more about transmission time here:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/04/14/transmission-time-for-lymemsids-infection/
  4. Transmission can occur at ANY TIME of the YEAR.  I have buddies pulling live ticks off their dogs in Northern Wisconsin in February.

Also, please note the comments about the vaccine.  They always want to state how great it is in animals but I see many comments that suggest extreme caution – similarly to the human Lyme vaccine.  First, it doesn’t provide lasting immunity, it causes obvious side-effects, it’s not 100% effective, and vaccination can make things worse for dog exposed to Bb.  Since this can be transmitted congenitally, it’s pretty hard to know what dogs already have Bb.  It’s Russian Roulette with dogs just as much as with humans.  Buyer beware.

Category:

Lyme, Lyme Vaccine, Testing, Ticks, Transmission, Treatment

Our Battle Ongoing: Lyme Disease in Australia

 Approx 1 hour 30 min.

Our Battle Ongoing: Lyme Disease in Australia | Full Documentary

Directed by Andy Smith
Published on May 25, 2017

Our Battle Ongoing takes a look into the lives of Australians across the nation currently suffering from Lyme disease or a Lyme-like illness. Every individual has their own unique story as symptoms differ from person to person, but they are all united in a common cause of seeing recognition come to those suffering now and for the generations to come. With little to no help currently available, some have to take drastic measures in order to receive treatment. Our Battle Ongoing brings to light the tragedy of living with an invisible illness in Australia.

www.ourbattleongoing.com

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**Comment**

The number of afflicted Australians is growing yearly just as it is worldwide.  To deny this pandemic is truly an “Emperor has no clothes” story.  You’ve got thousands of people with Lyme-like symptoms, most of who improve with appropriate treatment, but denial from the establishment.  For every patient who can high-tail it to Germany for treatment, you have 1,000 who can’t afford to.

Devastating.

While it is bad here in the U.S., it is truly abysmal in Australia.

Recently I posted this:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/20/tick-borne-diseases-causing-autonomic-dysfunction/ and declared it a literal rap sheet for Lyme.  Please compare this article to the patients you see in this documentary.  They are identical.  

While I agree that Australia is a unique area with its own flora and fauna and pathogens, don’t kid yourself – migrating birds have no problem transiting ticks to and from Australia or anywhere else on the planet.  To say otherwise is burying your head in the sand.  Time to wake up and quit blaming the climate and look around at the integrated world in which we live with animals and humans moving in and out of areas with ticks on them on a daily basis.  For more on why the climate is NOT responsible for this pandemic:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/13/study-shows-lyme-not-propelled-by-climate-change/

More on Lyme in Australia:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/11/03/ld-not-in-australia-here-we-go-again/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/09/19/tbis-in-australia/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/08/an-invasive-new-tick-is-spreading-in-the-u-s/  Known in Australia as bush ticks and in New Zealand as cattle ticks, long-horned ticks can multiply rapidly and suck so much blood from a young animal that it dies. The ticks bloat up like fat raisins until their tiny legs are barely able to support them.  After a blood meal, females can lay hundreds of fertile eggs without mating.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/02/12-scary-diseases-you-can-catch-at-the-beach-lyme-is-one-of-them/  Ticks have been found on the beach, in caves, underneath picnic benches, on rocks, have blown from trees into swimming pools, have blown onto my house by a lawn mower and ended up crawling up the interior basement walls.  Can we just say ticks can be virtually everywhere with the need for extreme diligence?

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/03/23/australian-lyme-disease-research-pilot-funded/  The study utilises a proprietary capture methodology that has not previously been employed in the detection of tickborne pathogens in Australia.

While the authorities don’t believe you, we do.  

Category:

Activism, Lyme, research, Testing, Ticks, Treatment

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.

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.

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**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.

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

Monster Ticks Found in Germany Threaten Europe With Deadly Disease – Crimean-Congo Fever

https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1004232/disease-Crimean-Congo-fever-germany-monster-tick

MONSTER ticks found in Germany threaten Europe with DEADLY disease Crimean-Congo fever

A MONSTER tick species has found its way to Germany and threatens to spread DEADLY tropical disease Crimean-Congo fever across the whole of Europe.
By Sean Martin
tick
MONSTER ticks found in Germany threaten Europe with DEADLY disease Crimean-Congo fever (Image: Universitat Hohenheim)

 

Scientists in Germany have discovered a tropical tick which can grow up to an INCH LONG – 10 times bigger than a common tick.

The ticks, known as Hyalomma marginatum have the potential to spread the viral disease Crimean-Congo fever (CCHF).

Symptoms of CCHF include fever, muscle pains, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, and bleeding into the skin. A QUARTER of those contracting Crimean-Congo fever will die.

Researchers have blamed the unusually hot weather over Europe for the cause of the ticks movement northwards as more birds have migrated to Europe following the scorching temperature. (Please see comment at end of article)

The ticks were found in farmyard animals including horses.

Seven of the species were discovered this year – previously there have only been two examples of tropical ticks in Germany, one in 2015 and another in 2017.

Scientists are now concerned that as the warm temperatures continue to become more common in Germany, France and the UK the ticks could settle there and migrate across Europe permanently.

Parasitologist Ute Mackenstedt from the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart said: “We assume that we have to reckon with more and more tropical species of ticks in Germany that can settle here due to good weather conditions.”

crimean congo fever

Symptoms of CCHF include fever, muscle pains, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, and bleeding (Image: GETTY)

Dr Lidia Chitimia-Dobler, tick expert at the University of Hohenheim and the Institute for Microbiology (IMB) of the German Federal Armed Forces in Munich, said: “Five of the seven ticks we can determine beyond doubt, four are the species Hyalomma marginatum and one of the kind Hyalomma rufipes.

“We did not expect ticks here in Germany at this time.”

Dr Gerhard Dobler, physician and microbiologist at the IMB, added: “In one of the specimens found, we were able to prove the pathogen of a tropical form of tick typhus.”

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**Comment**

For another read on this monster tick in Germany:  https://www.dw.com/en/scientists-find-dangerous-tropical-ticks-in-germany/a-45086012  There is a video in the article that cites Lyme is easily cured with a couple weeks of antibiotics, yet treatment failures have been noted since the beginning of time.

They admit that they don’t even know what pathogens are transmitted in Germany, and that new ticks are cropping up there.

Please know that independent tick researcher John Scott has shown climate change has nothing to do with tick expansion or the spread of Lyme/MSIDS:   https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/13/study-shows-lyme-not-propelled-by-climate-change/

Scott shows that migratory birds are serving as transits carrying infected ticks all over the world, even in places where there aren’t any white-footed mice. He also shows numerous fallacies with the climate models – particularly the fact they don’t include important data.  In the end ticks are marvelous ecoadaptors and research has they can survive the harshest of conditions.  What does affect them is lack of light (photo period).  

https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/crimean-congo/index.html Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) can be transmitted to humans through infected ticks, animal blood, and infected human blood and/or bodily fluids (so human to human). CCHF has also been spread in hospitals due to improper sterilization.  Fatality rate in hospitalized patients has ranged from 9-50%.  Being a virus, care is supportive; however, it is sensitive in vitro to ribavirin, an anti-viral drug.  Recovery is slow.

Signs and symptoms:

  • Sudden onset of symptoms
  • headache
  • high fever
  • back pain
  • joint pain
  • stomach pain
  • vomiting
  • red eyes
  • flushed face
  • red throat & petechiae (red spots on palate are common)
  • jaundice
  • mood changes
  • sensory perception
  • severe bruising
  • sever nosebleeds
  • uncontrolled bleeding at injection sites

Please note the last quote of the story – that they proved a tropical form of tick typhus in one of tropical ticks found in Germany. Typhus, a bacteria, is making a comeback, particularly in the South. Common in the U.S. in the 40’s, and normally attributed to lice, now it’s been proven to be in a tick. In other words, another disease and a tick found where they supposedly shouldn’t be.

Typus is a rickettsial infection with ticks carring numerous species including rickettsia, ehrlichia, and anaplasma. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is also considered a tick-borne typhus fever.  https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/rocky_mountain_spotted_fever/fact_sheet.htm

Divided into the typhus group and the spotted fever group, disease is transmitted through ectoparasites (fleas, lice, mites, and ticks). Inhalation and inoculating conjunctiva with infectious material can also cause disease.  The good news for most is that doxycycline is a front-line drug for it.  Broad-spectrum antibiotics aren’t helpful.

 

Category:

Activism, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Rickettsia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ticks, Transmission, Treatment, Viruses