Archive for the ‘Ticks’ 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.

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

New Tick Causes Epidemic of RMSF

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/new-tick-causes-epidemic-rocky-mountain-

New Tick Causes Epidemic of RMSF

By Maggie Fox

August, 15, 2018

A new kind of tick is causing an epidemic of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Mexico, and it’s threatening to spread to the U.S., researchers said Wednesday.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is already dangerous, and the new carrier is more likely to bite people than the ticks that usually spread it, the team of U.S. and Mexican researchers said.

As ticks in general become more common as the climate warms, they’re a bigger threat, they added.  (Please see my comment after article) 

“Rocky Mountain spotted fever, caused by the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii, is responsible for more human deaths than any other tick-borne disease in North America,” the team wrote in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever was reported in 4,269 people in the U.S. in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can kill up to 10 percent of victims, depending on the outbreak.

It’s usually spread by the American dog tick and the closely related Rocky Mountain wood tick. But in recent years the bacterial infection has also been spread by the brown dog tick — a completely different species.

The researchers were investigating an epidemic of the infection that broke out in the border town of Mexicali starting in 2008. It’s already sickened at least 4,000 people, according to Mexican government estimates. Several hundred have died, and at least four people have died in the U.S. after crossing the border, according to this report and others.

“That’s a very big epidemic of a fatal disease,” said Dr. Janet Foley, an expert in the spread of animal-borne disease at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. “There are likely thousands of cases.”

The infection is not always easy to diagnose in human blood. If people get a rash and other symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the advice is to treat quickly with the antibiotic doxycycline. Other symptoms are similar to those caused by many infections and include fever, nausea and headache.

Working with a team at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California in Mexicali, Foley and colleagues tested the blood of 16 patients to see if they could find a characteristic signature of the infection.

“I was absolutely startled,” Foley said in an interview. The people who had been sickened in Mexicali had a heavy load of the infectious agent in their blood — something that had not been seen in past outbreaks.

The epidemic is worrisome because the brown dog tick is more likely to bite people and it adapts easily to living in a house, as opposed to living on wild animals, the researchers said.

“The Rocky Mountain spotted fever epidemic in Mexicali has not been contained and may be spreading to other parts of Baja California and into the United States,” the team wrote.

And now it’s possible that for some reason, the infection the brown dog tick transmits is more virulent, Foley said.

“We need to study this tick more to understand why it makes people so sick,” she said. “This Mexican strain seems more willing to feed on people.”

It’s a big problem in a poor, crowded city like Mexicali, where many people and many dogs live. Foley said she visited neighborhoods there where dogs were infected with hundreds or even thousands of the ticks.

“It’s pretty bad,” she said. She described one dog that was homeless but being fed by the community.

“This dog had ticks everywhere. Every millimeter of ear tissue was covered with ticks. They were down her back,” Foley said.

The Universidad Autónoma de Baja California veterinary team tested dogs in the town and found that more than 80 percent were infected.

“One community I worked in tried to get rid of their dogs,” Foley said. “That was so sad. We shouldn’t have to go so far.”

The key is to stop the ticks from biting dogs, but that can be expensive, as flea spray and flea collars are costly.

It’s less of a threat in more affluent communities, where dogs are vaccinated, groomed and licensed, but people can travel with infected dogs.

“It can be a threat as people go back and forth across borders, especially with dogs,” Foley said. “The tick is present in the U.S. and is moving northward.”

More than 72 million crossings were made by people from Mexico into California in 2015 alone, a CDC team reported.

The CDC says tick-borne diseases are on the rise. “Overall, since 2000, in the United States, the incidence of Rocky Mountain spotted fever has reportedly increased fourfold,” Foley’s team wrote.

The brown dog tick may be in part responsible but it could be that testing methods have made a difference as well, they said.

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**Comment**

Ticks are NOT becoming more common due to warmer temps.  They are becoming more common due to migrating birds:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/13/study-shows-lyme-not-propelled-by-climate-change/  Warmer temperatures actually reduce tick populations.  Numerous studies have shown that temperature, pollution, and humidity doesn’t affect ticks.  Rather, something called “photoperiod” does.  Ticks require 14 hours to molt into the next stage of life. This study also shows numerous flaws in the climate models.  

The NBC article actually shows the importance of transit with people and dogs transiting ticks from one location to another.  Birds, other mammals, and even reptiles transit ticks across borders.  This is how ticks are traveling further.

Ticks are marvelous ecoadaptors and will seek out and hide in leaf litter or snow to survive.  The link above shows “Tick Guy” Tom Mather demonstrating how ticks can survive 3 degree temps in 24 hours when put under snow cover.

If we allow the false idea of climate driving ticks North to stand, there will be a misdirection of research funds that could go to important issues that could help patients.  For far too long we have had loads of climate data with no help what-so-ever to patients.  We are only lining the pockets of researchers who have a vested interest in pushing the climate issue.

For more on RMSF:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/10/first-rmsf-death-in-wisconsin/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/06/12/georgia-mom-warns-others-after-son-contracts-rocky-mountain-spotted-fever-after-tick-bite/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2015/08/13/severe-case-of-rmsf-had-to-remove-patients-arms-and-legs/

https://www.ommegaonline.org/article-details/THE-ROCKY-MOUNTAIN-SPOTTED-FEVER-AND-THE-NEW-PLAGE-OF-THE-21ST-CENTURY-THE-TICKS/1898

 

Category:

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ticks, Transmission

Powassan Confirmed in Dutchess County

https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2018/08/14/rare-tick-borne-powassan-virus-confirmed-dutchess-county/985053002/

Rare, tick-borne Powassan virus confirmed in Dutchess County

, Poughkeepsie Journal Published Aug. 14, 2018

A rare, sometimes fatal tick-borne virus has been confirmed in Dutchess County.

Allison Kaufman, county public health advisor, said a case of the virus was confirmed in late July. The person who contracted the virus reported they had been ill since June, Kaufman said.

It is the second confirmed case of the virus in 2018; the first was confirmed in Columbia County in June.

“I think residents need to keep in mind this is a very serious disease but also a very rare disease,” Kaufman said. “The level of concern has to be proportional to the level of risk.”

She said county residents should maintain diligence in preventing tick bites to not only avoid the Powassan virus but also Lyme disease, anaplasmosis disease and babesiosis disease.

Powassan virus has symptoms that range from mild, flu-like symptoms to life-threatening encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.

Kaufman said there is no “grace period” of tick attachment before the Powassan virus is transmitted. The virus could be transmitted in as little as 15 minutes as opposed to the 24-hour period connected with Lyme disease.

“Lint rollers can remove visible ticks crawling on clothes without having to touch the tick,” Kaufman said.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/videos/life/wellness/2017/07/19/do-you-know-how-dangerous-ticks-really-/103825282/  Video here
Most Americans know that ticks can make them sick, and many take steps to avoid them.
Four cases were reported in the state last year, including one reported in Dutchess County. 

According to the Center for Disease Control, 21 cases of Powassan virus were reported between 2007 and 2016 in the state.

State and county health officials urge outdoors enthusiasts to take steps to protect themselves from tick-borne diseases.

These include:

  • Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily, as well as enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.
  • Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently for ticks while outdoors.
  • Consider using insect repellent.
  • Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Walk in the center of trails. Avoid dense woods and bushy areas.
  • Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors, preferably within two hours, to wash off and more easily find ticks.
  • Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day and remove ticks promptly. Also, check children and pets.

The mid-Hudson Valley, and Dutchess County in particular, have been a hot spot for Lyme disease, also a tick-borne illness, for years. More than 12,000 cases were diagnosed in the county between 2000 and 2016, according to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/videos/news/2018/04/16/living-lyme-disease-young-girls-story/33751245/  Video here on Ella Buss who has Lyme.

Ryan Santistevan: rsantistev@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4809; Twitter: @SantistevanRyan

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**Comment**

Please know that just because something is rarely reported doesn’t mean it’s rare.

  1. Powassan can be spread in minutes
  2. Lyme can be spread in hours – it does not take 24-72 hours:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/04/14/transmission-time-for-lymemsids-infection/  Get ticks off you ASAP!
  3. We really need to revisit this idea of a “grace period” with tick attachment.  Really?

I recognized the little face in the second video on Ella Buss who has Lyme Disease.  Here is her story:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/08/12/lyme-disease-case-started-with-headaches/

 

 

Category:

Lyme, Ticks, Viruses