Archive for the ‘Ticks’ Category

Can Lyme Be Sexually Transmitted or Passed on to a Fetus?

https://rawlsmd.com/health-articles/can-lyme-be-sexually-transmitted?

Can Lyme Be Sexually Transmitted or Passed on to a Fetus?

by. Dr. Bill Rawls
Updated 7/27/18

The official word from experts is that Borrelia burgdorferi, the microbe commonly associated with Lyme disease, cannot be spread sexually. However, whole families (including small children) testing positive for the microbe would suggest otherwise.

Experts base their assumptions on the fact that Borrelia burgdorferi concentrations in semen in people known to have Lyme disease are typically quite low. In addition, trans-utero spread (across the placenta during pregnancy) has not been scientifically documented.

This is in line with traits of the microbe. Host-dependent microbes can spread from host to host through a variety of different pathways, but they typically specialize in primarily one pathway. Borrelia’s preferred pathway of spread is by way of biting insects, most commonly ticks. It has honed this pathway over millions of years.

Other corkscrew-like bacteria, however, do specialize in sexual and congenital transmission. The most well known is Treponema pallidum, the microbe that causes syphilis. It’s interesting that Lyme disease and syphilis share many common symptoms and the two microbes are actually similar in many ways — except that Treponema has been honing the sexual transmission pathway for about as long as Borrelia has been taking advantage of ticks.

The fact that the two microbes are so similar might suggest that Borrelia could transmit sexually or congenitally. Borrelia is a master opportunist; if an easy opportunity arose to spread sexually or cross through the placenta into a new host, it probably would. Using its corkscrew shape, it can bore through any tissues in the body and show up almost anywhere.

The bottom line is that sexual and congenital propagation of Borrelia is possible, but much less likely than other microbes that typically spread by sexual transmission. If it were to occur, it would probably be from an infected male passing Lyme disease to a female via semen. Passing the microbe from infected female to male partner is much less likely. An infected female who became pregnant, however, could also pass the bacterium along to the fetus through the placenta.

To reduce the possibility of transmission, men suspected of having Lyme disease should use condoms during intercourse. If pregnancy is desired, antibiotics or antimicrobial herbs should be administered to reduce concentrations of the microbes before unprotected intercourse. Ideally, attempts for pregnancy should be deferred until Lyme disease symptoms have subsided.

For a pregnancy complicated by Lyme disease, the mother should undergo antibiotic treatment, especially for acute Lyme disease — but always under a doctor’s supervision. Tetracyclines, including doxycycline, should be avoided during pregnancy. Herbal therapy can be a good option if antibiotics are not tolerated.

 

REFERENCES:
1. Stricker RB, Middelveen MJ. Sexual transmission of Lyme disease: challenging the tickborne disease paradigm. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2015;13(11):1303-6.
2. Hercogova J, Vanousova D. Syphilis and borreliosis during pregnancy. Dermatol Ther. 2008 May-Jun;21(3):205-9.
3. Williams C et al. Maternal Lyme disease and congenital malformations: a cord blood serosurvey in endemic and control areas. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 1995 Jul;9(3):320-30.
4. Strobino B et al. Lyme disease and pregnancy outcome: a prospective study of two thousand prenatal patients. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1993 Aug;169(2 Pt 1):367-74.
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**Comment**
I find it highly interesting that even though mother and baby can test positive for Lyme disease, the CDC still states congenital transmission rarely occurs, even though nobody’s counting cases:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/02/19/how-can-mother-to-fetus-transmission-of-lyme-disease-be-rare-when-no-one-is-counting/
In a nutshell, researchers collected specimens and then tested them.  They point out that initial tests did not find the virus but further sampling of the placenta showed virus-positive results.
There’s a few important points:
  1. If researchers tested Lyme patients multiple times in many different places within the body like they did for these babies who supposedly have COVID, they would find Lyme too.  This just doesn’t happen.  This is a perfect example of research bias.
  2. Testing for COVID is abysmal and shouldn’t be trusted on its own:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/05/07/was-the-covid-19-test-meant-to-detect-a-virus/
  3. People are equating a positive COVID test result with illness, yet many are testing positive and have ZERO symptoms which means they aren’t sick.  They just show antibodies. This can happen with Lyme too.  My dog tested positive for Lyme and had ZERO symptoms. My vet told me he would forever test positive for Lyme. Meanwhile my husband and I both test negative on the arbitrary and unscientific 2-tiered CDC testing but positive on a more sensitive antibody test by IGeneX.  This issue of flawed testing is a real fly in the ointment:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/03/01/study-cdcs-2-tier-lyme-testing-inaccurate-in-more-than-70-of-cases/, https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/12/lyme-testing-problems-solutions/
  4. The babies testing positive for COVID are fine, yet one continued to test positive.  I wrote about this before when a friend kept testing positive despite being completely healthy.  This person was detained in the hospital for weeks on end entirely due to a continuing positive test, but he had ZERO symptoms.  This should be a wake-up call.
  5. The best article on this is here:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/07/10/coronavirus-why-everyone-was-wrong/  This expert immunologist explains that it’s highly likely most people testing positive for COVID is purely due to viral debris (which is NOT infectious).

As to sexual transmission of Lyme, a recent study by Scott had some interesting findings: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/06/12/formidable-evidence-for-sexual-transmission-of-lyme-disease-first-study-to-document-aca-rashes-in-canadian-patients/

Excerpt:

  • Case 4 provides confirmation for an ACA rash and gestational Lyme disease (club feet at birth).  Both parents tested positive for Bbsl.

Not only did the parents have definitive proof of chronic Lyme, THEY HAD SYMPTOMS – unlike these COVID positive babies, and many others testing positively without ANY symptoms whatsoever (which simply means they are NOT sick).  

I’m not sure what has happened in the world of science but it is riddled with this sort of nonsense.  The two diseases couldn’t be handled more differently.  I guarantee you that if researchers kept poking, prodding, and retesting chronic Lyme patients, they too would eventually find Bb, but this just doesn’t happen.  Frankly, with Lyme, they aren’t looking hard or long enough.

It’s quite clear to me that researchers are rewarded for positive COVID findings while they are demoted for positive Lyme findings.
Lyme just isn’t sexy.  
Lyme/MSIDS has become the ugly wall-flower in the corner of the room – which BTW is truly a world-wide pandemic that isn’t going away.

BTW: I’m nearly 99.9% certain I got Lyme sexually from my husband.  To read about my story as well as other research on it:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/02/24/pcos-lyme-my-story/  All my initial symptoms were gynecological but I didn’t know then what I know now….

Category:

Lyme, Testing, Ticks, Transmission

Webinar Series to Highlight Tick Problems and Solutions for Pennsylvania

https://news.psu.edu/story/624662/2020/07/01/impact/webinar-series-highlight-tick-problems-—-and-solutions-—-pennsylvania

Webinar series to highlight tick problems — and solutions — for Pennsylvania

Tick webinars
Penn State Extension is hosting a 10-part webinar series on ticks.

IMAGE: PENN STATE

Kelly Jedrzejewski
July 01, 2020

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Did you know that Pennsylvania is ranked No. 1 in the nation for Lyme disease cases? As part of Penn State Extension’s efforts to educate and share information, educators will be hosting a 10-part webinar series on ticks and disease prevention starting July 9 and running through Sept. 17.

Erika Machtinger, assistant professor of entomology, is part of the extension team that will be hosting the webinar series.

“Since ticks are a major concern in the commonwealth, the idea is that folks will get a basic and understandable foundation for how to protect themselves, their families and their animals from vector-borne diseases,” she said.

Penn State Extension piloted a workshop for vector-borne diseases in the fall that was successful. Machtinger explained that an in-person workshop was scheduled for May but had to be canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

“We wanted to continue the series because of the prevalence of vector-borne diseases in Pennsylvania,” she said. “We also thought it was fitting because people might be spending more time outside.”

In Pennsylvania, several species of ticks are of concern to both people and animals, and several pathogens are associated with those ticks. Along with native ticks, there are concerns about an invasive tick species and its impact on cattle.

“We’ve put together a great team to deliver this series, from insect taxonomists to integrated pest management specialists to wildlife biologists,” said Machtinger. “We’ll be delivering the spectrum of information from many angles.”

Each webinar is one hour and will take place at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the scheduled dates. The webinars, which will be recorded for later viewing, include ample time for moderated question and answer sessions.

To register, visit http://extension.psu.edu/tick-webinars.

Dates and topics are as follows:

–July 9: “Vector-borne Disease Basics.”

–July 16: “Ticks of Pennsylvania.”

–July 23: “Protecting Pets from Tick-borne Diseases.”

–July 30: “Tick Biology.”

–Aug. 6: “Tick Protection Around the Home.”

–Aug. 13: “Protecting Yourself from Tick Bites.”

–Aug. 27: “Lyme Disease and Other Tick-borne Diseases in Pennsylvania.”

–Sept. 3: “Tick Risks for Pennsylvania Cattle.”

–Sept. 10: “Protecting Your Horses from Tick Bites.”

–Sept. 17: “Hunters and Vector-borne Diseases: A Tick-ing Time Bomb.”

“Education on vector-borne diseases is an incredibly powerful tool to help protect people and animals,” Machtinger said. “Understanding the tools that you need to have in your toolbox to prevent tick and mosquito bites can reduce anxiety about being outdoors and make a difference in reducing vector-borne disease risk.”

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Category:

Activism, Lyme, Ticks, Transmission

COVID-19 Could Lead to Increase in Tick-borne Illness, Experts Say. Here’s Why

https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article244011582.htm News Video & Audio Here

COVID-19 could lead to increase in tick-borne illness, experts say. Here’s why

As if you needed anything else to worry about in 2020, summer is here — which means tick season is, too.

While experts say ticks are expected to be about average this year, they say the U.S. may see an uptick in Lyme disease cases due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Why? Because people stuck at home are spending more time outside, Today reported. (See link for article)

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**Comment**

Important quote:

“If they get a case of Lyme disease, it’s not going away on its own and if it goes untreated it can develop into a difficult to treat chronic illness that can be debilitating,” Ostfeld told the outlet.

Unfortunately, “experts” have long contended exactly the opposite, setting patients up for a life-time of debilitating symptoms.  So thankful more accurate information is being given, but the controlled narrative is still alive and well, confusing many.

 

Category:

Activism, Lyme, Ticks

Experts Fear Bad Tick Season Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

https://www.abc4.com/coronavirus/experts-fear-bad-tick-season-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/

Experts fear bad tick season amid coronavirus pandemic

by: Nexstar Media Wire

Posted:

FILE – This March 2002 file photo shows a deer tick under a microscope in the entomology lab at the University of Rhode Island in South Kingstown, R.I. On Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a record number of tick-borne diseases _ more than 59,000 _ were reported in 2017. It’s a 22 percent increase from the number reported the year before. (AP Photo/Victoria Arocho, File)

DALLAS (NEXSTAR) — As if there wasn’t enough to worry about in 2020, experts are warning about a potentially bad tick season.

The Lyme Disease Research Group reports a mild winter could mean an especially rough time for ticks.

Medical experts fear that many people who’ve been stuck inside due to coronavirus may “let their guard down” once they’re able to venture outdoors and not pay attention to tick bite prevention.

Some symptoms of Lyme disease are very similar to the symptoms of COVID-19, according to medical professionals. Ticks can carry Lyme and other dangerous diseases that can be severe if not treated properly.  (See link for story)

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**Comment**

Again, ticks virtually laugh at the weather.  They are impervious to it. They find leaf litter and snow to hide under if the weather becomes harsh:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/07/ticks-on-the-move-due-to-migrating-birds-and-photoperiod-not-climate-change/

The article states that Pennsylvania has seen an increase in ER visits related to tick bites. I pray they are immediately treating these people prophylactically.  Everyone admits that early diagnosis and treatment is essential, yet so many still take a “wait and see” approach.

Trust me when I say you don’t want this to develop into a chronic condition.  The risks of using antibiotics for a short time are nothing compared to a potential life-time of pain and expense.

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/category/lyme-disease-treatment/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/06/26/new-treatments-for-lyme-disease-on-the-horizon/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/05/23/chronic-lyme-disease-does-it-exist/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/12/17/chronic-lyme-disease-an-evidence-based-definition-by-the-ilads-working-group/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/peer-reviewed-evidence-of-persistence-of-lymemsids-copy.docx

Tick prevention:

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/12/tick-prevention-2019/

 

 

 

 

Category:

Ticks, Viruses

Interrupted Blood Feeding in Ticks: Causes and Consequences

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32560202/

Interrupted Blood Feeding in Ticks: Causes and Consequences

Djamel Tahir 1, Leon Meyer 1, Josephus Fourie 2, Frans Jongejan 3, Thomas Mather 4, Valérie Choumet 5, Byron Blagburn 6, Reinhard K Straubinger 7, Marie Varloud 8
Affiliations expand

Free article

Abstract

Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods and act as vectors for a great variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and helminths. Some tick-borne viruses, such as Powassan virus and tick-borne encephalitis virus, are transmissible within 15-60 min after tick attachment. However, a minimum of 3-24 h of tick attachment is necessary to effectively transmit bacterial agents such as Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Rickettsia spp. to a new host. Longer transmission periods were reported for Borrelia spp. and protozoans such as Babesia spp., which require a minimum duration of 24-48 h of tick attachment for maturation and migration of the pathogen.

Laboratory observations indicate that the probability of transmission of tick-borne pathogens increases with the duration an infected tick is allowed to remain attached to the host. However, the transmission time may be shortened when partially fed infected ticks detach from their initial host and reattach to a new host, on which they complete their engorgement.

For example, early transmission of tick-borne pathogens (e.g., Rickettsia rickettsii, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Brucella canis) and a significantly shorter transmission time were demonstrated in laboratory experiments by interrupted blood feeding.

The relevance of such situations under field conditions remains poorly documented.

In this review, we explore parameters of, and causes leading to, spontaneous interrupted feeding in nature, as well as the effects of this behavior on the minimum time required for transmission of tick-borne pathogens.

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**Comment**

Partial feeding is not rare and needs to be taken into account. Unfortunately, authorities have followed a tightly controlled narrative when it comes to transmission times – which has only served to hurt patients for decades.

There are cases where Lyme (borrelia) has been transmitted within hours:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/12/07/igenex-presentation/

Excerpt:

Bob Giguere of IGeneX states a case by Dr. Jones of a little girl who went outside to play about 8:30a.m. and came inside at 10:30 with an attached tick above her right eye.  By 2 o’clock, she had developed the facial palsy.  At the hospital she was told it couldn’t be Lyme as the tick hadn’t been attached long enough.  They offered a neuro-consult…..

By 4pm she couldn’t walk or talk.

Do not believe what the “experts” tell you about transmission times!

Authorities also talk about ticks having a “grace period” before they transmit which is hog-wash:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2020/03/10/grace-period-for-ticks-nope/

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/04/14/transmission-time-for-lymemsids-infection/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/26/three-strains-of-borrelia-other-pathogens-found-in-salivary-glands-of-ixodes-ticks-suggesting-quicker-transmission-time/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/11/14/study-shows-ticks-can-transmit-rickettsia-immediately/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/06/28/powassan-can-kill/

 

 

 

 

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme, research, Rickettsia, Ticks, Transmission, Viruses