Archive for the ‘Ticks’ Category

Dear Lyme Warrior….HELP!

https://globallymealliance.org/dear-lyme-warriorhelp-11/

lyme warrior

By Jennifer Crystal

Every few months, Jennifer Crystal devotes a column to answering your questions. Below she answers some that she’s recently received. Do you have a question for Jennifer? If so, email her at lymewarriorjennifercrystal@gmail.com.

Did you stop your medication during a Herxheimer reaction?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question; it all depends what works best for you. A Herxheimer reaction occurs when antibiotics kill Lyme bacteria faster than your body can eliminate it, causing a build-up of dead toxins. The process can make you feel downright awful. Often a “Herx” involves an increase in symptoms such as fatigue, night sweats, migraines, and joint pain.

The body needs time to eliminate the killed bacteria, and for some patients the best way to do that is to give it a break from antibiotics, so that more build up isn’t happening while your system is working to detox. Some doctors advise a pulsing method, taking antibiotics for a certain period and then stopping them for a certain amount of time, for precisely this reason. Other doctors have patients push through the Herx with continued antibiotic treatment.

For me, I almost always stayed the course throughout my Herxheimer reactions, even though I felt terrible during those periods. When symptoms got unbearable, my doctor would advise me to take a one-or-two day break from antibiotics, and that helped. Talk with your Lyme Literate Medical Doctor (LLMD) about the duration and severity of your Herxheimer reactions, and decide together on the best course for you. Your doctor can also advise you on ways to help your body with the detox process itself.

My child wants to go to college in the Northeast, but I’m nervous about sending her somewhere where Lyme is so prevalent. What do you advise?

Once you or a family member has been impacted by tick-borne illness, your whole perspective on the outdoors changes. Sometimes I want to wrap myself in a bubble and stay indoors. But I can’t live in fear—besides, ticks can come inside, too!.

What I can do is be vigilant. To deny myself time out of doors would be to deny myself that which brings me the most joy. However, I no longer go walking in the woods or running through high grasses. I stick to worn or paved paths, stay away from lawns when possible, and do activities that are on the water or in the snow. I always wear bug spray, and undergo a thorough tick check after returning inside.

Nevertheless, I still have fears about getting another tick bite, so I can understand why you have concerns about sending your child to a highly endemic tick area. While New England does have a great deal of infected ticks, there are now documented cases of Lyme in all 50 states. Your child could get a tick bite while walking through the woods in the Northwest or the Southeast; ticks are no longer limited to New England. And while ticks can live on campus lawns, it’s less likely that your child will get a tick bite there, no matter what part of the country it’s in, than if he or she went for an off-campus hike.

I went to school in Vermont. That rural college won my heart the minute I set foot on campus. I think it’s more important to go to a school you love, and take whatever health precautions you need to while there—prevention, bug spray, rigorous post-outdoors tick checks— than to go to a school that doesn’t feel right, just because you might have less chance of getting a tick bite there.

What type of brain scan did you get?

In some of my articles, I have mentioned having a brain scan that showed inflammation and a lack of oxygen on the left side of my brain. This was called a SPECT scan, which can show more than an MRI. But that was over a decade ago; there may be even better scans available today.

Related blogs:
What Does it Mean to Herx?
Dealing with Lyme-related Fear
Stop the Music! How to X Out the Songs and Words That Keep Playing in Your Head

jennifer crystal_2

Opinions expressed by contributors are their own.

Jennifer Crystal is a writer and educator in Boston. Her memoir about her medical journey is forthcoming. Contact her at lymewarriorjennifercrystal@gmail.com.

Category:

Activism, Detoxing, Lyme, Prevention, Ticks, Treatment

Vector Competence Studies With Hard Ticks & Borrelia Sensu Lato Spirochetes: A Review

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32067949

2019 Dec 14:101359. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101359. [Epub ahead of print]

Vector competence studies with hard ticks and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes: A review.

Eisen L1.

Abstract

Use of emerging technology allowing for identification of genetic material from pathogens and endosymbionts in ticks collected from humans, domestic animals, wildlife, or the environment has resulted in an avalanche of new data on tick-microorganism associations. This rapidly growing stream of new information is a tremendous resource but also presents challenges, including how detection of pathogen genetic material in ticks should best be interpreted. There is a tendency in the more recent published literature to incorrectly use the term “vector” based on detection of pathogen genetic material from tick species not experimentally confirmed to serve as vectors of the pathogen in question.

To serve as a vector of a horizontally maintained pathogen, such as a Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) Lyme borreliosis spirochete, the tick species in question must be capable of acquiring the pathogen while feeding in the larval or nymphal stage on an infectious host, maintaining it transstadially through the molt, and then transmitting the pathogen to a naïve host while feeding in the subsequent nymphal or adult stage.

This review examines the experimental evidence for and against species of hard (ixodid) ticks from different genera to serve as vectors of B. burgdorferi s.l. spirochetes.

  • Of the 18 Ixodes species ticks evaluated to date, 13 were experimentally confirmed as vectors of B. burgdorferi s.l. spirochetes.
  • These studies focused primarily on the three major Lyme borreliosis agents: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii, and Borrelia garinii.
  • In striking contrast, none of 8 tick species from other genera (1 Amblyomma species, 5 Dermacentor species, and 2 Haemaphysalis species) evaluated to date were unequivocally experimentally confirmed as vectors of B. burgdorferi s.l. spirochetes.

The strength of the evidence for or against each tick species to serve as a vector of B. burgdorferi s.l. spirochetes is discussed together with key knowledge gaps and research challenges.

_________________

**Comment**

This author, a CDC employee, is basing his findings on previous research.  There’s nothing new here.  

Also of import is the fact borrelia has been found in other ticks – just not enough for to be “statistically” important, OR in the instance of the Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum) there has been hot debate as to whether STARI is Lyme or not.  Patients and advocates alike claim the symptoms are one in the same.  The debate continues.

The trouble is, what if you are the poor sucker that gets bitten by that “statistically” insignificant tick?  Well, you lose because mainstream doctors are going to skim this review and conclude that ONLY certain ticks transmit Lyme/borrelia. They are going to write you off as psychosomatic:

Important excerpt:

Yes, vector competence was confirmed experimentally; No, vector competence was evaluated experimentally but could not be confirmed; Blank space, tick species not yet evaluated for this B. burgdorferi s.l. species.

There were numerous places where competence couldn’t be confirmed (which is a far cry different from it can’t happen) as well as the fact there were tons of blank spaces – which means the tick species hasn’t even been evaluated yet.

Here’s the dealeo, all ticks transfer fluid.  ALL TICKS should be suspect.  Period.  Remember all the research I’ve posted stating Lyme “didn’t exist” in various geographical places until someone pushed hard enough to get it recognized:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/05/31/no-lyme-in-the-south-guess-again/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/09/24/arkansas-kids-denied-lyme-treatment/

Excerpt:

According to Dr. Naveen Patil, Director of the Infectious Disease Program, ADH,

“We don’t have Lyme Disease in Arkansas, we have the ticks that transmit Lyme Disease but we don’t have any recorded cases of Lyme Disease.” 

We can thank a mother from Arkansas for getting Arkansas on the map for Lyme disease.

And so it goes:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/10/24/no-lyme-in-oklahoma-yeah-right/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/04/22/its-just-crazy-why-is-lyme-disease-treatment-so-difficult-to-find-in-mississippi/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/11/25/hundreds-of-people-impacted-by-tick-borne-illnesses-in-north-carolina/

Tick research is similar in that until something gets documented (published), researchers and doctors alike treat it as if it’s never, ever happened, and therefore (circular reasoning) it won’t happen in the future.

Category:

research, Testing, Ticks, Transmission

Four Borrelia Species Found in Ticks in North-Eastern Germany

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32106890

2020 Feb 27;13(1):106. doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-3969-7.

Borrelia miyamotoi and Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) identification and survey of tick-borne encephalitis virus in ticks from north-eastern Germany.

Răileanu C1, Tauchmann O1, Vasić A1, Wöhnke E1,2, Silaghi C3,4,5.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Ixodes ricinus is the most common tick species in Europe and the main vector for Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV). It is involved also in the transmission of Borrelia miyamotoi, a relapsing fever spirochete that causes health disorders in humans. Little is known regarding the circulation of Borrelia species and the natural foci of TBEV in north-eastern Germany. The goal of this study was to investigate the infection rates of Borrelia spp. and of TBEV in I. ricinus ticks from north-eastern Germany.

METHODS:

Ticks were collected by flagging from 14 forest sites in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania between April and October 2018. RNA and DNA extraction was performed from individual adult ticks and from pools of 2-10 nymphs. Real time reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) targeted the 3′ non-coding region of TBEV, while DNA of Borrelia spp. was tested by nested PCR for the amplification of 16S-23S intergenic spacer. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed on B. miyamotoi isolates.

RESULTS:

In total, 2407 ticks were collected (239 females, 232 males and 1936 nymphs). Female and male I. ricinus ticks had identical infection rates (both 12.1%) for Borrelia spp., while nymphal pools showed a minimum infection rate (MIR) of 3.3%. Sequencing revealed four Borrelia species: B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. valaisiana and B. miyamotoi.

  • Borrelia afzelii had the highest prevalence in adult ticks (5.5%) and nymphs (MIR of 1.8%)
  • Borrelia miyamotoi was identified in 3.0% of adults and registered the MIR of 0.8% in nymphs
  • Borrelia valaisiana was confirmed in 2.5% adult ticks and nymphs had the MIR of 0.7%
  • B. garinii was present in 1.1% of adults and showed a MIR of 0.1% in nymphs
  • The MLST of B. miyamotoi isolates showed that they belong to sequence type 635.
  • No tick sample was positive after RT-qPCR for TBEV RNA.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of B. miyamotoi in I. ricinus ticks registered similar levels to other reports from Europe suggesting that this agent might be well established in the local tick population.

The detection of B. burgdorferi (s.l.) indicates a constant circulation in tick populations from this region.

___________________

**Comment**

If four borrelia species were discovered in German ticks, it’s highly likely these same ticks are transmitting to humans. German patients are sunk if doctors are utilizing worthless CDC 2-tiered testing as it ONLY uses one strain, which isn’t even discussed in this paper (B. burgdorferi).

Borrelia afzelii, miyamotoi, and garinii ALL are pathogenic to humans.

This 2004 article shows they found valaisiana in the cerebrospinal fluid in a, “61-year-old man with a history of spastic paraparesis, which is strong clinical evidence of advanced neuroborreliosis.” They further state, “This report is the first of genetic detection of B. valaisiana in CSF, which indicates a probable association of this genospecies with disease in humans.”  https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/9/03-0439_article

Sixteen years later we still don’t know if valaisianna is pathogen to humans.

This, right here, is why we don’t need more climate data.
We need to know what is causing disease in humans, and how to detect it (test), and treat it.

For more:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/07/ticks-on-the-move-due-to-migrating-birds-and-photoperiod-not-climate-change/

Category:

Borrelia Miyamotoi (Relapsing Fever Group), Lyme, Testing, Ticks

Almost Half of Deer Ticks Carry Lyme Disease: New Study

https://www.pennlive.com/life/2020/03/almost-half-of-deer-ticks-carry-lyme-disease-new-study.html

Almost half of deer ticks carry Lyme disease: New study

Blacklegged/deer tick

The blacklegged ticks, Ixodes pacificus (depicted here), and I. scapularis, are known vectors for the zoonotic spirochetal bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi, which is the pathogen responsible for causing Lyme disease. The ticks, inoculated with the bacterium when they bite infected mice, squirrels and other small animals, subsequently pass the pathogens to their human victims when they obtain a blood meal. Here, you are looking at a dorsal view of a female I. pacificus hard tick. (Courtesy of CDC/ James Gathany; William L. Nicholson, Ph.D.)

Nearly half of more than 2,000 deer ticks collected last year for a new study in Connecticut were infected with Lyme disease.

Of 2,068 deer ticks tested at the Center for Vector Biology and Zoonotic Diseases at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven, Connecticut, 46 percent carry the Lyme disease pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi.

About 13 percent also carried the human disease-causing pathogen Babesia microti, which causes babesia, a life-threatening infection of the red blood cells in humans.

Researchers found that 9 percent of the adult ticks carried Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which causes anaplasmosis, which is marked by fever, headache, chills and muscle aches; 2 percent carried Borrelia miyamotoi, which cause hard tick relapsing fever, bacterial infection that can cause recurring bouts of fever, headache, muscle and joint aches and nausea; and 1 percent carried Powassan virus, which can cause Powassan encephalitis, which produces symptoms of fever, headache, vomiting and weakness, and can lead to encephalitis) meningitis.

The ticks were gathered in the first year of a new federally funded Connecticut-wide surveillance program for ticks and associated tick-borne diseases.

More than 2,500 ticks were collected throughout spring, summer and fall 2019 from 40 publicly accessible locations in all eight Connecticut counties and screened for five different human disease-causing pathogens.

Deer ticks, also known as black-legged ticks, were the most collected species, at 2,068 adult ticks, followed by American dog tick, at 437; lone star tick, at 3; and Asian longhorned tick, at 2.

All adult female and nymphal deer ticks were tested at CAES for the presence of the five different disease-causing pathogens.

About 15 percent of the nymphs carried Lyme disease, 6 percent carried babesiosis, 5 percent carried anaplasmosis and 2 percent carried hard tick relapsing fever.

The survey was funded by a one-year grant issued from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the Connecticut Department of Public Health and has potential to continue into a multi-year effort to document tick and pathogen abundances statewide to inform the public so appropriate precautions are taken when spending time outdoors.

_________________

**Comment**

So, similarly to CDC 2-tiered testing, “heads you win, tails you lose.” 

A while back I posted the following information about nationwide tick testing results:

Our current research shows that 60% of tick tested are infected with at least one disease causing organism, 38% are co-infected with two or more, 15% carry three or more, and 5% of the ticks tested carry four or more.  https://www.tickcheck.com/statistics

The percentage of Wisconsin ticks being infected, as of 2017:

On average, about 22 percent of deer tick nymphs in Wisconsin have been found to be infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. The infection rate for adults is about twice as high, around 40-45 percent. In some locations, though, researchers have found infection rates as high as 75 percent of the tick population.

The number of deer ticks in specific areas of Wisconsin can vary widely by area, by landscape, and by forest type. Researchers have not found any relationship with the numbers of white-footed mice or white-tailed deer in any given areas.  https://www.wiscontext.org/deer-ticks-wisconsin-and-diseases-they-carry

Russell Labs states the following:

In 2019, we documented established populations of the deer tick in every Wisconsin County except for Dodge and Winnebago. In those two counties, we found a very low number. Any forested locations could be a source of deer ticks and Lyme Disease.  https://wisconsin-ticks.russell.wisc.edu

Waukesha, Dane, and Sauk counties have the highest reported rates of Lyme disease in Wisconsin: https://dhsgis.wi.gov/DHS/EPHTracker/#/map/Lyme%20Disease/lymeIndex/NOTRACT/Cases/lymeCtyIndex1

Please remember, this is only covers Lyme disease statistics. Wisconsin is home to many other diseases spread by ticks and we are a hot spot for Powassan Virus.

Category:

research, Ticks

Emerging Tick-Borne Diseases

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31896541/

2020 Jan 2;33(2). pii: e00083-18. doi: 10.1128/CMR.00083-18. Print 2020 Mar 18.

Emerging Tick-Borne Diseases.

Madison-Antenucci S#1, Kramer LD#2, Gebhardt LL#3, Kauffman E2.

Abstract

Increases in tick-borne disease prevalence and transmission are important public health issues. Efforts to control these emerging diseases are frustrated by the struggle to control tick populations and to detect and treat infections caused by the pathogens that they transmit. This review covers tick-borne infectious diseases of nonrickettsial bacterial, parasitic, and viral origins. While tick surveillance and tracking inform our understanding of the importance of the spread and ecology of ticks and help identify areas of risk for disease transmission, the vectors are not the focus of this document.

Here, we emphasize the most significant pathogens that infect humans as well as the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that they cause. Although detection via molecular or immunological methods has improved, tick-borne diseases continue to remain underdiagnosed, making the scope of the problem difficult to assess. Our current understanding of the incidence of tick-borne diseases is discussed in this review. An awareness of the diseases that can be transmitted by ticks in specific locations is key to detection and selection of appropriate treatment. As tick-transmitted pathogens are discovered and emerge in new geographic regions, our ability to detect, describe, and understand the growing public health threat must also grow to meet the challenge.

__________________

**Of Note**

Migrating birds are transporting ticks everywhere:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/07/ticks-on-the-move-due-to-migrating-birds-and-photoperiod-not-climate-change/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/08/17/of-birds-and-ticks/

Category:

Lyme, research, Ticks