Archive for the ‘Transmission’ Category

Invasive Tick Detected in 6 Additional Tennessee Counties

https://www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/2019/10/17/invasive-tick-detected-in-six-additional-tennessee-counties.html

Invasive Tick Detected in Six Additional Tennessee Counties

Thursday, October 17, 2019
Asian_Longhorned_Tick2

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Tennessee Department of Health, and University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture today announced the detection of the invasive Asian longhorned tick in an additional six Tennessee counties:  Knox, Jefferson, Claiborne, Cocke, Putnam, and Sevier. The tick was detected in Union and Roane Counties in May.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there is no evidence to date that the tick has transmitted pathogens to humans in the U.S. There are concerns that the tick may transmit the agent of Theileriosis in cattle, and heavy infestations can cause blood loss and lead to death.

It is important to be aware of this tick, as cattle and canines are particularly susceptible to tick bites. Livestock producers are reminded to be vigilant when purchasing animals, apply a tick treatment to cattle prior to bringing them to your farm, and always use best practices for herd health. Dog owners should provide their animals with a tick preventative and check for ticks.

“Tennessee has numerous animal hosts and a suitable habitat for this tick species,” Dr. R.T. Trout Fryxell, Associate Professor of Medical and Veterinary Entomology for UTIA, said. “While it is always important to be diligent and keep an eye out for all ticks, the unique biology of the Asian longhorned tick helps this species to establish quickly and become a problem.”

Tips to prevent tick bites in animals and livestock include:

·         Coordinate with your veterinarian to determine appropriate pest prevention for pets and livestock.

·         Check pets and livestock for ticks frequently.

·         Remove any ticks by pulling from the attachment site of the tick bite with tweezers.

·         Monitor your pets and livestock for any changes in health

If your animals are bitten by a tick, Dr. Trout Fryxell suggests putting the tick in a ziplock bag, writing down the date and where the tick was most likely encountered, and storing it in a freezer.

For additional information about the longhorned tick in the United States, click here. To find more information on tick-borne diseases, click here.

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**Comment**

The Asian Tick has been found in the following 12 states:  Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut and Tennessee.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/10/26/researchers-conclude-asian-longhorned-tick-contributes-minimally-to-lyme-disease-in-the-u-s/  This article admits it can transmit Lyme.  It’s also suspected of transmitting the following: Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Borrelia species.

For a great read: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/12/three-surprising-things-i-learned-about-asian-longhorned-ticks-the-tick-guy-tom-mather/

To take this tick lightly would be foolish.

 

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme, research, Rickettsia, Transmission

Deer, Fragmented Forests, Ticks, a Lyme-like Disease….and a Little Praise for Possums

https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2019/deer,-fragmented-forests,-ticks,-a-lyme-like-disease-and-a-little-praise-for-possums.php  Full Article Here

Deer, fragmented forests, ticks, a Lyme-like disease … and a little praise for possums

Joanna Weeks drags a cloth to collect ticks in the College Woods

It’s a drag:  In a photo from 2013, Joanna Weeks ’13 drags a cloth to collect ticks working with W&M biologists Matthias Leu (left) and Oliver Kerscher. The three were among the co-authors on a 2019 paper that examines the link between a Lyme-like tick-borne disease and fragmented forested habitat.  Photo by Joseph McClain

 

by Joseph McClain |  October 17, 2019

 

“…Say — what’s that?”

“Nothing but a tick.”

“Where’d you get him?”

“Out in the woods.”

“What’ll you take for him?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to sell him.”

—Tom and Huck, in Tom Sawyer

Ticks were evidently so rare in Samuel Clemens’ Hannibal that a single live specimen had value enough to tempt Tom Sawyer to part with his newly shed tooth. Matthias Leu says it was the same in the Switzerland of his more recent youth.

“When I was a boy, I spent all my time in the forest,” Leu said. “I never saw one tick. And in Switzerland now, you should not leave the trails because there are so many ticks. So, it’s not just in North America; it’s global.”

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**Comment*

Great read which exposes the fact that little is known about the Ehrlichia chaffeensis bacterium which gives similar symptoms as Lyme disease. According to biologist Matthias Leu, “There probably has been a lot of ehrlichiosis that was misdiagnosed as Lyme.” Leu and his colleagues studied the habitat of the Lone Star Tick and found that forest fragmentation causes more edges which deer love, giving ticks an easy meal.

Leu explains that deer are “competent hosts,” serving not only as a meal for the tick, but also a reservoir for ehrlichiosis, capable of infecting the next feasting tick with Ehrlichia chaffeensis. He states that fawns and yearling deer are especially important in transmission of the bacterium.

According to this study, health providers often fail to consider ehrlichia when treating tick borne infections:  https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181001171202.htm

“The failure to test for Ehrlichia, even as more and more evidence suggests that the infection may be just as common as other endemic tick-borne diseases, appears to impact patient care with antibiotics prescribed less frequently when testing is not ordered.”

For more on Ehrlichia:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/12/02/everything-thats-known-about-ehrlichiosis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/15/ehrlichiosis-masquerading-as-thrombotic-thrombocytopenia-purpura/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/02/north-carolina-ehrlichia-often-overlooked-when-tick-borne-illness-suspected/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/07/24/oklahoma-ehrlichiosis-central/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/03/09/dogs-ehrlichiosis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/05/04/ehrlichiosis-a-tick-borne-illness-that-can-imitate-blood-related-cancers/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/12/02/everything-thats-known-about-ehrlichiosis/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/15/ehrlichiosis-masquerading-as-thrombotic-thrombocytopenia-purpura/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/10/02/north-carolina-ehrlichia-often-overlooked-when-tick-borne-illness-suspected/

 

 

 

Category:

Ehrlichiosis, research, Testing, Ticks, Transmission, Treatment

Researchers Conclude Asian Longhorned Tick Contributes Minimally to Lyme Disease in the U.S.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X19303498

Original article

Failure of the Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, to serve as an experimental vector of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto

Under a Creative Commons licenseopen access

Abstract

The invasive, human-biting Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, was detected in New Jersey in the eastern United States in August of 2017 and by November of 2018 this tick had been recorded from 45 counties across 9 states, primarily along the Eastern Seaboard. The establishment of H. longicornis in the United States has raised the questions of how commonly it will bite humans and which native pathogens may naturally infect this tick. There also is a need for experimental vector competence studies with native pathogens to determine if H. longicornis can acquire a given pathogen while feeding, pass it transstadially, and then transmit the pathogen in the next life stage.

In this experimental study, we evaluated the vector competence of a population of H. longicornis originating from the United States (New York) for a native isolate (B31) of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.).

In agreement with a previous experimental study on the vector competence of H. longicornis for Borrelia garinii, we found that uninfected H. longicornis larvae could acquire B. burgdorferi s.s. while feeding on infected Mus musculus mice (infection prevalence >50% in freshly fed larvae) but that the infection was lost during the molt to the nymphal stage. None of 520 tested molted nymphs were found to be infected, indicating that transstadial passage of B. burgdorferi s.s. is absent or rare in H. longicornis; and based on the potential error associated with the number of nymphs testing negative in this study, we estimate that the upper 95% limit for infection prevalence was 0.73%.

An Ixodes scapularis process control showed both effective acquisition of B. burgdorferi s.s. from infected mice by uninfected larvae and transstadial passage to the nymphal stage (infection prevalence of 80–82% for both freshly fed larvae and molted nymphs). We also observed that although H. longicornis larvae could be compelled to feed on mice by placing the ticks within feeding capsules, attachment and feeding success was minimal (<0.5%) when larvae were placed freely on the fur of the mice.

We conclude that H. longicornis is unlikely to contribute more than minimally, if at all, to transmission of Lyme disease spirochetes in the United States.

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**Comment**

Transmission can still happen and if you are the sorry sucker it happens to – it makes all the difference in the world.  Here’s the deal – ticks are not your friends. Take each and every tick bite as seriously as a heart attack.  Little is known about the Asian Longhorned tick but in Asia it’s bite KILLS 15% of those whom contract it. Don’t take this lightly.

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/06/09/first-us-human-bite-from-worrying-longhorned-tick-noted-but-its-actually-the-second-human-bite/

Excerpt:

Several other human pathogens have been detected in the ticks, but it’s not clear the Asian longhorned species are able to transmit them to humans. They include Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Borreliaspecies. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.

She warned that the organisms are present in states where longhorned ticks have been found and that it’s possible that the tick—known to be an aggressive biter—might be able to transmit Heartland virus, given its close relationship to SFTS virus.

Pritt said it’s clear that the invasive species is here to stay for the foreseeable future, and next steps should include public awareness campaigns that incorporate the new information, easy-to-use resources for labs to identify the tick, and more research to understand the implications of the new findings.

For a great read on this aggressive biter which can clone itself and is found in sunny open locations:   https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/09/12/three-surprising-things-i-learned-about-asian-longhorned-ticks-the-tick-guy-tom-mather/.  This picture demonstrates how if you brush against a blade of grass a literal cluster bomb of ticks explodes onto you.  To downplay this is really short sighted.three_surprising_4.png-2

Category:

Lyme, research, Testing, Ticks, Transmission

A New Rapid Test for Lyme Disease

https://www.lymedisease.org/rapid-diagnose-lyme-disease-nih/

Researchers get closer to rapid diagnostic test for Lyme disease

Borrelia burgdorferi

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology describes a new rapid assay for Lyme disease that could lead to a practical test for use by healthcare providers.

The researchers found the assay, which uses several biomarkers to detect Lyme disease infection, was more sensitive than current laboratory-based tests when diagnosing Lyme disease early after suspected infection.

The research was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a spiral-shaped bacterium transmitted by deer ticks. Many cases of Lyme disease can be treated effectively with a short course of antibiotics.

However, Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose because it causes a wide range of symptoms, from fever and rash to neurologic and cardiac symptoms and joint pain. Current Lyme disease tests also can miss an infection if performed too early.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a two-step blood test for diagnosing Lyme disease that looks for antibodies against Lyme disease. These tests require specialized laboratory equipment and can require days or weeks to return results.

Faster, more sensitive Lyme test?

The authors of the paper plan to develop a simpler, faster, more sensitive test that could be used at the point of care during a single visit to a healthcare provider.

The researchers first screened a set of known Lyme disease biomarkers for their ability to indicate infection. They then tested for the top three biomarkers on samples from people with early Lyme disease, from healthy individuals from areas where Lyme disease is endemic, and from people with Lyme arthritis.

This was compared to results obtained using the standard two-step testing procedure.

Overall, the new set of biomarkers was more sensitive than standard Lyme disease tests. These biomarkers were better at picking up signs of Lyme disease infection in early stage samples—possibly because they were able to detect antibodies that peak in the first two to six weeks after a person is infected with Lyme disease.

These results open the possibility of developing a point-of-care test for Lyme disease. The assay will require more refinement and testing before it can be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However, the researchers say that these results show great potential.

SOURCE OF PRESS RELEASE: National Institutes of Health

Click here for more about Lyme disease testing.

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**Comment*

Please note a few things about this test:

  • It’s for EARLY detection –  NOT for those who have struggled with symptoms for weeks to years.
  • It ONLY tests for Borrelia burgdorferi – ONE strain of Lyme disease. To the best of my knowledge there are still 300 strains of borrelia and counting worldwide and 100 strains of borrelia and counting in the U.S. These strains are influx as new strains are continually being discovered.
  • It DOES NOT test for coinfections which can cause symptoms identical to Lyme. It’s also common for patients to be infected with numerous pathogens. For instance a person might be infected with Lyme, Babesia, Bartonella, and Mycoplasma. There are nearly 20 diseases transmitted by ticks.
Lyme disease has ALWAYS been something that demands a clinical diagnosis by a trained health care provider.

While I appreciate new technology and efforts to simplify a complex illness – this illness is NOT for dummies. The best advice I can offer health care workers is to get educated!  Do not be lazy.  People are literally suffering untold agony, and dying from this.

For more information on how to get educated on tick borne illness:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/06/06/lyme-education-for-healthcare-professionals/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/02/19/calling-all-doctors-please-become-educated-regarding-tick-borne-illness-heres-how/
Many call this a “tick-borne” illness, but please be aware that a PhD believes there are many, many modes of transmission including sexual and congenital:  
And a nurse did a boatload of work collecting 33 years of research showing congenital (mother to baby) transmission:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/06/19/33-years-of-documentation-of-maternal-child-transmission-of-lyme-disease-and-congenital-lyme-borreliosis-a-review/
My initial symptoms were ALL gynecological. I sincerely believe I obtained this from my husband:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2017/02/24/pcos-lyme-my-story/  I wish I knew then what I know now…..

Category:

Lyme, research, Testing, Transmission

More Than Lyme: Tick Study Finds Multiple Agents of Tick-borne Diseases

NEWS RELEASE 

More than Lyme: Tick study finds multiple agents of tick-borne diseases

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY’S MAILMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

IMAGE
IMAGE: THREE PRIMARY HUMAN-BITING TICK SPECIES PRESENT ON LONG ISLAND WERE EXAMINED IN THIS STUDY. LEFT — BLACKLEGGED TICK ALSO KNOWN AS THE DEER TICK, MIDDLE — THE AMERICAN DOG TICK,… view more 

CREDIT: SANTIAGO SANCHEZ-VICENTE, STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY

In a study published in mBio, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology, Jorge Benach and Rafal Tokarz, and their co-authors at Stony Brook University and Columbia University, reported on the prevalence of multiple agents capable of causing human disease that are present in three species of ticks in Long Island.

Tick-borne diseases have become a worldwide threat to public health. In the United States, cases more than doubled, from 22,000 in 2004 to more than 48,000 in 2016, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Tick-borne diseases range from subclinical to fatal infections with disproportionate incidence in children or the elderly. Moreover, some infections can also be transmitted by blood transfusions and cause severe disease in patients with underlying disorders. While public attention has focused on Lyme disease, in recent years, scientists have uncovered evidence that ticks can carry several different pathogens capable of several different tick-borne diseases, sometimes in a single tick.

In the new study, researchers collected ticks from multiple locations throughout Suffolk county in the central and eastern part of Long Island, where seven diseases caused by microbes transmitted by ticks are present. In total, they examined 1,633 individual ticks for 12 separate microbes. They found that more than half of the Ixodes (deer ticks) were infected with the Lyme disease agent, followed by infections with the agents of Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis. Importantly, nearly one-quarter of these ticks are infected with more than one agent, resulting in the possibility of simultaneous transmission from a single tick bite.

Notably, the lone star tick, a species originating from the southern U.S., has expanded its range, possibly fueled by climate change. This study documents that the invasive lone star tick is abundant in Long Island, and that it is a very aggressive tick that can transmit a bacterium that causes a disease known as Ehrlichiosis. The lone star tick has also been implicated in cases of a novel form of meat allergy, and the immature stages can cause an uncomfortable dermatitis.

“Polymicrobial infections represent an important aspect of tick-borne diseases that can complicate diagnosis and augment disease severity,” says corresponding author Jorge Benach, PhD, Distinguished Professor at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. “Some of the polymicrobial infections can be treated with the same antibiotics, but others require different therapies, thus enlarging the number of drugs to treat these infections.”

“In evaluating tick-borne infection, more than one organism needs to be considered,” says senior author Rafal Tokarz, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology in the Center for Infection and Immunity at the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, and a graduate of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stony Brook University. “This study emphasizes the need to focus on all tick-borne diseases, not just Lyme.”

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The first author is Santiago Sanchez, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stony Brook University. Teresa Tagliafierro from Columbia and James Coleman from Stony Brook are co-authors of the study.

This study was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health to Benach. Support was also provided by the Island Outreach Foundation in Blue Point, NY, to the Stony Brook Renaissance School of Medicine. Support from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation (CU18-2692) was provided to Tokarz.

 

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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**Comment**

Again, climate change has nothing to do with tick proliferation and disease spread: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/08/13/study-shows-lyme-not-propelled-by-climate-change/

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

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/06/17/ontario-public-health-officials-called-out-on-shoddy-biased-research-utilizing-an-erroneous-climate-change-model-to-program-a-futuristic-tick-problem/

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/17/uw-madison-phd-in-ecological-climatology-climate-change-computer-models-fudged-except-russian-model/  Dr. Patrick Michaels, director of the Center for the Study of Science at the Cato Institute, provides insight into the debate over climate change and the political games played to create policy.

Political games surrounding Lyme/MSIDS have gone on long enough. Do research on important issues that will help patients.

 

 

 

Category:

Anaplasmosis, Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme, research, Ticks, Transmission