Archive for the ‘Viruses’ Category

The Scientific Connection Between STARI & Chronic Lyme

The Scientific Connection Between STARI and Chronic Lyme

By Allison Caruana

President, The Mayday Project

The organism that causes chronic Lyme disease and STARI/Master’s disease is physiologically similar, but until now has not been defined. Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) is the carrier of but not the cause of the longstanding symptoms of what is known as chronic Lyme disease. Borrelia burgdorferi B31 is a rickettsial agent. Helical spiroplasma that carries the Pandora Virus (circular plasmid 26), which transfers mutant virophages to the host, is the causative agent of chronic (not early) Lyme disease, as well as STARI/Master’s disease.

In an interview with Gary Engelman, Dr. Willy Burgdorfer made two important claims. The first, borrelia was the agent of Relapsing Fever, but is not the agent of Lyme disease.13 Relapsing Fever is a different species of borrelia2, whereas Borrelia burgdorferi B31 is Spiroplasma apis.21 Dr. Willy Burgdorfer goes on to state that these are spirochete-like organisms and that up until his discovery of Borrelia burgdorferi, spirochetes had never been found to exist in deer ticks.13 The same is not true for spiroplasmas, which are common in arthropods.16 Spiroplasmas are known to cause symptoms identical to Lyme disease, i.e., arthritis, heart murmur, swollen knee, and more.14 

The Borrelia associated with Lyme disease are unlike other borrelia, as these organisms are known for an amorphous slime layer. Historically, this feature has been associated with spiroplasmas, not spirochetes.17, 20, 29, 30 Spiroplasmas (family spiroplasmataceae, order mycoplasmatales) are comprised of a group of helical prokaryotes whose external morphology differs from the spirochete. The spirochete is defined by an internal skeletal framework rather than an external peptidoglycan-containing cell wall.15 The organism we call the Bb spirochete has blebs and granules,6 which are attributes of spiroplasma and mycoplasma that occurs as a morphological response to environmental stress- which produce uncultivable mycoplasmas.20, 23, 29, 31, 32

Borrelia burgdorferi B31 is believed to be a pleomorphic spiroplasma within the family of Spiroplasma apis. This would explain Dr. Willy Burgdorfer’s statement regarding the “spirochete-like organisms” that are found in ticks.13 Additionally, Borrelia burgdorferi contain 12 linear and 9 circular plasmids, some of which have been determined to harbor mutant “bacteriophages”.4, 11, 12, 18 In theory, the term bacteriophage could be exchanged for a more proper term: “virophage”. This suggestion comes on the basis that the term “plasmid” and “chromosome” can be interchanged for “Giant viruses”.19 The circular plasmid 26 (cp26) of Borrelia burgdorferi contains 27 phages7, 11, 12 of which 19 are mutant phages (FIG. 6).18 If cp26 was not a Girus (Giant Virus), the plasmid would have burst due to the infection of a natural phage. However, cp26 is the only plasmid to be found in all isolates of Bb that has not experienced gene loss.7, 18 

It is important to note that convoluted terminology has been previously experienced in discussions around Bb. The terms “spiroplasma”, “mycoplasma” and “spirochete” are used interchangeably,31 so this is understandable for “Giant virus”, “Plasmid” and “chromosome”. The Giant Virus is also said to be associated with amoebas, however, there are amoeba-associated bacteria which can exploit common mechanisms.26

Dr. Willy Burgdorfer reviewed and tested patient blood samples from Dr. Anderson for C9P09, which is a rickettsial helical Mycoplasma; P09 being a Rickettsia bellii and C9 being a Mycoplasma (FIG. 2).35 This is further supported by the theory that an endosymbiotic infection produces spirochetes that are uncultivable Mycoplasmas, which are also called spirochetes. 1, 22, 31, 32 

The “Swiss Agent” is documented by Dr. Willy Burgdorfer (FIG. 3),25 who also wrote a speech on “Pandora’s Box”.5 Although the Swiss Agent paper is associated with the suspected African Swine Flu, Dr. Willy Burgdorfer appears to be famous for leaving clues throughout his work regarding Lyme disease. Upon reviewing the structure of the Lyme disease “Swiss Agent” and the “Pandora Giant Virus”, there is a striking resemblance that deserves further examination. This theory is supported by presentations FIG. 3 & 4, which show similar organisms. Additionally, this is supported by phylogenic information found on www.giantvirus.org regarding the genes found within the giant viruses (FIG. 5). 

Giant viruses are also known to harbor a symbiotic colony of Sputnik or mutant virophages in archaeal viruses (plasmids).9, 27 These phages are found in cp26 and the multiple cp32’s, which are worthy of additional research.4, 7, 11, 12, 18  From a virology standpoint, the only way these phages could coexist in a symbiotic relationship within the bacteria would be if the plasmid was in fact a giant virus- able to transduce genetic information to ensure the survival of the host and the organisms.11, 12 The phages carried in cp26 are the only ones to be found in all isolates and never lost.7

The giant virus also brings into question why STARI and Master’s disease is noted by Dr. Willy Burgdorferi to be a Lyme disease agent that is found in Amblyomma americanum (FIG. 1). This is supported by the fact that flaB (a transcription gene for Bb) was found in all STARI patients he had tested.8, 11 The Lyme- like organism is a mimicking microbe that by scientific definition is a giant virus.9 The scientific differentiation has been made between “Early Lyme disease” and “STARI”/“Master’s disease”, but not “chronic Lyme disease”.24 There are numerous morphological similarities between chronic Lyme disease and STARI/ Master’s disease. In both organisms, uncultivable spirochetes can be found, in addition to the transcription gene, flaB being found in STARI. Being that flaB is a promoter gene of cp26,10 the giant virus of Borrelia burgdorferi would be found in STARI patients. 

It is suspected that the rickettsial agents associated with the Lyme disease organism assists in a morphological transformation of the plasmid within the spiroplasma.2 This transition could cause the morphological transformation of the bacterial infection of early Lyme disease into the chronic Lyme/ STARI/ Master’s disease organism of uncultivable spirochetes.3, 31 In addition to the transformational aspect of early Lyme disease to chronic Lyme disease, we have a variety of ticks believed to carry this organism (FIG. 1). It is possible that the giant virus is still transferred to the patient, despite some ticks carrying an anti-borrelial agent in their salvia that eliminates the spiroplasma.1, 8, 24 All evidence supporting the theory that cp26 is in fact responsible for the uncultivable spirochetes found in human subjects,3 potentially the same for all three diseases in question in this research study.

Chronic Lyme (Figures found here)

References

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Barbour, A. G. (1990). Antigenic Variation in Relapsing Fever Borrelia Species. The Bacteria, 155–176. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-370390-3.50011-1

Brandes, N., & Linial, M. (2019). Giant Viruses—Big Surprises. Viruses, 11(5), 404. doi: 10.3390/v11050404

Brisson, D., Drecktrah, D., Eggers, C. H., & Samuels, D. S. (2012). Genetics of Borrelia burgdorferi. National Center of Biotechnology Information, 1–35. doi: 10.1146/annurev-genet-011112-112140

 Burgdorfer, W. (n.d.). Speech, Ticks-a Pandora’s Box. Retrieved from https://uvu.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/Burgdorfer/id/900/rec/1326.

 Burgdorfer, W. (n.d.). Speech, Complexity of Arthropod-borne spirochetes (Borrelia app.) with reference to the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi. Retrieved from https://uvu.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/Burgdorfer/id/899/rec/2020.

Byram, R., Stewart, P. E., & Rosa, P. (2005). The Essential Nature of the Ubiquitous 26-Kilobase Circular Replicon of Borrelia burgdorferi. Journal of Bacteriology, 187(9), 3288–3288. doi: 10.1128/jb.187.9.3288.2005

Clark, K. L., Leydet, B., & Hartman, S. (2013). Lyme Borreliosis in Human Patients in Florida and Georgia, USA. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 10(7), 915–931. doi: 10.7150/ijms.6273

 Diesend, J., Kruse, J., Hagedorn, M., & Hammann, C. (2018). Amoebae, Giant Viruses, and Virophages Make Up a Complex, Multilayered Threesome. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 7. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00527

 Dunham-Ems, S. M., Caimano, M. J., Pal, U., Wolgemuth, C. W., Eggers, C. H., Balic, A., & Radolf, J. D. (2009). Live imaging reveals a biphasic mode of dissemination of Borrelia burgdorferi within ticks. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 119(12), 3652–3665. doi: 10.1172/jci39401

 Eggers, C. H., Kimmel, B. J., Bono, J. L., Elias, A. F., Rosa, P., & Samuels, D. S. (2001). Transduction by  BB-1, a Bacteriophage of Borrelia burgdorferi. Journal of Bacteriology, 183(16), 4771–4778. doi: 10.1128/jb.183.16.4771-4778.2001

Eggers, C. H., Gray, C. M., Preisig, A. M., Glenn, D. M., Pereira, J., Ayers, R. W., … Moeller, J. T. (2016). Phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer of both prophage and heterologous DNA by ϕBB-1, a bacteriophage ofBorrelia burgdorferi. Pathogens and Disease, 74(9). doi: 10.1093/femspd/ftw107

Engelman, G. (2011, March 22). My Lyme Disease Interview with Dr. Willy Burgdorfer by Gary Engelman, BSN, RN. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SnIG-cRjHM&list=PL9E67E3675388F7DD.

Etienne, N., Bret, L., Brun, C. L., Lecuyer, H., Moraly, J., Lanternier, F., … Lortholary, O. (2018). Disseminated Spiroplasma apis Infection in Patient with Agammaglobulinemia, France. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 24(12), 2382–2386. doi: 10.3201/eid2412.180567

Fletcher, J., Melcher, U., & Wayadande, A. (2006). The Phytopathogenic Spiroplasmas. The Prokaryotes, 905–947. doi: 10.1007/0-387-30744-3_30

Henning, K., Greiner-Fischer, S., Hotzel, H., Ebsen, M., & Theegarten, D. (2006). Isolation of Spiroplasma sp. from an Ixodes tick. International Journal of Medical Microbiology, 296, 157–161. doi: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2006.01.012

Hénaff, M. L., Crémet, J.-Y., & Fontenelle, C. (2002). Purification and Characterization of the Major Lipoprotein (P28) of Spiroplasma apis. Protein Expression and Purification, 24(3), 489–496. doi: 10.1006/prep.2001.1600

Jewett, M. W., Byram, R., Bestor, A., Tilly, K., Lawrence, K., Burtnick, M. N., … Rosa, P. A. (2007). Genetic basis for retention of a critical virulence plasmid of Borrelia burgdorferi. Molecular Microbiology, 66(4), 975–990. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2007.05969.x

Koonin, E. V., Krupovic, M., & Yutin, N. (2015). Evolution of double-stranded DNA viruses of eukaryotes: from bacteriophages to transposons to giant viruses. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1341(1), 10–24. doi: 10.1111/nyas.12728

Kudryashev, M., Cyrklaff, M., Baumeister, W., Simon, M. M., Wallich, R., & Frischknecht, F. (2009). Comparative cryo-electron tomography of pathogenic Lyme disease spirochetes. Molecular Microbiology, 71(6), 1415–1434. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2009.06613.x

Lo, W.-S., & Kuo, C.-H. (2017). Horizontal Acquisition and Transcriptional Integration of Novel Genes in Mosquito-Associated Spiroplasma. Genome Biology and Evolution, 9(12), 3246–3259. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evx244

Mattila, J. T., Munderloh, U. G., & Kurtti, T. J. (2007). Phagocytosis of the Lyme Disease Spirochete,Borrelia burgdorferi, by Cells from the Ticks,Ixodes scapularisandDermacentor andersoni, Infected with An Endosymbiont,Rickettsia peacockii. Journal of Insect Science, 7(58), 1–12. doi: 10.1673/031.007.5801

Meriläinen, L., Schwarzbach, A., Herranen, A., & Gilbert, L. (2015). Morphological and biochemical features of Borrelia burgdorferi pleomorphic forms. Microbiology, 161(3), 516–527. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.000027

Molins, C. R., Ashton, L. V., Wormser, G. P., Andre, B. G., Hess, A. M., Delorey, M. J., … Belisle, J. T. (2017). Metabolic differentiation of early Lyme disease from southern tick–associated rash illness (STARI). Science Translational Medicine, 9(403). doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aal2717

Piller, C. (2016, October 12). The “Swiss Agent”: Long-forgotten research unearths new mystery about Lyme disease. Retrieved October 5, 2019, from https://www.statnews.com/2016/10/12/swiss-agent-lyme-disease-mystery/.

Schmitz-Esser, S., Tischler, P., Arnold, R., Montanaro, J., Wagner, M., Rattei, T., & Horn, M. (2009). The Genome of the Amoeba Symbiont “Candidatus Amoebophilus asiaticus” Reveals Common Mechanisms for Host Cell Interaction among Amoeba-Associated Bacteria. Journal of Bacteriology, 192(No.4), 1045–1057. doi: 10.1128/JB.01379-09

Scola, B. L., Desnues, C., Pagnier, I., Robert, C., Barrassi, L., Fournous, G., … Raoult, D. (2008). The virophage as a unique parasite of the giant mimivirus. Nature, 455(7209), 100–104. doi: 10.1038/nature07218

Seligmann, H. (2019). Giant viruses: spore‐like missing links between Rickettsia and mitochondria? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1447(1), 69–79. doi: 10.1111/nyas.14022

 Stalheim, O. H. V., Ritchie, A. E., & Whitcomb, R. F. (1978). Cultivation, serology, ultrastructure, and virus-like particles of spiroplasma 277F. Current Microbiology, 1(6), 365–370. doi: 10.1007/bf02621371

 Tully, J., Rose, D., Yunker, C., Cory, J., Whitcomb, R., & Williamson, D. (1981). Helical mycoplasmas (spiroplasmas) from Ixodes ticks. Science, 212(4498), 1043–1045. doi: 10.1126/science.7233197

Whitcomb, R. F., & Williamson, D. L. (1975). Helical Wall-Free Prokaryotes In Insects: Multiplication And Pathogenicity. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 266(1 Pathobiology), 260–275. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1975.tb35109.x

Whitcomb, R. F., & Tully, J. G. (1982). Taxonomy and Identification of Spiroplasmas. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 4(Supplement_1). doi: 10.1093/clinids/4.supplement_1.s148

FIG. 1

Willy Burgdorfer’s research notes on established tick-borne disease of humans and/or animals in the United States. The Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi is carried by Ixodes dammini, Ixodes pacificus, Ixodes scapularis, Amblyomma americanum.

FIG. 2

Willy Burgdorfer’s research notes on patients with rickettsial agents. The Swiss agent is shown to be a rickettsial helical mycoplasma, known as C9P09. 

FIG. 3

A microscopic slide of the labeled Swiss agent

FIG 4

Figure B2 is a Pandoraviridae, showing a striking resemblance to that of the Swiss agent.

FIG 5

The phylogenetic tree of giant viruses that includes the RpoC, DN-directed RNA polymerase, beta subunit/160 kD Transcription of Borrelia burgdorferi

FIG 6

The mutant alleles on cp26 showing 27 total bacteriophages, of which 19 are mutant bacteriophages.

Contact Information

Allison.Caruana@TheMaydayproject.org

Acknowledgements:  First and foremost, I acknowledge my Lord and Savior for saving me and giving me ability to do what I do to help others. To my five wonderful children that have supported my efforts and dealt with the hours upon hours of scientific studies. To my late husband Michael, who always believed in me and helped me to remain focused on what mattered the most. To my family of Lyme warriors, it is our suffering and our strength that has put the wind in my sails and given me the drive to see that future generations do not suffer the way we do. 

Category:

Lyme, Ticks, Viruses

Former U.S. Senator Dies of Powassan Virus

https://www.wral.com/flags-in-nc-lowered-to-half-staff-to-honor-former-us-sen-kay-hagan/18728572/  News Video Here

Flags in NC lowered to half-staff to honor former US Sen. Kay Hagan

October 28, 2019

RALEIGH, N.C. — Tributes poured in Monday from North Carolina and Washington, D.C., praising former U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, who died after battling a lengthy illness, her family and Democratic party leaders confirmed to WRAL News. She was 66.

“We are heartbroken to share that Kay left us unexpectedly this morning,” her family said in a statement. “Kay meant everything to us, and we were honored to share her with the people of North Carolina, whom she cared for and fought for so passionately as an elected official.

“Most of all, we already miss her humor and spirit as the hub of our family, a role she loved more than anything. Nobody could light up a room and make people feel welcome like Kay,” her family said.

Hagan, a Democrat who was seen in public this weekend at a fundraising event for former Vice President Joe Biden, was elected in 2008 and served one term before she was defeated by Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis during a bruising contest for the seat in 2014.

Gov. Roy Cooper ordered U.S. and North Carolina flags lowered to half-staff through sunset Tuesday to pay tribute to Hagan, who was born in Shelby.

Hagan served 10 years in the state Senate, representing Guilford County, before besting Republican U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole in 2008. Before entering politics, Hagan worked as a lawyer and in the banking industry.

In 2016, Hagan was diagnosed with Powassan virus, an illness transmitted by ticks. According to experts, there is no vaccine or antiviral drug that can combat the ailment.

As word began to spread about her death, the condolences started pouring in for Hagan.

“The world is a little grayer since we lost this amazing woman and dear friend today,” Claire McCaskill, former U.S. senator for Missouri, tweeted.

Biden also tweeted his condolences.

“Kay Hagan was a courageous soul who lived every day of her too-short life with incredible dignity and character, even as the days became more difficult physically,” Biden’s tweet said. “Jill and I are deeply saddened by this news and extend our condolences to her entire family.”

Republican 6th District Congressman Mark Walker, who represents the Greensboro area, said Hagan worked tirelessly for North Carolina.

“Sen. Hagan was dedicated to serving North Carolinians and especially to the men and women of the Armed Forces in America’s most military-friendly state,” he said in a written statement.

Cooper recalled the days when they both served in the state legislature.

“I’ve known Kay since our days in the legislature together,” Cooper’s statement said. “Kay was a fierce advocate for North Carolina, and she represented our state with courage and grace her entire career.

“She made it a mission to inspire young people, especially young girls, to enter public service, and she served as a role model to so many,” Cooper said.

Hagan rose quickly in the General Assembly to become one of the Senate’s primary budget writers under former Gov. Mike Easley. Easley had to negotiate the state budget with Hagan for many years, and he said she was warm but drove a tough bargain.

“She was such an angel and delightful personality, but at the same time, she could be just as tough as nails,” Easley said. “I remember her on [Senate] Appropriations standing up to a lot of the older guys in the legislature.”

Those who served in state government with her said news of her passing hit close to home.

“Notwithstanding the fact that we are of different parties and had philosophical disagreements, I always had a warm and friendly relationship with her,” Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger said, noting they served in the Senate together for eight years and both represented Guilford County.

Tillis, who defeated Hagan for the Senate seat he now holds, said in a written statement, “Susan and I are absolutely heartbroken by Senator Kay Hagan’s sudden passing, and we extend our condolences and prayers to her loving family and many friends. We join all North Carolinians in remembering her dedicated and distinguished record of public service to our state and nation.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr praised Hagan’s dedication to North Carolina.

“Kay dedicated much of her life to serving North Carolina, and she will be remembered for her tireless work on behalf of the home and the people she loved,” he said in a statement. “In our time as Senate colleagues, we worked across the aisle together frequently on issues that we both knew would determine what type of country our children would inherit.”

Category:

Activism, Ticks, Viruses

Viral Diversity of Tick Species Parasitizing Cattle and Dogs in Trinidad and Tobago

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-46914-1

Published:

Viral Diversity of Tick Species Parasitizing Cattle and Dogs in Trinidad and Tobago

Stephen Sameroff, Rafal Tokarz,Roxanne Albertha Charles,Komal Jain, Alexandra Oleynik,Xiaoyu Che,Karla Georges,Christine V. Carrington,W. Ian Lipkin &Chris Oura

Scientific Reports volume 9, Article number: 10421 (2019) | Download Citation

Abstract

Ticks are vectors of a wide variety of pathogens that are implicated in mild to severe disease in humans and other animals. Nonetheless, the full range of tick-borne pathogens is unknown. Viruses, in particular, have been neglected in discovery efforts targeting tick-borne agents. High throughput sequencing was used to characterize the virome of 638 ticks, including Rhipicephalus microplus (n = 320), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (n = 300), and Amblyomma ovale (n = 18) collected throughout Trinidad and Tobago in 2017 and 2018. Sequences representing nine viruses were identified, including five novel species within Tymovirales, Bunyavirales, Chuviridae, Rhabdoviridae, and Flaviviridae. Thereafter the frequency of detection of viral sequences in individual tick species was investigated.

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**Comment**

Understatement of the year: “Viruses, in particular, have been neglected in discovery efforts targeting tick-borne agents.”

What happens when a person contracts Lyme disease and tick-borne viruses at the same time?
Answer: Nobody knows.

Fact from the past: Dr. Allen Steere, the first to be on the scene in Connecticut’s outbreak, first believed the outbreak to be viral:  https://sites.google.com/site/jerryleonard999/home/allen-steere-psychopath-at-large#  He also insisted that Ixodes ticks are the only ones capable of transmitting Lyme and that any long-term damage was due to the patient’s immune system. Dr. Burrascano demonstrated that Steere’s patients that were treated and stated to be “cured,” were still infected by biopsies, cultures, and DNA probes. Steere’s stance is one and the same with the IDSA and the CDC.

Are viruses an unknown entity in Lyme/MSIDS that few have considered?
Answer: I’ve heard enough to make me wonder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Category:

research, Ticks, Viruses

Deadly Mosquito-borne Virus That Causes Brain Swelling in Humans Found in Florida

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/28/health/eastern-equine-encephalitis-mosquito-outbreak-chickens-florida-trnd/index.html

A deadly mosquito-borne virus that causes brain swelling in humans has been detected in Florida

(CNN) Florida health officials are warning of an uptick in a mosquito-borne virus known as Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).
Several sentinel chickens tested positive for EEE, which can spread to humans via infected mosquitoes and cause brain infection and swelling, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County said in a Thursday statement. Sentinel chickens are fowl that are tested regularly for the West Nile virus and EEE. Their blood can show the presence of the diseases, but they don’t suffer from the effects of the viruses.
Following the positive tests for the sentinel chickens in Orange County, the health department said “the risk of transmission to humans has increased.”
Only about seven cases of the EEE virus in humans are reported in the US each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
However, the disease can be fatal: about 30% of people who contract it die, according to the CDC. Many survivors have ongoing neurologic problems.
People develop symptoms about 4 to 10 days after they are bitten by an infected mosquito, the CDC says. Signs include sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills and vomiting. More severe symptoms include disorientation, seizures and coma.
With summer in full swing, mosquitoes are buzzing around at peak populations. Officials warned people to avoid being bitten by draining standing water around their homes, covering skin with clothing or repellant, and using screens to cover doors and windows.
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Category:

mosquitoes, Viruses

New Hampshire Man Tests Positive For Jamestown Canyon & Powassan Viruses

http://indepthnh.org/2019/08/08/dhhs-kingston-man-tests-positive-for-rare-viruses-carried-by-ticks-mosquitoes/

DHHS: Kingston Man Tests Positive for Rare Viruses Carried By Ticks, Mosquitoes

By DHHS news release

Public Domain photo

NH health officials say protect yourself from mosquito bites.
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced that an adult from Kingston, NH tested positive for both Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) and Powassan virus (POW), the first time these vector-borne diseases have been identified in the State in 2019.JCV is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and POW is transmitted by infected ticks. There are no vaccines to prevent JCV or POW and treatment consists of supportive care.

“From spring until fall, New Hampshire residents and visitors are at risk for a number of different infections from the bite of mosquitoes and ticks, and this case highlights the risk from both,” said Dr. Benjamin Chan, State Epidemiologist.

“In addition to Jamestown Canyon virus and Powassan virus, there are a number of other viral and bacterial infections that can be transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks in New Hampshire, and we recommend that residents and visitors continue to take basic steps to prevent mosquito and tick bites in order to stay healthy.”

Jamestown Canyon virus is a mosquito-borne pathogen that circulates widely in North America primarily between deer and a variety of mosquito species, but it can also infect humans. First reported in the early 1970s, reports in humans are rare but have been increasing over the last several years. This is New Hampshire’s seventh case of JCV since the first report of the disease in 2013. Most reported illnesses caused by JCV have been mild, but moderate-to-severe central nervous system involvement has been reported.

Powassan virus infection is similar to mosquito-borne viruses like JCV, West Nile virus (WNV), and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), but is transmitted to people by infected ticks. POW was identified as a cause of human illness in the late 1950’s. In the last decade, 144 cases of POW have been detected in the United States. This is New Hampshire’s fourth case of POW, also since 2013. In New Hampshire, the blacklegged tick is the most likely to transmit this virus to people. A tick needs to be attached to a person for only 15 minutes to transmit POW. Some people who are infected may experience mild illness or no symptoms. Powassan virus can also infect the central nervous system causing brain inflammation, which may be disabling or fatal.

The Kingston resident had no recent history of travel outside our state and spent a great amount of time outdoors. Residents and visitors to New Hampshire should protect themselves and their family members by:

·         using an effective mosquito and tick repellant containing DEET (20-30%), Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus

·         wearing protective clothing, tucking shirts into pants and pants into socks

·         removing standing water from around your house so mosquitoes do not have a place to breed

·         being mindful of tick habitat keeping grass cut short, and

·         performing frequent and daily tick checks with immediate tick removal.

Vitamin B, ultrasonic devices, incense, and bug zappers have not been shown to be effective in preventing mosquito- or tick-borne diseases.

Other mosquito- and tick-borne illnesses that have been documented in New Hampshire include WNV and EEE from mosquitoes, and Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Borrelia miyamotoi from ticks. Biting mosquitoes will continue to be a disease concern until there are two, statewide, hard frosts. Risk of tick bites exists when temperatures are above freezing and ticks are not covered by snow.

People can be infected and not develop any symptoms, or only develop very mild symptoms. Early symptoms can include flu-like illness including fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue. People infected with JCV, EEE, WNV, and Powassan can develop more serious central nervous system disease, including meningitis or encephalitis. If you or someone you know is experiencing flu-like symptoms, including fever and headache, contact your local medical provider.

Anyone with questions about vector-borne illnesses can call the DHHS Division of Public Health Services Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at (603) 271-4496 between 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. More information can also be found online at www.dhhs.nh.gov and www.cdc.gov.

News story here:  https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-adult-infected-with-jamestown-canyon-virus-powassan-virus/28647142

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**Comment**

Pathogens have a certain proclivity for their vectors. It’s always interesting to me to entertain the possibility that perhaps there is cross over.

For instance, borrelia has been found in mosquitoes and many patients claim to have become infected with Lyme after a mosquito bite:

https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2018/11/07/are-mosquitoes-transmitting-lyme-disease/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/26631488/  Excerpt:

…results show that DNA of Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia bavariensis and Borrelia garinii could be detected in ten Culicidae species comprising four distinct genera (Aedes, Culiseta, Culex, and Ochlerotatus). Positive samples also include adult specimens raised in the laboratory from wild-caught larvae indicating that transstadial and/or transovarial transmission might occur within a given mosquito population.

BTW: THE LAST STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL OF OTHER BUGS TRANSMITTING LYME (MINUS THE GERMAN STUDY ON MOSQUITOS) WAS DONE OVER 30 YEARS AGO.  AND, WHILE NO SPIROCHETES WERE ISOLATED FROM THE HAMSTERS, ANTIBODIES WERE FOUND – EVEN BACK THEN.

Therein lies the hang up. The presence of antibodies does not prove infection. It’s interesting that the current CDC 2-tiered testing relies upon antibodies…..

The transmission of Bartonella from ticks is also still being quibbled about with some just stating emphatically that it is:  https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2016/01/03/bartonella-treatment/ while others take a more conservative approach and say the science isn’t settled: https://madisonarealymesupportgroup.com/2019/07/13/suspected-insect-and-arthropod-vectors-for-bartonella-species-galaxy/

This issue of what is being transmitted by whom seems to me to be a very important and practical issue.  Why isn’t the science being done?

Also, while the media continues to inform us all of this is “rare,” please remember that many of these pathogens are not mandatorily reported, and we have no idea on prevalence. Coppe Lab out of Wisconsin emphatically states Powassan is NOT rare:

http://www.coppelabs.com/blog/why-is-powassan-virus-infection-still-described-as-rare-and-mysterious/  Please read the following excerpt by Coppe Lab here in Wisconsin,

For the last two years, Coppe Laboratories has dedicated a significant amount of time and resources to dispelling the myth that infection with Powassan virus, a virus transmitted by tick bite, is rare. The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) reports only 100 cases of Powassan virus infection in the United States in the last 10 years. Indeed, that statistic gives the illusion that Powassan infection is rare. However, did you know that the only infections reported to CDC are those that are life-threatening, particularly cases causing severe inflammation of the brain like the case reported in LiveScience? Coppe has published three new papers in the last year that clearly show Powassan virus infection is not rare are at all,and until testing for this virus is included as part of tick-borne disease screening panels infections will continue to be underreported. Coppe’s Powassan Guide, which can be downloaded from the website, summarizes the findings from both tick and human Powassan prevalence studies, as well as defining the patient populations that would benefit most from Powassan testing.

To my knowledge, not only are there few current studies on what transmits what, but nothing has been done  on transmission time when multiple pathogens are being transmitted concurrently. Everyone’s stuck on climate change….

 

 

 

 

Category:

mosquitoes, Ticks, Transmission, Viruses