Latest publications about Lyme disease
The latest publications as well as other headlines related to Lyme disease are automatically displayed here.
11/19/2008
Chronic and recurrent meningitis.
Authors: Ginsberg L, Kidd D
Chronic meningitis is defined as the persistence of clinical symptoms and signs of meningitis, with or without abnormal cerebrospinal fluid, for more than four weeks. In as many as one third of cases, no cause is found. In the remainder, infective, neoplastic and so-called aseptic disorders may be identified. Important infective causes include partially treated bacterial (pyogenic), tuberculous, syphilitic, Lyme and fungal meningitis. Sarcoidosis, Behçet's disease, vasculitis and drugs are major non-infective, non-malignant causes. The definitive diagnosis of the cause of chronic meningitis may be made only after extensive investigation. This review describes the clinical features and causes of chronic and recurrent meningitis, and provides an algorithm... MedWorm Sponsored Message: Find out how you can get your message across here by sponsoring this MedWorm news feed.
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11/19/2008
Transcription and genetic analyses of a putative n-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase in borrelia burgdorferi
In this study, a putative N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase gene (bb0666) was identified in the genome of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. This protein shares c. 30% identity with its counterparts from other bacteria. Reverse transcriptase-PCR analysis showed that bb0666 along with two other genes (bb0665 and bb0667) are cotranscribed with the motility and chemotaxis genes. This newly identified operon is termed as pami. Sequence and primer extension analyses showed that pami was regulated by a [sigma]70-like promoter, which is designated as Pami. Transcriptional analysis using a gene encoding green fluorescence protein as a reporter demonstrated that Pami functions in both Escherichia coli and B. burgdorferi. Genetic studies showed that the [Delta]bb0666 mutant grows in l...
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11/18/2008
B.c. doctor urged to retire because of zealous approach to lyme disease
A physician sought out by patients for his particular approach to treating Lyme disease is speaking out about a College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. investigation into his views and practices with regard to the disease. (Source: CBC | Health)
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11/08/2008
Lyme disease
'I found my own diagnosis on the net' (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)
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11/07/2008
The chronic debate over lyme disease
The chronic debate over Lyme disease
Nature Medicine 14, 1135 (2008). doi:10.1038/nm1108-1135
A small group of doctors—and a large number of patients—say Lyme disease can sometimes manifest as a chronic illness, one that evades conventional medical tests and treatments. The physicians who support this theory flout standard medical guidelines and treat patients with long-term antibiotic therapies that mainstream researchers say are unproven and potentially dangerous. Coco Ballantyne reports on how the controversy over Lyme disease has become increasing polarized. (Source: Nature Medicine)
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11/03/2008
Skin manifestations of lyme borreliosis: diagnosis and management
(Source: American Journal of Clinical Dermatology) MedWorm Sponsored Message: Find out how you can get your message across here by sponsoring this MedWorm news feed.
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11/01/2008
Fever of unknown origin (fuo) due to babesiosis in a immunocompetent host.
We present the case of a 73-year-old, non-human immunodeficiency virus, male from Long Island who presented with FUO for 6 weeks. As with malaria, there are usually few or no localizing signs in babesiosis. During the patient's hospitalization, babesiosis was suspected on the basis of nonspecific laboratory findings, that is, relative lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and an elevated lactate dehydrogenase. When babesiosis was considered in the differential diagnosis, stained blood smears demonstrated the red blood cell inclusions of babesiosis. In the hospital, the patient developed noncardiac pulmonary edema, which rapidly resolved which has been described as a rare complication of babesiosis. He also had an elevated immunoglobulin-M Lyme titer indicating coinfection with L...
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10/31/2008
Modification of borrelia burgdorferi to overproduce ospa or vlse alters its infectious behaviour.
Modification of Borrelia burgdorferi to overproduce OspA or VlsE alters its infectious behaviour.
Microbiology. 2008 Nov;154(Pt 11):3420-9
Authors: Xu Q, McShan K, Liang FT
The surface lipoproteins of the Lyme disease spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi directly interact with tissue microenvironments during mammalian infection, and thus potentially affect various aspects of infection. To investigate the influence of surface antigen synthesis on infectious behaviour, B. burgdorferi was modified to constitutively produce the well-characterized surface lipoproteins OspA and invariant VlsE. Although increasing OspA or VlsE production did not significantly affect synthesis of other surface lipoproteins or spirochaetal growth in vitro, overexpressing vlsE resulted in increased ospA but ...
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10/31/2008
Clinical predictors of lyme disease among children with a peripheral facial palsy at an emergency department in a lyme disease-endemic area
CONCLUSIONS. Lyme disease is a frequent cause of facial palsy in children living in an endemic region. Serologic testing and empiric antibiotics should be strongly considered, especially when children present during peak Lyme disease season or with a headache. (Source: PEDIATRICS)
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10/31/2008
[consensus conference on lyme borreliosis.]
[Consensus conference on Lyme borreliosis.]
Presse Med. 2008 Oct 31;
Authors: Clavelou P
PMID: 18977629 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Presse Medicale)
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10/30/2008
Serologic survey of the wild boar (sus scrofa) for borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0: 1-4.
Sera of 642 wild boars (Sus scrofa) shot by hunters in ten administrative regions of the Czech Republic during 1995–2000, were tested by indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) for the presence of anti-Borrelia IgG. Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu ... (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases) MedWorm Sponsored Message: Find out how you can get your message across here by sponsoring this MedWorm news feed.
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10/30/2008
Borrelia burgdorferi napa-driven th17 cell inflammation in lyme arthritis
This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of the innate and acquired immune responses elicited by the neutrophil-activating protein A (NapA) of B burgdorferi in patients with Lyme arthritis.Serum anti-NapA antibodies were measured in 27 patients with Lyme arthritis and 30 healthy control subjects. The cytokine profile of synovial fluid T cells specific for NapA was investigated in 5 patients with Lyme arthritis. The cytokine profile induced by NapA in neutrophils and monocytes was also investigated.Serum anti-NapA antibodies were found in 48% of the patients with Lyme arthritis but were undetectable in the healthy controls. T cells from the synovial fluid of patients with Lyme arthritis produced interleukin-17 (IL-17) in response to NapA. Moreover, NapA was able to induce the expressi...
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10/29/2008
Rapid detection and identification of a pathogen's dna using phi29 dna polymerase.
We describe a novel method based on multiply-primed rolling circle in vitro amplification for profiling genomic DNAs to permit rapid, cultivation-free differential detection and identification of circular plasmids in infectious agents. Using Phi29 DNA polymerase and a two-step priming reaction we could reproducibly detect and characterize by DNA sequencing circular DNA from Borrelia burgdorferi B31 in DNA samples containing as little as 25 pg of Borrelia DNA amongst a vast excess of human DNA. This simple technology can ultimately be adapted as a sensitive method to detect specific DNA from both known and unknown pathogens in a wide variety of complex environments.
PMID: 18755142 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Biochemical and Biophysical Research communications)
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10/28/2008
Lyme carditis.
Authors: Naik M, Kim D, O'Brien F, Axel L, Srichai MB
PMID: 18955678 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Circulation)
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10/28/2008
Images in cardiovascular medicine. lyme carditis.
Images in cardiovascular medicine. Lyme carditis.
Circulation. 2008 Oct 28;118(18):1881-4
Authors: Naik M, Kim D, O'Brien F, Axel L, Srichai MB
PMID: 18955678 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Circulation)
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10/27/2008
Ilads president calls for more comprehensive dialogue to prevent chronic lyme disease
During his closing remarks at the 2008 Scientific Meeting hosted by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), Dr. Daniel Cameron, ILADS president, stressed the need for more comprehensive dialogue between physicians and researchers regarding the prevention of chronic Lyme disease. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today) MedWorm Sponsored Message: Find out how you can get your message across here by sponsoring this MedWorm news feed.
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10/24/2008
Free videos online: aibs 2008 annual meeting lectures
The AIBS Media Library contains plenary lectures by some of the world???s most eminent biologists recorded at AIBS annual meetings from 2000 onward. The free recordings offer synchronized video, audio, slides, transcripts, and MP3 podcast files of most presentations. The 2008 AIBS annual meeting addresses on ???Climate, Environment, and Infectious Diseases??? are now online at www.aibs.org/media-library.
New content
Terry L. Maple, Palm Beach Zoo, coauthor with Newt Gingrich of A Contract with the Earth
James E. Hansen, National Aeronautics and Space Administration: ???Global Warming: The Threat to Life???
Durland Fish, Yale University: ???Environmental Determinants of Lyme Disease Risk??? (presentation and MP3 audio)
Howard Frumkin, National Center for Environmental Health: ???The Public...
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10/24/2008
Abrogation of ospab constitutively activates the rrp2-rpon-rpos pathway (sigman-sigmas cascade) in borrelia burgdorferi
Molecular mechanisms underlying the reciprocal regulation of the two major surface lipoproteins and virulence factors of Borrelia burgdorferi, OspA and OspC, are not fully understood. Herein, we report that inactivation of the ospAB operon resulted in overproduction of OspC and many other lipoproteins via the constitutive activation of the Rrp2-RpoN-RpoS pathway. Complementing the ospAB mutant with a wild-type copy of ospA, but not an ospA variant that lacks the lipoprotein signal sequence, restored normal regulation of the Rrp2-RpoN-RpoS pathway; these results indicate that the phenotype was not caused by spurious mutations. Interestingly, while most of the ospAB mutant clones displayed a constitutive ospC expression phenotype, some ospAB mutant clones showed little or no ospC expression....
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10/22/2008
Isolation of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from the skin of the european badger (meles meles) in switzerland
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0: 1-2.
No data are available on the role of badgers in the ecology of Lyme borreliosis spirochetes in Europe. In a recent study describing validation of a molecular method allowing host DNA identification and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato detection in Ixodes ... (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
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10/22/2008
Viral genetics, inc. releases initial findings of lyme disease study
Viral Genetics, Inc. (OTC:VRAL), a biotechnology company that discovers and develops immune-based therapies, today unveiled to the general public initial findings of its ongoing Lyme Disease study. Viral Genetics initially unveiled its new model and early findings on Saturday, October 18th, at the 2008 International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) Scientific Session. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
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10/22/2008
Evaluation of the liaison(r) borrelia burgdorferi test, a recombinant vlse-based chemiluminescence immunoassay for the diagnosis of lyme disease.
Evaluation of the LIAISON(R) Borrelia burgdorferi Test, a Recombinant VlsE-based Chemiluminescence Immunoassay for the Diagnosis of Lyme Disease.
Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2008 Oct 22;
Authors: Ledue TB, Collins MF, Young J, Schriefer ME
Recent efforts to improve the serologic diagnosis of Lyme disease have included the use of a synthetic peptide (C6) that reproduces the sequence of invariable region 6 of VlsE, the variable surface antigen of Borrelia burgdorferi. In the present study, the diagnostic performance of DiaSorin's recombinant VlsE-based chemiluminescence immunoassay was evaluated in 1,947 human serum samples. Sensitivity was determined using two serum panels from the CDC. For Panel I, we observed sensitivities of 68.4% and 75.6% for subjects with early, localized (n = 1... MedWorm Sponsored Message: Find out how you can get your message across here by sponsoring this MedWorm news feed.
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10/21/2008
Viral genetics, inc. releases initial findings of lyme disease study
SAN MARINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 21, 2008 - Viral Genetics, Inc. (OTC:VRAL), a biotechnology company that discovers and develops immune-based therapies, today unveiled to the general public initial findings of its ongoing Lyme Disease study.... (Source: Drugs.com - Clinical Trials)
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10/21/2008
Percent positive rate of lyme real-time polymerase chain reaction in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, and tissue.
Percent positive rate of Lyme real-time polymerase chain reaction in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, and tissue.
Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2008 Oct 21;
Authors: Babady NE, Sloan LM, Vetter EA, Patel R, Binnicker MJ
We performed a retrospective review of 23,777 specimens tested by our Lyme real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to determine the percent positive rates by specimen source. The percent positive rates were highest in synovial fluid (6.4%) and tissue (6.5%), and lowest in blood (0.1%) and cerebrospinal fluid (0.09%).
PMID: 18947959 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
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10/20/2008
Prolonged lyme disease treatment: enough is enough
(Source: Neurology)
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10/20/2008
Iram-an alpha(2)-macroglobulin from the hard tick ixodes ricinus: characterization and function in phagocytosis of a potential pathogen chryseobacterium indologenes.
IrAM-An alpha(2)-macroglobulin from the hard tick Ixodes ricinus: Characterization and function in phagocytosis of a potential pathogen Chryseobacterium indologenes.
Dev Comp Immunol. 2008 Oct 20;
Authors: Buresova V, Hajdusek O, Franta Z, Sojka D, Kopacek P
The universal protease inhibitors of the alpha(2)-macroglobulin (alpha(2)M) family are evolutionarily conserved constituents of innate immunity, presumably because they guard organisms against undesired proteolytic attacks of a different origin. Here, we determined the primary structure of alpha(2)-macroglobulin from the hard tick Ixodes ricinus (IrAM) by sequencing of overlapping PCR products. Predicted disulfide and glycosylation patterns, post-translational cleavage and alternative splicing within its 'bait region' demon...
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10/15/2008
Cotton wool spots as possible indicators of retinal vascular pathology in ocular lyme borreliosis
We present a case of a woman with Lyme borreliosis and recurrent unilateral
anterior uveitis in her right eye for 2 years, who developed cotton wool spots (CWS) in her left eye, followed by acute and
recurrent anterior uveitis in this second eye. An extensive general examination, including blood coagulopathies and ultrasound
of the carotid arteries, did not reveal any pathology. The CWS resolved within a few months. The recurrent anterior uveitis
could be controlled by topical steroids. After treatment with 2 g of i.v. ceftriaxone for 3 weeks, she remained free of recurrences
for 1 year of observation time. CWS can be the first clinical sign of ocular vascular pathology and/or uveitis. Further investigation
will be necessary to confirm the relationship between CWS and ... MedWorm Sponsored Message: Find out how you can get your message across here by sponsoring this MedWorm news feed.
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10/08/2008
Viral genetics, inc. invited to present new model, initial findings of lyme disease study at prestigious ilads conference
AZUSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 8, 2008 - Viral Genetics, Inc. (Other OTC:VRAL), a biotechnology company that discovers and develops immune-based therapies, today announced it has been invited to present and discuss its new Lyme Disease study... (Source: Drugs.com - Clinical Trials)
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10/07/2008
The majority of cutaneous marginal zone b-cell lymphomas expresses class-switched immunoglobulins and develops in a t-helper type 2 inflammatory environment
Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (MZBCLs) arise on a background of chronic inflammation resulting from organ-specific autoimmunity, infection, or by unknown causes. Well-known examples are salivary gland MZBCL in Sjögren's sialadenitis and gastric MZBCL in Helicobacter pylori gastritis. MZBCLs express CXCR3, a receptor for interferon-–induced chemokines highly expressed in the chronic inflammatory environment. The immunoglobulin (Ig) variable heavy/light chain (IgVH/IgVL) gene repertoire of salivary gland and gastric MZBCL appears restricted and frequently encodes B-cell receptors with rheumatoid factor reactivity. Primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphomas (PCMZLs) are regarded as the skin-involving counterparts of extranodal MZBCLs. Although PCMZLs have been ass...
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10/05/2008
Cutting edge: immunity against a "silent" salivary antigen of the lyme vector ixodes scapularis impairs its ability to feed.
Cutting edge: Immunity against a "silent" salivary antigen of the Lyme vector Ixodes scapularis impairs its ability to feed.
J Immunol. 2008 Oct 15;181(8):5209-12
Authors: Kotsyfakis M, Anderson JM, Andersen JF, Calvo E, Francischetti IM, Mather TN, Valenzuela JG, Ribeiro JM
Ixodes scapularis ticks transmit the Lyme disease agent in the United States. Although strong antitick immunity mediates tick rejection by certain vertebrates, only a few Ags have been molecularly characterized. We show that guinea pig vaccination against a secreted tick salivary immunomodulator, sialostatin L2, can lead to decreased feeding ability of I. scapularis nymphs. Increased rejection rate, prolonged feeding time, and apparent signs of inflammation were observed for nymphs attached to vaccinated an...
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10/03/2008
Surveillance summaries: surveillance for lyme disease --- united states, 1992--2006
(Source: CDC)
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10/03/2008
Surveillance for lyme disease--united states, 1992-2006.
Surveillance for Lyme disease--United States, 1992-2006.
MMWR Surveill Summ. 2008 Oct 3;57(10):1-9
Authors: Bacon RM, Kugeler KJ, Mead PS,
PROBLEM/CONDITION: Lyme disease is a multisystem disease that occurs in North America, Europe, and Asia. In the United States, the etiologic agent is Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, a spirochete transmitted to humans by infected Ixodes scapularis and I. pacificus ticks. The majority of patients with Lyme disease develop a characteristic rash, erythema migrans (EM), accompanied by symptoms of fever, malaise, fatigue, headache, myalgia, or arthralgia. Other manifestations of infection can include arthritis, carditis, and neurologic deficits. Lyme disease can be treated successfully with standard antibiotic regimens. REPORTING PERIOD: 1992... MedWorm Sponsored Message: Find out how you can get your message across here by sponsoring this MedWorm news feed.
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10/03/2008
Variations in ixodes ricinus density and borrelia infections associated with cattle introduced into a woodland in the netherlands.
Variations in Ixodes ricinus density and Borrelia infections associated with cattle introduced into a woodland in the Netherlands.
Appl Environ Microbiol. 2008 Oct 3;
Authors: Gassner F, Verbaarschot P, Smallegange RC, Spitzen J, Van Wieren SE, Takken W
The effect of introduced large herbivores on the abundance of Ixodes ricinus and their Borrelia infections was studied in a natural woodland in the Netherlands. Oak and pine plots either ungrazed or grazed by cattle were selected. Ticks were collected weekly by blanket dragging. Borrelia infections were determined by PCR and RFLP. Rodent densities were estimated using mark-release recapture methods. On occasion, the cattle were inspected for tick infestations. Meteorological data were recorded in each habitat. Significantly more...
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10/02/2008
Interaction of the lyme disease spirochete borrelia burgdorferi with brain parenchyma elicits inflammatory mediators from glial cells as well as glial and neuronal apoptosis.
Interaction of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi with Brain Parenchyma Elicits Inflammatory Mediators from Glial Cells as Well as Glial and Neuronal Apoptosis.
Am J Pathol. 2008 Oct 2;
Authors: Ramesh G, Borda JT, Dufour J, Kaushal D, Ramamoorthy R, Lackner AA, Philipp MT
Lyme neuroborreliosis, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, often manifests by causing neurocognitive deficits. As a possible mechanism for Lyme neuroborreliosis, we hypothesized that B. burgdorferi induces the production of inflammatory mediators in the central nervous system with concomitant neuronal and/or glial apoptosis. To test our hypothesis, we constructed an ex vivo model that consisted of freshly collected slices from brain cortex of a rhesus macaque and allowed live B. burgd...
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10/01/2008
International lyme and associated diseases society (ilads) announces physician training program
The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society officially launched a physicians training program with the goal of decreasing incidence of chronic Lyme disease. The training program intends to train more than one hundred physicians over the next five years. (Source: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses News From Medical News Today)
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10/01/2008
Identifying the reservoir hosts of the lyme disease spirochete borrelia burgdorferi in california: the role of the western gray squirrel (sciurus griseus).
Identifying the reservoir hosts of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi in California: the role of the western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus).
Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2008 Oct;79(4):535-40
Authors: Salkeld DJ, Leonhard S, Girard YA, Hahn N, Mun J, Padgett KA, Lane RS
We investigated the role of the western gray squirrel (Sciurus griseus) as a reservoir host of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. A survey of 222 western gray squirrels in California showed an overall prevalence of B. burgdorferi infection of 30%, although at a county level, prevalence of infection ranged from 0% to 50% by polymerase chain reaction. Laboratory trials with wild-caught western gray squirrels indicated that squirrels were competent reservoir hosts of the Lyme disease bacterium a...
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10/01/2008
Lyme disease: a zoonotic disease of increasing importance to canadians.
Lyme disease: A zoonotic disease of increasing importance to Canadians.
Can Fam Physician. 2008 Oct;54(10):1381-4
Authors: Ogden NH, Artsob H, Lindsay LR, Sockett PN
PMID: 18854461 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Canadian Family Physician Medecin de Famille Canadien) MedWorm Sponsored Message: Find out how you can get your message across here by sponsoring this MedWorm news feed.
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09/29/2008
Lyme arthritis presenting as transient synovitis of the hip
This report describes 2 children with Lyme arthritis who presented with features of transient synovitis of the hip. Lyme arthritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of transient synovitis of the hip in children. (Source: Clinical Pediatrics)
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09/25/2008
Efficacy of an ospa vaccine preparation for prevention of lyme disease in new york state
Summary A multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was done comparing a 30-μg dose of a single protein recombinant OspA
vaccine preparation with a saline placebo for efficacy in prevention of Lyme disease in humans. The OspA vaccine (30-μg dose)
or saline placebo was given intramuscularly at day 0,1 month later, and 12 months later. Cases of possible Lyme disease were
evaluated clinically and using culture, polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot assays. Safety data are being analyzed separately.
1,634 adult volunteers were enrolled at a single center in New York State. Vaccine efficacy during the first year was 40%
and during the second 37%. Compared with placebo, the OspA vaccine significantly reduced the frequency of Lyme disease during
the 2-year study ...
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09/25/2008
Persisting atypical and cystic forms of borrelia burgdorferi and local inflammation in lyme neuroborreliosis
Conclusion: The results indicate that atypical extra- and intracellular pleomorphic and cystic forms of Borrelia burgdorferi and local neuroinflammation occur in the brain in chronic Lyme neuroborreliosis. The persistence of these more resistant spirochete forms, and their intracellular location in neurons and glial cells, may explain the long latent stage and persistence of Borrelia infection. The results also suggest that Borrelia burgdorferi may induce cellular dysfunction and apoptosis. The detection and recognition of atypical, cystic and granular forms in infected tissues is essential for the diagnosis and the treatment as they can occur in the absence of the typical spiral Borrelia form. (Source: BioMed Central)
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09/25/2008
Persisting atypical and cystic forms of borrelia burgdorferi and local inflammation in lyme neuroborreliosis
Conclusion:
The results indicate that atypical extra- and intracellular pleomorphic and cystic forms of Borrelia burgdorferi and local neuroinflammation occur in the brain in chronic Lyme neuroborreliosis. The persistence of these more resistant spirochete forms, and their intracellular location in neurons and glial cells, may explain the long latent stage and persistence of Borrelia infection. The results also suggest that Borrelia burgdorferi may induce cellular dysfunction and apoptosis. The detection and recognition of atypical, cystic and granular forms in infected tissues is essential for the diagnosis and the treatment as they can occur in the absence of the typical spiral Borrelia form. (Source: Journal of Neuroinflammation)
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09/22/2008
Cerebral vasculitis and stroke in lyme neuroborreliosis
Cerebrovasc Dis 2008;26:455-461 (DOI:10.1159/000155982) (Source: Cerebrovascular Diseases) MedWorm Sponsored Message: Find out how you can get your message across here by sponsoring this MedWorm news feed.
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09/18/2008
Prevalence of avian influenza viruses, borrelia garinii, mycobacterium avium, and mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in waterfowl and terrestrial birds in slovakia, 2006.
Prevalence of avian influenza viruses, Borrelia garinii, Mycobacterium avium, and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in waterfowl and terrestrial birds in Slovakia, 2006.
Avian Pathol. 2008 Oct;37(5):537-43
Authors: Gronesova P, Ficova M, Mizakova A, Kabat P, Trnka A, Betakova T
The prevalence of Borrelia, Mycobacteria and avian influenza virus (AIV) infections, together with the distribution of different AIV subtypes, was studied in migratory waterfowl and terrestrial birds trapped in three localities in Slovakia during 2006. Samples obtained from waterfowl captured in the Senianske Ponds area of Eastern Slovakia showed the highest diversity of AIV isolates. A total of 13 different subtypes were detected in 19 samples from this location (H1N2, H2N2, H3N2, H6N6, H7N6, ...
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09/18/2008
Free videos online: aibs 2008 annual meeting lectures
The AIBS Media Library contains plenary lectures by some of the world’s most eminent biologists recorded at AIBS annual meetings from 2000 onward. The free recordings offer synchronized video, audio, slides, transcripts, and MP3 podcast files of most presentations. The 2008 AIBS annual meeting addresses on “Climate, Environment, and Infectious Diseases” are now online at www.aibs.org/media-library.
New content
Terry L. Maple, Palm Beach Zoo, coauthor with Newt Gingrich of A Contract with the Earth
James E. Hansen, National Aeronautics and Space Administration: “Global Warming: The Threat to Life”
Durland Fish, Yale University: “Environmental Determinants of Lyme Disease Risk” (presentation and MP3 audio)
Howard Frumkin, National Center for Environmental Health: “The Public...
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09/16/2008
Behavioral and attitudes survey about lyme disease among a brazilian population in the endemic area of martha’s vineyard, massachusetts
Abstract Disease prevention models have shown individuals are more likely to engage in precautionary behavior if they have confidence
in their ability to identify disease symptoms and understand health risks. In immigrant populations, communicating the risks
poses greater challenges since linguistic and cultural barriers may impede acceptance of the new behavior. The Brazilian population
on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, is at high risk for Lyme disease (LD), the most common vector-borne illness in the United
States largely preventable by limiting tick exposure. We surveyed 103 Brazilians on MV about their health beliefs and perceptions
of LD risk and assessed their level of precautionary behaviors and the cultural factors influencing them. The population had
only a m...
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09/16/2008
Vasculitis-like syndrome associated with
borrelia lusitaniae
infection
We report the isolation of Borrelia lusitaniae from a 13-year-old female child presenting with a vasculitis syndrome. The patient was treated with doxycycline, 100 mg bid
for 20 days, and is in remission after a follow-up of 2 years. These results should alert clinicians to the fact that B. lusitaniae may be pathogenic in humans, highlighting that patients may be seronegative or present with minimal positive antibody titres
and clinical signs that are not specific for Lyme borreliosis. In order to prevent the occurrence of more serious disease
manifestations via timely treatment, the analysis by molecular methods may be a useful approach when antibody titres are uninformative.
Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Case ReportDOI 10.1007/s10067-008-1012-zAuthors
I. Lop...
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09/16/2008
Meta-analysis of coinfection and coexposure with borrelia burgdorferi and anaplasma phagocytophilum in humans, domestic animals, wildlife, and ixodes ricinus-complex ticks
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0: 1-10.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which causes granulocytic anaplasmosis, and Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme borreliosis, are transmitted in multiple Holarctic regions by the same Ixodes sp. tick vectors and maintained in sylvatic cycles with the same ... (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases) MedWorm Sponsored Message: Find out how you can get your message across here by sponsoring this MedWorm news feed.
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09/14/2008
Borrelia antibodies in children evaluated for lyme neuroborreliosis
Conclusions Intrathecal antibody production is strongly supportive of an LNB diagnosis. Conversely, isolated, elevated levels of Borrelia
IgM in serum occur in up to one-fourth of children with various neurological complaints, and should be interpreted with caution,
especially in non-endemic areas.
Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Brief ReportDOI 10.1007/s15010-008-6259-4Authors
R. Bennet, Karolinska University Hospital Astrid Lindgren Children’s Hospital Q8:00 SE-17176 Stockholm SwedenV. Lindgren, Karolinska University Hospital Dept. of Clinical Microbiology Stockholm SwedenB. Zweygberg Wirgart, Karolinska University Hospital Dept. of Clinical Microbiology Stockholm Sweden
Journal InfectionOnline ISSN 1439-0973Print ISSN 0300-8126 (Source: Infection)
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09/12/2008
Production of outer surface protein a by borrelia burgdorferi during transmission from infected mammals to feeding ticks is insufficient to trigger ospa seroconversion
The Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, produces two outer surface lipoproteins, OspA and OspB, that are essential for colonization of tick vectors. Both proteins are highly expressed during transmission from infected mammals to feeding ticks and during colonization of tick midguts, but are repressed when bacteria are transmitted from ticks to mammals. Humans and other infected mammals generally do not produce antibodies against either protein, although some Lyme disease patients do seroconvert and produce antibodies against OspA for unknown reasons. We hypothesized that, if such patients had been fed upon by additional ticks, bacteria moving from the patients' bodies to the feeding ticks would have produced OspA and OspB proteins, which then led to immune system recognition and...
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09/12/2008
Neuroretinitis secondary to concurrent infection with cat scratch disease and lyme disease
Authors: P K Gupta, R Patel
& M T Bhatti (Source: Eye)
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09/12/2008
The genome of borrelia recurrentis, the agent of deadly louse-borne relapsing fever, is a degraded subset of tick-borne borrelia duttonii
In this study, we show that the genomic content of B. recurrentis is a subset of that of B. duttonii, the genes of which are undergoing a decay process. These phenomena are common to all louse-borne pathogens compared to their tick-borne counterparts. In B. recurrentis, this process may be due to the inactivation of genes encoding DNA repair mechanisms, implying the accumulation of errors in the genome. The increased virulence of B. recurrentis could not be traced back to specific virulence factors, illustrating the lack of correlation between the virulence of a pathogen and so-called virulence genes. Knowledge of these genomes will allow for the development of new molecular tools that provide a more-accurate, sensitive, and specific diagnosis of these emerging infections. (Source: PLoS Ge...
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