The latest publications of scientific medical research, articles and news on Lyme disease from many resources are automatically displayed here.
Thursday 19 April 2018
Children with Lyme meningitis are often treated with intravenous ceftriaxone, although oral doxycycline may be effective. Parents were surveyed after observing a video describing a hypothetical Lyme meningitis treatment trial. Eighty-four of 102 (82%) would consent to their child participating. Parents would accept 2 additional days of symptoms (noninferiority margin) with doxycycline even if ceftriaxone hastened symptom resolution. (Source: The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)
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Thursday 19 April 2018
Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Orthopaedics Headlines)
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Thursday 19 April 2018
Yorkshire ’s Jurassic World, at the Yorkshire Museum, includes a pregnant ichthyosaur, a Mesozoic virtual reality experience, and a dinosaur called AlanIf you say the word Jurassic to people in the UK, the chances are that their first thoughts will be of a certain hugely successful film franchise. Most palaeontologists are fine with this, because it gives us an excuse to wheel out our well-honed “all the things that were wrong about the Jurassic Park film” material. If they mention anything else at all, it is likely to be the Jurassic coast, a fantastic piece of tourism branding which ensures that Dorset seaside towns receive a steady stream of fossil-mad families on holiday every summe r.Other British Jurassic outcrops are available, however. In Scotland there are Jurassic outcrops ...
Tuesday 17 April 2018
Borrelia burgdorferi is one of the few extracellular pathogens capable of establishing persistent infection in mammals. The mechanisms that sustain long-term survival of this bacterium are largely unknown. Here we report a unique innate immune evasion strategy of B. burgdorferi, orchestrated by a surface protein annotated as BBA57, through its... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Monday 16 April 2018
Conclusions: Clinical isolates of B. miyamotoi are highly susceptible to doxycycline, azithromycin and ceftriaxone in vitro Interestingly, as earlier described for tick isolates, amoxicillin shows poor in vitro activity against clinical B. miyamotoi isolates. PMID: 29661882 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy)
Sunday 15 April 2018
Lyme disease is the most frequently reported zoonotic tick-borne disease worldwide, and the number of infected humans is increasing. Lyme disease (or Lyme borreliosis) is an affection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, sensu lato. Lyme disease is also reported as a variety of misleading clinical symptomatologies. Infected patient ’s blood serology is the most currently test used for its diagnosis. However, serology has a low sensitivity, which ranges from 34 % to 70%.Thus, there are numerous subsequent false-negative diagnoses despite an active clinical infection profile. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Saturday 14 April 2018
Particularly in Brazil, cases with Lyme-like clinical symptoms, locally known as the Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome, have been diagnosed since 1992; however, the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory findings of this syndrome differ from the classic cases of Lyme borreliosis and the etiological agent has not yet been isolated either from humans or a natural vector [1]. (Source: Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease)
Friday 13 April 2018
Authors: Sabitova Y, Fomenko N, Tikunov A, Stronin O, Khasnatinov M, Abmed D, Danchinova G, Golovljova I, Tikunova N Abstract Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most frequently recorded tick-transmitted disease in Eurasia. Tomsk Province, Western Siberia in Russia and Selenge Aimag in Northern Mongolia are leading regions in the LB incidence rate in these countries. Spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex isolated from Ixodes ticks from Tomsk Province (n = 56) and Ixodes persulcatus ticks from Selenge Aimag (n = 5) were genetically characterized using Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), analysis of the 5S23S rRNA intergenic spacer (IGS) amplicons, and p83/100 gene sequencing. According to MLST, B. afzelii (n = 26), B. bavariensis (n = 23), B. ga...
Friday 13 April 2018
Publication date: Available online 12 April 2018 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Vivian Kjelland, Katrine M. Paulsen, Rikke Rollum, Andrew Jenkins, Snorre Stuen, Arnulf Soleng, Kristin S. Edgar, Heidi H. Lindstedt, Kirsti Vaino, Moustafa Gibory, Åshild K. Andreassen The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of tick-borne pathogens of medical importance in questing ticks collected from five recreationally used islands along the Norwegian coastline. Furthermore, since coinfection may affect the disease severity, this study aimed to determine the extent of coinfection in individual ticks or co-localization of tick-borne pathogens. In all, 4158 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks were analysed. For detection of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), nymphs (3690) were an...
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Thursday 12 April 2018
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence has published new guidance on diagnosing and treating Lyme disease. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Thursday 12 April 2018
Authors: A. Ferrell R. Brinkerhoff Patterns of vector-borne disease risk are changing globally in space and time and elevated disease risk of vector-borne infection can be driven by anthropogenic modification of the environment. Incidence of Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, has risen in a number of locations in North America and this increase may be driven by spatially or numerically expanding populations of the primary tick vector, Ixodes scapularis. We used a model selection approach to identify habitat fragmentation and land-use/land cover variables to test the hypothesis that the amount and configuration of forest cover at spatial scales relevant to deer, the primary hosts of adult ticks, would be the predominant determinants of tick abu...
Thursday 12 April 2018
Publication date: Available online 11 April 2018 Source:IDCases Author(s): Pierre-Philippe Piché-Renaud, Helen Branson, E. Ann Yeh, Shaun K. Morris (Source: IDCases)
Thursday 12 April 2018
Authors: Roberto Rosà Veronica Andreo Valentina Tagliapietra Ivana Baráková Daniele Arnoldi Heidi Hauffe Mattia Manica Fausta Rosso Lucia Blaňarová Martin Bona Marketa Derdáková Zuzana Hamšíková Maria Kazimírová Jasna Kraljik Elena Kocianová Lenka Mahríková Lenka Minichová Ladislav Mošanský Mirko Slovák Michal Stanko Eva Špitalská Els Ducheyne Markus Neteler Zdenek Hubálek Ivo Rudolf Kristyna Venclikova Cornelia Silaghi Evelyn Overzier Robert Farkas Gábor Földvári Sándor Hornok Nóra Takács Annapaola Rizzoli The incidence of tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. has been rising in Europe in recent decades. Early pre-assessme...
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Thursday 12 April 2018
NICE has issued new advice to help doctors quickly spot Lyme disease, so they can offer people NHS treatment as soon as possible. (Source: NHS Networks)
Wednesday 11 April 2018
So many ticks are lurking in the brush and woodlands. Here's what they might give you. It's more than Lyme. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Wednesday 11 April 2018
Authors: Estrada-Peña A, Álvarez-Jarreta J, Cabezas-Cruz A Abstract The life cycle of spirochetes of the genus Borrelia includes complex networks of vertebrates and ticks. The tripartite association of Borrelia-vertebrate-tick has proved ecologically successful for these bacteria, which have become some of the most prominent tick-borne pathogens in the northern hemisphere. To keep evolutionary pace with its double-host life history, Borrelia must adapt to the evolutionary pressures exerted by both sets of hosts. In this review, we attempt to reconcile functional, phylogenetic, and ecological perspectives to propose a coherent scenario of Borrelia evolution. Available empirical information supports that the association of Borrelia with ticks is very old. The major split between th...
Monday 9 April 2018
Authors: Johnson TL, Boegler KA, Clark RJ, Delorey MJ, Bjork JKH, Dorr FM, Schiffman EK, Neitzel DF, Monaghan AJ, Eisen RJ Abstract Ixodes scapularis is the vector of at least seven human pathogens in Minnesota, two of which are known to cause Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia mayonii). In Minnesota, the statewide incidence of Lyme disease and other I. scapularis-borne diseases and the geographic extent over which cases have been reported have both increased substantially over the last two decades. These changes correspond with an expanding distribution of I. scapularis over a similar time frame. Because the risk of exposure to I. scapularis-borne pathogens is likely related to the number of ticks encountered, we developed an acarological risk model pred...
Sunday 8 April 2018
Immune and infectious contributions to psychiatric disease have been increasingly recognized, but mechanisms are poorly understood. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis frequently presents with psychosis, and many studies have investigated the presence of anti-NMDAR antibodies in those with schizophrenia. Infectious diseases such as Lyme disease can present with neuropsychiatric manifestations, and co-morbid Lyme disease and psychosis has been reported in case reports. (Source: Biological Psychiatry)
Saturday 7 April 2018
BACKGROUND: Depression has been reported in 8-45% of patients with posttreatment Lyme symptoms (PTLS), but little is known about suicidal ideation in these patients. METHOD: Depression and suicidal ideation were assessed using the Beck Depression I... (Source: SafetyLit)
Friday 6 April 2018
Internal Medicine Journal,Volume 48, Issue 4, Page 422-426, April 2018. (Source: Internal Medicine Journal)
Thursday 5 April 2018
(University of Turku) A new research-based point-of-care test has been developed in Finland for detecting the Lyme neuroborreliosis spread by ticks. The test makes rapid initiation of antibiotic treatment possible for patients with borreliosis, which reduces the post-treatment symptoms related to the disease. At the same time, unnecessary antibiotic treatments can be avoided. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
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Thursday 5 April 2018
In this study, we used this chamber model and showed that I. scapularis ticks will not only acquire bovine blood but human and quail blood as well. The latter two are the incidental host and an avian host of Lyme borreliae, respectively. We also investigated the roles that BBA52 and Lp6.6 play in promoting spirochete survival in nymphal ticks fed on human or quail blood. After feeding on human blood, spirochete burdens in ticks infected with an lp6.6-deficient B. burgdorferi were significantly reduced, while bba52-deficient spirochete burdens in ticks remained unchanged, similar to the wild-type strain. No strain showed a change in spirochete burdens in ticks fed on quail blood. These results indicate that Lp6.6 plays a role for B. burgdorferi in nymphs fed on human but not quail blood. Su...
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Wednesday 4 April 2018
Although a short course of corticosteroid therapy has been shown to improve the outcome of idiopathic facial nerve palsy (Bell's palsy), it is unclear whether corticosteroids, in addition to antibiotic therapy, are beneficial, harmful or have no impact on the outcome of facial palsy from Lyme disease (LDFP). From 2011 through 2016, 14 patients with LDFP were enrolled into a prospective study to determine the outcome of Lyme disease over the ensuing 12months. Eleven (78.6%) had received corticosteroids in addition to oral antibiotics and entered the study within 24days after onset of the LDFP (median 14days, range 2 –24days). (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Tuesday 3 April 2018
This study assessed clinicians'knowledge and practices regarding Lyme disease testing in a high-incidence region. Is more clinician education needed?American Journal of Clinical Pathology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Tuesday 3 April 2018
Due to the raised public awareness of Lyme Borreliosis (LB), its increased incidence and the increased availability of serological tests, the demand for diagnostic testing on LB has increased. This may affect ... (Source: BMC Family Practice)
Monday 2 April 2018
(University of Maryland) A UMD researcher has uncovered a mechanism by which the bacteria that causes Lyme disease fights innate immune responses, and observed a never-before-seen phenomena demonstrating the bacteria can spring back in the body weeks later. Understanding this bacteria, one of only a few pathogens that can actually persist in the body for long periods of time, has major implications for treatment of tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, an increasingly chronic and prevalent public health issue. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Sunday 1 April 2018
This article reviews bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogens associated with myelopathy. Infectious myelopathies may be due to direct infection or parainfectious autoimmune-mediated mechanisms; this article focuses primarily on the former. RECENT FINDINGS Some microorganisms exhibit neurotropism for the spinal cord (eg, enteroviruses such as poliovirus and flaviviruses such as West Nile virus), while others are more protean in neurologic manifestations (eg, herpesviruses such as varicella-zoster virus), and others are only rarely reported to cause myelopathy (eg, certain fungal and parasitic infections). Individuals who are immunocompromised are at increased risk of disseminated infection to the central nervous system. Within the last few years, an enterovirus D68 outbreak has...
Sunday 1 April 2018
Clinical Diagnosis of Lyme Disease Frequently Misses the "Bull's Eye". Am Fam Physician. 2018 Apr 01;97(7):474 Authors: Shaughnessy AF PMID: 29671559 [PubMed - in process] (Source: American Family Physician)
Saturday 31 March 2018
CONCLUSIONS: Our data reported an high percentage of Lyme Disease infection (19%) in non endemic area. The definition of a multidisciplinary working group and a clinical care pathway allowed a better clinical management of Lyme disease cases treated in Sacco Hospital, Milan. PMID: 29600690 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Giornale Italiano di Dermatologia e Venereologia)
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Saturday 31 March 2018
Authors: Contrada E PMID: 29596255 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The American Journal of Nursing)
Saturday 31 March 2018
We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who presented with edema and erythema of her right upper eyelid. Biomicroscopic examination revealed a tick firmly attached to the eyelid margin. The tick was successfully removed using fine tweezers, and within a few days, the patient had fully recovered without sequelae. Ticks are a threat to public health as they are known vectors of numerous infectious agents responsible for serious pathologies such as Lyme disease. Ticks may also induce cutaneous local reactions, and more rarely, tick paralysis. Since morbidity increases substantially with the duration of the infestation, the tick should be completely removed as soon as possible, and patients should be aware about possible signs of tick related diseases. PMID: 29596772 [PubMed - in process...
Friday 30 March 2018
No abstract available (Source: AJN)
Friday 30 March 2018
Lyme disease is recognized as the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Surveillance data indicate both increasing numbers of Lyme disease cases and geographic expansion of areas where the causative spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, can be found. With prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment in the acute stage, most patients will recover fully. Without treatment, however, the infecting pathogen remains within the body, often producing long-term complications, including musculoskeletal, neurologic, and cardiovascular effects. The authors describe early and late manifestations of Lyme disease, the appropriate use of diagnostic tests, the recommended treatment, and strategies for preventing tick-borne diseases nurses can share with patients. (Source: AJN)
Thursday 29 March 2018
We describe a case of Lyme endocarditis which, to our knowledge, is the first reported case confirmed by molecular diagnostics in the United States. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
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Wednesday 28 March 2018
BACKGROUND: No study has previously analyzed aggressiveness, homicide, and Lyme disease (LD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective LD chart reviews analyzed aggressiveness, compared 50 homicidal with 50 non-homicidal patients, and analyzed homicide... (Source: SafetyLit)
Tuesday 27 March 2018
This study shows that humus type can be indicative of nymph abundance. Three types of humus were observed: (1) moder, (2) mull, and (3) mull-moder humus. One of them, moder humus, which is characterized by a thick layer of fragmented leaves, was found in multivariate analyses to be strongly associated with the nymph abundance. This study demonstrates that factors such as saturation deficit do not suffice to explain the differences in nymph abundance among sites. The composition of the soil and especially the type of humus should also be taken into consideration when assessing acarological risk. (Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases)
Tuesday 27 March 2018
Authors: Marion Ripoche Leslie Lindsay Antoinette Ludwig Nicholas Ogden Karine Thivierge Patrick Leighton Since its detection in Canada in the early 1990s, Ixodes scapularis, the primary tick vector of Lyme disease in eastern North America, has continued to expand northward. Estimates of the tick’s broad-scale distribution are useful for tracking the extent of the Lyme disease risk zone; however, tick distribution may vary widely within this zone. Here, we investigated I. scapularis nymph distribution at three spatial scales across the Lyme disease emergence zone in southern Quebec, Canada. We collected ticks and compared the nymph densities among different woodlands and different plots and transects within the same woodland. Hot spot analysis highlighted significant nymp...
Monday 26 March 2018
Two-tier serology testing is most frequently used for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis (LB); however, a positive result is no proof of active disease. To establish a diagnosis of active LB, better diagnostics are needed. Tests investigating the cellular immune system are available, but studies evaluating the utility of these tests on well-defined patient populations are lacking. Therefore, we investigated the utility of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) assay to diagnose active Lyme neuroborreliosis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of various study groups were stimulated by using Borrelia burgdorferi strain B31 and various recombinant antigens, and subsequently, the number of Borrelia-specific interferon gamma (IFN-)-secreting T cells was measured. We included 33 ac...
Friday 23 March 2018
AbstractBorrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main etiological agent of Lyme disease (LD) in the USA. In Brazil, it is believed that a similar spirochete is the causal agent of the Baggio –Yoshinari syndrome (BYS), a zoonosis also transmitted by ticks, whose clinical manifestations are similar to those of LD. Despite the epidemiological importance, there are no studies reporting the presence and the prevalence ofB. burgdorferi among horses in Mato Grosso State. The aim of this study was to detect and measure the frequency of IgG antibodies anti-B. burgdorferi American strain G39/40 in horses in the municipality of Sinop, MT —Brazil, using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serological diagnosis. Blood samples from 367 horses were collected in 81 farms. An ep...
Friday 23 March 2018
Conclusion This case highlights the importance of taking a good travel history and emphasizes the importance of appropriate and timely therapy to prevent unnecessary interventions such as permanent pacemaker insertion. (Source: Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases Supplements)
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Thursday 22 March 2018
A study on the relative risk for ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease highlights the need for more public education regarding tick-borne diseases.Emerging Infectious Diseases (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Thursday 22 March 2018
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Ahead of Print. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Thursday 22 March 2018
Host genotype influences the severity of murine Lyme borreliosis, caused by the spirochetal bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. C57BL/6 (B6) mice develop mild Lyme arthritis, whereas C3H/HeN (C3H) mice develop severe Lyme arthritis. Differential expression of interleukin 10 (IL-10) has long been associated with mouse strain differences in Lyme pathogenesis; however, the underlying mechanism(s) of this genotype-specific IL-10 regulation remained elusive. Herein we reveal a cAMP-mediated mechanism of IL-10 regulation in B6 macrophages that is substantially diminished in C3H macrophages. Under cAMP and CD14-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, B6 macrophages stimulated with B. burgdorferi produce increased amounts of IL-10 and decreased levels of arthritogenic cytokines, includi...
Thursday 22 March 2018
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, EarlyView. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine)
Monday 19 March 2018
Discussion It can be difficult to consider what is the problem when a health care provider is presented with a group of seemingly disparate signs and symptoms with a history and time course that do not match classic (or commonly atypical) disease presentations. Common things happen commonly, so when symptoms occur without the usual co-occurring symptoms, unusual symptoms or time courses, it can be challenging. The provider must develop a reasonable differential diagnosis and balance how far to go with the evaluation against how much to monitor the patient for new signs or symptoms which can provide new information. Patient safety and the natural time course of diseases have to be considered. Providers also recognize that well-appearing individuals with acute onset of problems usually have ...
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Wednesday 14 March 2018
Authors: Patton SK, Phillips B Abstract Evidence-based strategies for nurses. ABSTRACT: Lyme disease is recognized as the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Surveillance data indicate both increasing numbers of Lyme disease cases and geographic expansion of areas where the causative spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, can be found. With prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment in the acute stage, most patients will recover fully. Without treatment, however, the infecting pathogen remains within the body, often producing long-term complications, including musculoskeletal, neurologic, and cardiovascular effects. The authors describe early and late manifestations of Lyme disease, the appropriate use of diagnostic tests, the recommended treatment, and strategies...
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Wednesday 14 March 2018
CONCLUSIONS: Infestation of ticks infected with Lyme disease spirochete in this study proved to be variable and depend on the season, the area of tick attack and the region in Poland. The results of the study clearly show that ticks infected with <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> inhabit all regions of Poland. The results are consistent with National Institute of Hygiene data which indicates that Lyme disease cases are recorded in all regions of Poland. PMID: 29575881 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Tuesday 13 March 2018
In this study, the major factors underlying synonymous codon‐related amino acid usage in the B. burgdorferi genome and bias in synonymous codon usage of the translation initiation region of coding sequences were analyzed. Additionally, adaptation of B. burgdorferi to several of its hosts was analyzed in the context of synonymous codon usage. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that nucleotide content at the third synonymous position of a codon influenced the synonymous codon usage pattern, but the strand‐specific factor did not influence the synonymous codon usage pattern of B. burgdorferi. In terms of the low GC content of B. burgdorferi coding sequences, the effective number of codons (ENC) showed a significant correlation with GC3 content (at the synonymous position). For th...
Monday 12 March 2018
We report a typical case of trombiculosis induced by trombiculid larvae of N. autumnalis, which are habitual parasites of various endo- and ectothermic vertebrates. PMID: 29525801 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Infezioni in Medicina)
Monday 12 March 2018
Authors: Moreno LZ, Miraglia F, Loureiro AP, Kremer FS, Eslabao MR, Dellagostin OA, Lilenbaum W, Vasconcellos SA, Heinemann MB, Moreno AM Abstract Leptospira inadai is classified as a species of the Leptospira intermediate group that has been poorly studied due to its apparent insignificance to human and animal health. Nevertheless, over the last two decades the species has been described in human cases in India and in carrier animals in Ecuador. Here, we present the first identification and genomic characterisation of L. inadai serogroup Lyme isolated from captured rodent in Brazil. Even though the M34/99 strain was not pathogenic for hamsters, it was able to establish renal colonisation. The M34/99 strain presented high similarity with L. inadai serogroup Lyme human reference ind...
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Sunday 11 March 2018
Molecular Microbiology, EarlyView. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Friday 9 March 2018
(Source: Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment)
Thursday 8 March 2018
In Reply We thank Drs Kim and Budhram for their valuable suggestion. Owing to the 600-word limit in the Observation section, much of the information associated with this patient had to be omitted in the article. Herein we fill in some of the gaps. We agree that magnetic resonance imaging is the first priority for excluding a paraneoplastic or parainfectious origin when treating a patient with opsoclonus. Small cell carcinoma of the lung, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer are most prevelent in adults with opsoclonus, whereas neuroblastoma accounts for more than 50% prevalence in children. Of course, such work-up had been done in this patient, yet the results were negative. Occasionally, other neoplasms (ie, non-Hodgkin ’s lymphoma, malignant lymphoma) have also been related to opsoclonus....
Wednesday 7 March 2018
(Natural News) Testing methods for tick-borne diseases tend to be cumbersome, unreliable, specialized, or even nonexistent. That is, until a Science Daily article reported the recently-developed Tick-Borne Disease Serochip (TBD-Serochip) can accurately diagnose eight different tick-borne pathogens, including the bacterium responsible for the widespread Lyme disease. The brainchild of a large team of researchers from the Centers for... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Tuesday 6 March 2018
Marieta AH Braks, Sipke E van Wieren, Willem Takken and Hein Sprong, Editors (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Tuesday 6 March 2018
Lyme borreliosis (LB) and other Ixodes ricinus-borne diseases (TBDs) are diseases that emerge from interactions of humans and domestic animals with infected ticks in nature. Nature, environmental and health polic... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
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Tuesday 6 March 2018
In this study, we investigated how infection with the Lyme disease-causing bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) affects host metabolic pathways and how these metabolic pathways may impact host defense. First, metabolome analysis was performed on human... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Monday 5 March 2018
Authors: Bause L, Niemeier A, Krenn V Abstract The German Society of Orthopaedic Rheumatology (DGORh) honored Prof. Dr. med. Veit Krenn (MVZ-ZHZMD-Trier) with the Arthur Vick Prize 2017. With this award, scientific results with high impact on the diagnosis, therapy and pathogenetic understanding of rheumatic diseases are honored. In cooperation with pathologists and colleagues from various clinical disciplines Prof. Dr. med. Veit Krenn developed several histopathologic scoring systems which contribute to the diagnosis and pathogenetic understanding of degenerative and rheumatic diseases. These scores include the synovitis score, the meniscal degeneration score, the classification of periprosthetic tissues (SLIM classification), the arthrofibrosis score, the particle score and the C...
Saturday 3 March 2018
Publication date: Available online 2 March 2018 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Bessie H. Lockwood, Iga Stasiak, Madeleine A. Pfaff, Christopher A. Cleveland, Michael J. Yabsley The geographical distribution of Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma maculatum ticks is poorly understood in Kentucky. We conducted a convenience survey of wildlife species (white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), elk (Cervus canadensis) and black bears (Ursus americanus)) for ticks from October 2015 to January 2017. We detected four tick species including Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor albipictus, I. scapularis and A. maculatum. Although the former two tick species were previously known to be widely distributed in Kentucky, we also found that I. scapularis and A. maculatum were also widespread....
Thursday 1 March 2018
Depression has been reported in 8 –45% of patients with post-treatment Lyme symptoms (PTLS), but little is known about suicidal ideation in these patients. (Source: Psychosomatics)
Wednesday 28 February 2018
Authors: Sekelj A, Đanić D Abstract Lyme borreliosis is a vector-borne infectious disease characterized by three disease stages. In the areas endemic for borreliosis, every acute facial palsy indicates serologic testing and implies specific approach to the disease. Th e aim of the study was to identify and confirm the value of acoustic refl ex and House-Brackman (HB) grading scale as prognostic indicators of facial palsy in neuroborreliosis. Th e study included 176 patients with acute facial palsy divided into three groups based on serologic testing: borreliosis, Bell's palsy, and facial palsy caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Study patients underwent baseline audiometry with tympanometry and acoustic reflex, whereas current state of facial palsy was assessed by the ...
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Wednesday 28 February 2018
(University of Nevada, Reno) Monika Gulia-Nuss, assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Nevada, Reno, is working on generating transgenic ticks in her lab, the first of their kind, in order to explore new targets for vector control. Gulia-Nuss' lab works specifically on the deer tick and has received a $407,000 grant from the National Institute of Health to continue studies. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Wednesday 28 February 2018
In conclusion, bats were shown to pass rickettsia and haemoplasma DNA in their faeces. Molecular evidence is provided for the presence of Neorickettsia sp. in bat faeces in Europe. In the evaluated regions bat faeces and owl/kestrel pellets do not appear to pose epidemiological risk from the point of view of F. tularensis, C. burnetii and Chlamydiales. Testing of bird pellets may provide an alternative approach to trapping for assessing the local occurrence of vector-borne bacteria in small mammals. PMID: 29492770 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Antonie van Leeuwenhoek)
Saturday 24 February 2018
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Borrelia burgdorferi, Lyme disease agent, harbors no enzymes to synthesize or degrade polyamines yet does contain the genes encoding a putative polyamine uptake system (potABCD). Here, we demonstrated that the PotABCD is a spermidine‐specific transporter system that is essential for survival. The genes are upregulated during tick feeding concomitantly with the decrease of osmoliarity which has been shown to trigger virulence factor expression. The potABCD genes are regulated in a RpoN‐dependent, RpoS‐independent, BosR‐independent fashion. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Friday 23 February 2018
Publication date: 3 April 2018 Source:Neuroscience Letters, Volume 671 Author(s): Geetha Parthasarathy, Mario T. Philipp Lyme neuroborreliosis, caused by the gram-negative bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, may affect the central and/or peripheral nervous systems. In previous studies, we showed that human oligodendrocytes exposed to the bacteria undergo apoptosis in an inflammatory environment, and that inflammatory pathways trigger cell-death pathways. We further demonstrated that several receptor tyrosine kinases were involved in triggering downstream effects, leading to inflammation and apoptosis. Toll-like receptors TLR2 and TLR5, which are commonly studied receptors in Lyme disease, only had a minimal role in inflammatory processes. To delineate the role of other TLRs, if any, real-time...
Friday 23 February 2018
Cerebrospinal fluid CXCL13 is a marker for Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). CXCL13 lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) was compared to CXCL13 ELISA. CXCL13 LFA results correlated strongly with CXCL13 ELISA results. CXCL13 LFA is a rapid and easy to perform test, which is suitable for routine point-of-care diagnostics of suspected LNB patients. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Thursday 22 February 2018
Borrelia burgdorferi infection is common in horses living in Lyme endemic areas and the geographic range for exposure is increasing. Morbidity after B. burgdorferi infection in horses is unknown. Documented, naturally occurring syndromes attributed to B. burgdorferi infection in horses include neuroborreliosis, uveitis, and cutaneous pseudolymphoma. Although other clinical signs such as lameness and stiffness are reported in horses, these are often not well documented. Diagnosis of Lyme disease is based on exposure to B. burgdorferi, cytology or histopathology of infected fluid or tissue and antigen detection. Treatment of Lyme disease in horses is similar to treatment of humans or small animals but treatment success might not be the same because of species differences in antimicrobial bio...
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Tuesday 20 February 2018
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine,Volume 32, Issue 2, Page 832-838, March/April 2018. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine)
Tuesday 20 February 2018
Conclusions and Clinical ImportancePositive Lyme multiplex results were common in horses with neurologic diseases and did not adequately differentiate horses with neuroborreliosis from horses with other disorders. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine)
Tuesday 20 February 2018
Lyme borreliosis and depressive symptoms in patients aged 65 years and older referred to a tertiary Lyme centre. Eur J Intern Med. 2018 Feb 20;: Authors: Zomer TP, van Bemmel T, van Munster B, van Kooten B, Vermeeren YM PMID: 29475771 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Internal Medicine)
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Tuesday 20 February 2018
Conclusion: NFS is a unique tool that can be used universally to assess the condition of patients with LD. (Source: Journal of Global Infectious Diseases)
Sunday 18 February 2018
Authors: Boyer PH, Kieffer P, de Martino SJ, Zilliox L, Vogel JY, Jaulhac B, Hansmann Y PMID: 29449048 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Medecine et Maladies Infectieuses)
Sunday 18 February 2018
It was an exercise session in a local park that almost became the mother-of-two Nell McAndrew's undoing – after a tiny tick bite led to her developing potentially life-changing Lyme disease. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Saturday 17 February 2018
(Natural News) A study, published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, found that more than 50 percent of Lyme disease survivors still suffer from severe, persistent symptoms even after being clinically cleared of the infection. A team of researchers from John Hopkins University School of Medicine evaluated 61 individuals who were either self- or physician-referred... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Saturday 17 February 2018
In this study using 3956 control sera, we demonstrated that although this 2-tier testing algorithm does significantly improve diagnostic specificity compared with each of the EIAs individually, the WCS EIA and the C6 peptide EIA are not independent tests. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Friday 16 February 2018
(Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health) A new blood test called the Tick-Borne Disease Serochip (TBD Serochip) promises to revolutionize the diagnosis of tick-borne disease by offering a single test to identify and distinguish between Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen responsible for Lyme disease, and seven other tick-borne pathogens. Led by scientists at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, the research team report details on the new test in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
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Friday 16 February 2018
This study indicates that I. scapularis occurs throughout the southern-most portion of province, in close proximity to coastlines and major waterways. Milder winter conditions, as indicated by the number of degree days < 0 °C, was determined to be a strong predictor of tick occurrence, as was, to a lesser degree, rising levels of annual precipitation, leading to a final model with a predictive accuracy of 0.845 (range: 0.828-0.893). Both RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 climate projections predict that a significant proportion of the province (roughly a quarter to a third) will be highly suitable for I. scapularis by the 2080s. Comparison with cases of canine infection show good spatial agreement with baseline model predictions, but the presence of canine Borrelia infections beyond the clim...
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Friday 16 February 2018
Publication date: Available online 16 February 2018 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Ana Cláudia Norte, David Costantini, Pedro Miguel Araújo, Marcel Eens, Jaime Albino Ramos, Dieter Heylen By draining resources, microparasites can negatively affect the host fitness, which in turn can result in reduced transmission when virulence leads to reductions in host population size. Therefore, for a microparasite to persist in nature, the level of harm it can do to its host is expected to be limited. We tested this hypothesis for tick-borne Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) infections in the blackbird Turdus merula, one of the most important avian reservoir hosts in Europe. Experimental and observational data were combined to examine the physiological effects caused by B. bur...
Friday 16 February 2018
Conclusions This study confirms that subclinical Borrelia seroconversion is common in south-eastern Sweden. The findings further suggest that male sex, younger age together with B. gariniii induced levels of IL-10, IL-17A and CCL20 may be associated with a subclinical course. (Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases)
Thursday 15 February 2018
Nature 554, 7692 (2018). doi:10.1038/d41586-018-01809-5 Author: Barbara Kiser Barbara Kiser reviews five of the week’s best science picks. (Source: Nature)
Thursday 15 February 2018
With the resurgence of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease and the emergence of new tick-borne pathogens such as Powassan virus, understanding what distinguishes vectors from non-vectors, and predicting u... (Source: BMC Ecology)
Wednesday 14 February 2018
When Kate Sheridan was 11 years old, a series of complications from Lyme Disease changed her life dramatically. (Source: mobihealthnews)
Wednesday 14 February 2018
In the summer of 2016, Jerome Goddard, a medical entomologist in Mississippi, received an email from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with a desperate ask. The agency was conducting an “urgent” search for insect scientists around the U.S. who could take up to a six-month paid leave from work to help the CDC fight the Zika outbreak in the U.S., and possibly respond to areas with local transmission if needed. “That’s how bad it is—they need to borrow someone,” says Goddard, an extension professor of medical entomology at Mississippi State University. “We can’t find people to investigate an outbreak.” Medical entomology—the study of insects and arthropods that impact human health—has been a shrinking f...
Tuesday 13 February 2018
(Source: BMJ News)
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Tuesday 13 February 2018
Publication date: Available online 13 February 2018 Source:Journal of Cardiology Cases Author(s): Anthony H. Kashou, Nabil Braiteh, Hisham E. Kashou Lyme carditis is an uncommon presentation of the early-disseminated phase of Lyme disease, although it is recognizable and often curable. Because of its rarity, diagnosing Lyme carditis requires a high level of suspicion, especially when young patients in certain endemic areas present with symptoms of bradycardia and/or evidence of high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. Temporary cardiac pacing along with antibiotic therapy has been shown to aid in the management of Lyme carditis until symptoms and conduction blocks have resolved. Herein, we report two cases of Lyme carditis-induced AV block that were successfully managed and reversed with ...
Monday 12 February 2018
Zoonoses and Public Health,Volume 65, Issue 2, Page 227-229, March 2018. (Source: Zoonoses and Public Health)
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Monday 12 February 2018
Summary Current surveillance methods have been useful to document geographic expansion of Lyme disease in the United States and to monitor the increasing incidence of this major public health problem. Nevertheless, these approaches are resource‐intensive, generate results that are difficult to compare across jurisdictions, and measure less than the total burden of disease. By adopting more efficient methods, resources could be diverted instead to education of at‐risk populations and new approaches to prevention. In this special issue of Zoonoses and Public Health, seven articles are presented that either evaluate traditional Lyme disease surveillance methods or explore alternatives that have the potential to be less costly, more reliable, and sustainable. Twenty‐five years have passe...
Monday 12 February 2018
Authors: Kang JG, Chae JB, Cho YK, Jo YS, Shin NS, Lee H, Choi KS, Yu DH, Park J, Park BK, Chae JS Abstract Anaplasmosis, cat-scratch disease, and Lyme disease are emerging vector-borne infectious diseases in Korea. Although the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) in domestic animals and vector arthropods has been documented, there is limited information on the presence of VBPs in wild animals. The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), a wild canid found in East Asia and Europe, represents a potential wildlife reservoir for zoonotic diseases. To investigate the prevalence of VBPs in raccoon dogs, 142 carcasses and 51 blood samples from captured raccoon dogs were collected from 2003 to 2010 and from 2008 to 2009, respectively, in Korea. In addition, 105 Haemaphysalis flava...
Monday 12 February 2018
Humanizing the digital revolution, the secret life of yeast and Lyme disease through a climate lens: Books in brief, Published online: 12 February 2018; doi:10.1038/d41586-018-01809-5Barbara Kiser reviews five of the week’s best science picks. (Source: Nature AOP)
Thursday 8 February 2018
Red rash on your body? While this could be a symptom of Lyme disease, Dr Ranj Singh and Dr Zoe Williams revealed on This Morning it could be an indication of hives, and how to treat it. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Thursday 8 February 2018
Ashley L. Marcinkiewicz, Ilva Lieknina, Svetlana Kotelovica, Xiuli Yang, Peter Kraiczy, Utpal Pal, Yi-Pin Lin, Kaspars Tars (Source: Frontiers in Immunology)
Thursday 8 February 2018
Red rash on your body? While this could be a symptom of Lyme disease, Dr Ranj Singh and Dr Zoe Williams revealed on This Morning it could be an indication of hives, and how to treat it. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Thursday 8 February 2018
(University of Connecticut) The precise mechanisms of how humans become infected with Lyme disease are still unclear. Researchers from UConn Health are advancing the understanding of how the causative bacterial agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), survives in ticks and mammals. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
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Wednesday 7 February 2018
LYME disease symptoms include the characteristic rash, a fever, headaches and fatigue.You could treat the bacterial infection naturally by making these diet swaps. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Wednesday 7 February 2018
Conclusions: The clinical presentation of unilateral, posterior interstitial keratitis may be a rare manifestation of herpes simplex virus keratitis. (Source: Cornea)
Wednesday 7 February 2018
We report 5 recent cases presented over a 2-year period. The variation of non-specific presentations requires a high index of suspicion for prompt diagnosis and correct management. Recognising this early would curtail the progression of conduction disorders and potentially avoid permanent pacemaker implantation. (Source: The American Journal of Cardiology)
Wednesday 7 February 2018
Conclusions: Additional education and modifications to LD test ordering and reporting systems would likely reduce errors and improve patient care. PMID: 29425271 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Clinical Pathology)
Tuesday 6 February 2018
Juliet Rose, from Harrow, can no longer eat solid food because of her Lyme disease. She believes she has harboured the infection, spread by infected ticks, since childhood. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Tuesday 6 February 2018
LYME DISEASE signs include a stiff neck and a fever - but it could also produce a red rash with a ring around the edge. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Tuesday 6 February 2018
Zoonoses and Public Health,Volume 65, Issue 2, Page 254-259, March 2018. (Source: Zoonoses and Public Health)
Tuesday 6 February 2018
Conclusion The Western blot/avidity Western blot with PLDA approach shows exciting potential for being able to predict disease stage in some patients with LB, which could improve patient management. (Source: Journal of Microbiological Methods)
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Monday 5 February 2018
LYME DISEASE warning: tick season starts in March although you can suffer from bites at any time in the year. One Lyme disease symptom many miss is suffering with a stiff neck. Other signs of the life-altering tick-borne condition revealed here. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Monday 5 February 2018
(University of Utah Health) Scientists at University of Utah Health believe they identified a mechanism that activates T cells, a key component of the immune system, which could explain the elusive link between a tick bite and persistent Lyme arthritis. The results are published online in the February 5th issue of The Journal of Immunology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
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Monday 5 February 2018
AbstractIn the original version of this article, the word “flagellin” is not correct. The correct word should be “P66” throughout the body of the article. (Source: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases)
Monday 5 February 2018
Authors: Rocchigiani G, Ebani VV, Nardoni S, Bertelloni F, Bascherini A, Leoni A, Mancianti F, Poli A Abstract Data about the spreading of arthropod-borne pathogens among hare populations are very scant, so the aim of the present preliminary study was to investigate, through molecular analysis, the occurrence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella sp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, Leishmania spp. and piroplasms DNA in blood of 51 wild hares (Lepus europaeus) living in protected areas in Tuscany. All hares resulted negative for A. phagocytophilum, Bartonella sp., B. burgdorferi s.l., C. burnetii and F. tularensis. Five animals (9.8%) were positive for Leishmania and one hare (1.9%) tested positive for piroplasms. Sequencing of this sa...
Sunday 4 February 2018
In conclusion, these results suggested that NF‑κB serves an important stimulatory role in the signaling pathway of rBmpA‑induced inflammatory chemokines in BV2 cells. PMID: 29393443 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Molecular Medicine Reports)
Saturday 3 February 2018
We report here the most recent assays developed over the last 10 years, for detection of Lyme borreliosis in body fluids. (Source: Clinica Chimica Acta)
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Saturday 3 February 2018
Publication date: Available online 3 February 2018 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Benjamin Cull, Maaike E. Pietzsch, Kayleigh M. Hansford, Emma L. Gillingham, Jolyon M. Medlock Public Health England’s passive Tick Surveillance Scheme (TSS) records the distribution, seasonality and host associations of ticks submitted from across the United Kingdom (UK), and helps to inform the UK government on emerging tick-borne disease risks. Here we summarise data collected through surveillance during 2010–2016, and compare with previous TSS data from 2005 to 2009, particularly in relation to the primary Lyme borreliosis vector Ixodes ricinus. 4173 records were submitted, constituting >14,000 ticks; 97% were endemic tick records (13,833 ticks of 11 species), with an addition...
Saturday 3 February 2018
Doxycycline is highly effective treatment for early neurologic Lyme borreliosis (NLB). 19 studies were reviewed to determine if treatment of patients with erythema migrans with other oral antibiotics would increase the risk for developing NLB. In the 8 studies that directly compared doxycycline to another antibiotic, the pooled difference indicated a 0.2% greater risk of developing NLB in doxycycline treated patients (95% CI: -1.0%, +1.4%; p=0.77), with an estimated heterogeneity of 0.0%, p=0.58. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Saturday 3 February 2018
This study provides important baseline information to rethink communication channels for education and more effectively guide future tick-borne disease awareness campaigns. (Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases)
Friday 2 February 2018
Lyme disease is the most commonly reported tick-borneillness in the United States. Thecausative spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted by 4 species of Ixodes tick species. Over 90% of US cases occur in northeasternstates from Maine to Virginia, and in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. Infection also takes place in northern California and Oregon. Lyme borreliosis is also diagnosed in parts of Europe, China, and Japan. The white-footed mouse is the primary animal reservoir for B. burgdorferi in the U.S. (Source: Disease a Month)
Thursday 1 February 2018
(Johns Hopkins Medicine) In a study of 61 people treated for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, Johns Hopkins researchers conclude that fatigue, pain, insomnia and depression do indeed persist over long periods of time for some people, despite largely normal physical exams and clinical laboratory testing. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Thursday 1 February 2018
Lyme arthritis: Bystander-activated T cells contribute to Lyme arthritis, Published online: 01 February 2018; doi:10.1038/nrrheum.2018.12Lyme arthritis: Bystander-activated T cells contribute to Lyme arthritis (Source: Nature Reviews Rheumatology)
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Thursday 1 February 2018
Summary In Maryland, Lyme disease (LD) is a reportable disease and all laboratories and healthcare providers are required to report to the local health department. Given the volume of LD reports and effort required for investigation, surveillance for LD is burdensome and subject to underreporting. We explored the utility of International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (administrative) codes for use with LD surveillance. We aimed to collect the administrative codes for a 10% sample of 2009 LD reports (n = 474) from 292 facilities stratified by case classification (confirmed, probable, suspected and not a case). Sixty‐three per cent (n = 184) of facilities responded to the survey, and 341 different administrative codes were obtained for 91% (n = 430) ...
Wednesday 31 January 2018
There is no evidence of central nervous system (CNS) infection in patients with neurobehavioral symptoms of Lyme disease, researchers report.Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Wednesday 31 January 2018
WEDNESDAY, Jan. 31, 2018 -- Contrary to what many people believe, the lone star tick does not spread Lyme disease, researchers report. But it can transmit other diseases. The researchers came to that conclusion after reviewing more than 60 studies... (Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews)
Wednesday 31 January 2018
(Entomological Society of America) The bacteria that cause Lyme disease are transmitted to humans primarily by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). Often presumed guilty by association is the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). However, a new review of three decades' worth of research concludes the latter should be exonerated: While lone star ticks are guilty of transmitting bacteria that cause several human illnesses, the scientific evidence says Lyme disease is not one of them. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Wednesday 31 January 2018
Publication date: Available online 31 January 2018 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Lars Eisen The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is the primary vector to humans in the eastern United States of the deer tick virus lineage of Powassan virus (Powassan virus disease); the protozoan parasite Babesia microti (babesiosis); and multiple bacterial disease agents including Anaplasma phagocytophilum (anaplasmosis), Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia mayonii (Lyme disease), Borrelia miyamotoi (relapsing fever-like illness, named Borrelia miyamotoi disease), and Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis (a minor causative agent of ehrlichiosis). With the notable exception of Powassan virus, which can be transmitted within minutes after attachment by an infected tick, there is no doubt that th...
Monday 29 January 2018
ConclusionsThe 14 day oral doxycycline was not inferior to the 14 day intravenous ceftriaxone in treatment of adult European patients with early disseminated Lyme borreliosis manifested as multiple EM. The frequency of non-specific symptoms in patients was similar to that in controls without a history of Lyme bo rreliosis. (Source: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy)
Saturday 27 January 2018
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The presence of cholesterol glycolipids in the membranes of Borrelia burgdorferi was detected and characterized by biophysical and biochemical approaches. Cholesterol glycolipids are present in both the outer and inner membranes, but are different in composition and their ability to form lipid rafts and in their associated proteins. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Tuesday 23 January 2018
Forests in urban landscapes differ from their rural counterparts in ways that may alter vector-borne disease dynamics. In urban forest fragments, tick-borne pathogen prevalence is not well characterized; mitig... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Monday 22 January 2018
The Lyme disease-causing organism Borrelia burgdorferi is transmitted into the mammalian host by an infected-tick bite. Successful infection relies on the ability of this extracellular pathogen to persist and colonize different tissues. B. burgdorferi encodes a large number of adhesins that are able to interact with host ligands to facilitate adherence and tissue colonization. Multiple glycosaminoglycan binding proteins present in B. burgdorferi offer a degree of redundancy of function during infection, and this highlights the importance of glycosaminoglycans as host cell receptors for spirochete adherence. Of particular interest in this study is Borrelia glycosaminoglycan binding protein (Bgp), which binds to heparin-related glycosaminoglycans. The properties of a bgp transposon mutant an...
Monday 22 January 2018
Borrelia burgdorferi is a causative agent of Lyme disease, the most common arthropod-borne disease in the United States. B. burgdorferi evades host immune defenses to establish a persistent, disseminated infection. Previous work showed that P66-deficient B. burgdorferi (p66) is cleared quickly after inoculation in mice. We demonstrate that the p66 strain is rapidly cleared from the skin inoculation site prior to dissemination. The rapid clearance of p66 bacteria is not due to inherent defects in multiple properties that might affect infectivity: bacterial outer membrane integrity, motility, chemotactic response, or nutrient acquisition. This led us to the hypothesis that P66 has a role in mouse cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (mCRAMP; a major skin antimicrobial peptide) and/or n...
Saturday 20 January 2018
We report here the most recent assays developed over the last 10 years, for detection of Lyme borreliosis in body fluids. PMID: 29366833 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Clinical Chemistry)
Thursday 18 January 2018
Authors: Okła H, Sosnowska M, Jasik KP, Słodki J, Wojtyczka RD Abstract Ixodes ricinus and other representatives of the order Ixodida are vectors of typical pathogens: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilium, Babesia spp., a tick-borne encephalitis virus, and other microorganisms which are important from a medical and veterinary point of view. The presented study focuses on the verification of nonspecific bacterial flora of I. ricinus. We analyzed ticks collected in a forest region in Silesia, an industrial district in Poland. Methods of classical microbiology and biochemical assays (API 20 NE test, API Staph test and MICRONAUT System) were used for isolation and identification of microorganisms living on the body surface of I. ricinus and inside ticks. The re...
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Thursday 18 January 2018
Reading the recent letter from Stone et al1 reminded us of a subject from our previous galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) study. Indeed, she may well be the same 76-year-old lady found in the letter (Table E1) who was reported as negative to alpha-gal. Her first reaction to meat started 45 minutes after eating barbecue, only a few months following her recovery from Lyme disease.2,3 Since then she has had multiple reactions of varying severity, some of which started less than 1 hour after ingestion of red meat. (Source: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology)
Wednesday 17 January 2018
This study aims to estimate the incidence of LB among children with a clinical suspicion for Lyme in a tertiary referral center in the Netherlands. Patient chart data on medical history, clinical signs and symptoms, diagnostic test results and diagnoses were collected using standardized case record forms. Patients were categorized based on clinical and laboratory findings using a modified, previously published classification system. We included 325 children, with a median age of 11.9 years, of whom 61.8% were female. LB was diagnosed in 38 of the referred children (11.7%). However, of the 85 patients who were specifically referred to the Lyme clinic, 28 (32.9%) were diagnosed with LB. Of the specifically referred Lyme-positive patients, 11 (39.3%) had a definitive LB diagnosis. Twelve chil...
Wednesday 17 January 2018
Lyme disease is an affection caused by a spirochete infection called Borrelia Burgdorferi which may harbor a varied and misleading clinical symptomatology. The serology tests commonly used for diagnosis show a wide sensitivity varying from 34% to 70,5%, leaving many infected patients with false negative tests. Alternative techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could be helpful but not conclusive enough. Using biofilm busters, such as stevia and serratiopeptidase, could lead to bacterial blood release, thus increasing the spirochete load, making PCR test more sensitive, thus improving the patient ’s diagnosis and management. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Monday 15 January 2018
Zoonosis or zoonotic diseases are conditions that can be passed from animals to humans. These include rabies, malaria, and Lyme disease. Learn more. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
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Friday 12 January 2018
This study aims to estimate the incidence of LB among children with a clinical suspicion for Lyme in a tertiary referral center in the Netherlands. Patient chart data on medical history, clinical signs and symptoms, diagnostic test results and diagnoses were collected using standardized case record forms. Patients were categorized based on clinical and laboratory findings using a modified, previously published classification system. We included 325 children, with a median age of 11.9 years, of whom 61.8% were female. LB was diagnosed in 38 of the referred children (11.7%). However, of the 85 patients who were specifically referred to the Lyme clinic, 28 (32.9%) were diagnosed with LB. Of the specifically referred Lyme-positive patients, 11 (39.3%) had a definitive LB diagnosis. Twelve chil...
Thursday 11 January 2018
Authors: Madsen KB, Wallménius K, Fridman Å, Påhlson C, Nilsson K Abstract Vector-borne diseases such as Lyme borreliosis and rickettsioses have been associated with ocular inflammation. Our aim was to study patients with diagnosed uveitis to evaluate serological signs of infection or exposure to these tick-borne agents. Forty-eight patients were prospectively examined with serology together with medical records and a questionnaire concerning previous exposure, diseases, and treatments. Seven patients (14.6%) showed seroconversion to Rickettsia spp. between acute and convalescent phase sera, which provides support for a positive Rickettsia diagnosis according to guidelines. The specificity was confirmed by Western blot. Additional 28 patients had stationary titres of which eight...
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Thursday 11 January 2018
Authors: Eisen RJ, Eisen L Abstract In the United States, the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, is a vector of seven human pathogens, including those causing Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi disease, Powassan virus disease, and ehrlichiosis associated with Ehrlichia muris eauclarensis. In addition to an accelerated rate of discovery of I. scapularis-borne pathogens over the past two decades, the geographic range of the tick, and incidence and range of I. scapularis-borne disease cases, have increased. Despite knowledge of when and where humans are most at risk of exposure to infected ticks, control of I. scapularis-borne diseases remains a challenge. Human vaccines are not available, and we lack solid evidence for other prevention and control methods to...
Tuesday 9 January 2018
Publication date: Available online 8 January 2018 Source:Microbial Pathogenesis Author(s): Sanjeev Kumar Shukla, Govind Singh, Shahzad Ahmad, Prabhat Pant In Autoimmune disease a combination of infection, genetic and environmental factors causes an autoimmune response to the thyroid gland (characterized by lymphocytic infiltrations), thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) and different thyroid antigens. Graves' and Hashimoto disease are autoimmune disorders with genetic predisposition. CD40 that stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of lymphocytes is an essential immunomodulatory component for follicular cells in the thyroid and the cell that present the antigen. CD40, PTPN22 and thyroid-specific genes are immunomodulating genes for the TSH receptor and thyroglobulin. CD40...
Monday 8 January 2018
We report a case of difficult acute pain management in a patient with PTLDS who underwent dental extractions and required admission to an intensive care unit for pain control. (Source: Saudi Journal of Anaesthesia)
Thursday 4 January 2018
M. E. Herman-Giddens (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Tuesday 2 January 2018
Journal of Cutaneous Pathology,Volume 45, Issue 4, Page 274-277, April 2018. (Source: Journal of Cutaneous Pathology)
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Monday 1 January 2018
Monday 1 January 2018
We present such a case in a patient who was initially treated for cellulitis as well as neck and radicular leg pain, thereby expanding the cutaneous spectrum of Lyme disease. (Source: Journal of Cutaneous Pathology)
Monday 1 January 2018
ConclusionsPatients diagnosed with Lyme disease in Australia display a symptomology similar to ‘medically unexplained physical symptoms’ syndromes, experience social and financial harms, and are at risk of nosocomial harms. Negative medical interactions and the media may contribute to patients seeking alternative and potentially non‐evidence based diagnoses and treatments. (Source: Internal Medicine Journal)
Wednesday 27 December 2017
Authors: Halperin JJ Abstract INTRODUCTION: The nervous system is involved in 10-15% of patients infected with B. burgdorferi, B. afzelii and B. garinii. This review will address widespread misconceptions about the clinical phenomenology, diagnostic approach and response to treatment of neuroborreliosis. Areas covered: Improvements in diagnostic testing have allowed better definition of the clinical spectrum of neuroborreliosis, with lymphocytic meningitis and uni- or multifocal inflammation of peripheral/cranial nerves predominating. Despite widespread concern that post-treatment cognitive/behavioral symptoms might be attributable to persisting infection or aberrant inflammation within the central nervous system a large body of evidence indicates this is extremely improbable. Impo...
Wednesday 27 December 2017
We present case studies on the role of rodents in the cycles of Bartonella spp., of wild ungulates in the cycle of Babesia spp., and of various wildlife species in the life cycle of Leishmania infantum, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp. These examples highlight the usefulness of surveillance strategies focused on neglected zoonotic agents in wildlife as a source of valuable information for health professionals, nature managers and (local) decision-makers. These benefits could be further enhanced by increased collaboration between researchers and stakeholders across Europe and a more harmonised and coordinated approach for data collection. (Source: Veterinary Parasitology)
Wednesday 27 December 2017
AbstractLaboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease is difficult and presently dependent on detectingBorrelia burgdorferi-specific antibodies in patient serum with the disadvantage that the immune response toB. burgdorferi can be weak or variable, or alternatively, the slow and inefficient culture confirmation ofB. burgdorferi. PCR tests have previously shown poor sensitivity and are not routinely used for diagnosis. We developed a sensitive and specific Lyme Multiplex PCR-dot blot assay (LM-PCR assay) applicable to blood and urine samples to supplement western blot (WB) serological tests for detectingB. burgdorferi infection. The LM-PCR assay utilizes specific DNA hybridization to purifyB. burgdorferi DNA followed by PCR amplification offlagellin andOspA gene fragments and their detection by sou...
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Tuesday 26 December 2017
Lyme disease, spread via the bite of an infected tick, has expanded into states that border those with a historically high incidence, according to a recent CDCreport on surveillance data for 2008-2015. (Source: JAMA)
Monday 25 December 2017
Four years ago, we noted an example of irresponsible reporting on Lyme disease by an investigative television news team (1). Consequently, when we learned that this same group was airing a new five part series entitled, “The Lyme Wars: Investigating a Public Health Crisis”, we were most interested to see if they had done a better job this time in providing the public with more accurate and reliable information about Lyme disease. Sadly, that was not the case (2). Once again, the media failed to act responsibly and in the best interest of the public health. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Sunday 24 December 2017
In conclusion, at IgG levels of 200 IU/ml and higher, an ELISA was sufficient to detect antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. At those IgG levels, a confirmatory immunoblot may be omitted in patients referred to a tertiary Lyme centre. Before these results can be implemented in routine LB diagnosis, confirmation of the results is necessary in other patient populations and using other quantitative ELISAs and immunoblots. (Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases)
Saturday 23 December 2017
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of specific B-cell epitopes from OspA and OspC proteins may improve the diagnostic accuracy of serologic assays, but further studies are required to address this hypothesis. PMID: 29284249 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
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Friday 22 December 2017
We report the case of a 51-year-old woman presenting with a targetoid rash and pancytopenia after a tick bite. Initial evaluation was notable for severe neutropenia on the complete blood cell count differential, a positive Lyme IgM antibody, and a peripheral blood smear demonstrating atypical lymphocytes. While her pancytopenia was initially attributed to tick-borne illness, peripheral flow cytometry showed 7% myeloblasts, and a bone marrow biopsy confirmed 60% blasts. The patient was ultimately diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, in addition to early, localized Lyme disease. This case highlights the differential diagnosis for pancytopenia, cytopenia patterns for different tick-borne illnesses, the risk of premature closure in internal medicine, and management of Lyme disease in hos...
Wednesday 20 December 2017
In this report, we discussed the diagnosis, electrodiagnostic progression, pain management, goals for inpatient rehabilitation and overall prognosis of NA. (Source: PMandR)
Wednesday 20 December 2017
Ixodes ricinus, the predominant tick species in Europe, can transmit the causative agents of important human diseases such as Lyme borreliosis (LB), caused by Borrelia spirochetes. In ... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Tuesday 19 December 2017
In this report, we discussed the diagnosis, electrodiagnostic progression, pain management, goals for inpatient rehabilitation and overall prognosis of NA. (Source: PM and R)
Saturday 16 December 2017
Publication date: Available online 15 December 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Katherine L. Moon, Steven L. Chown, Siew-May Loh, Charlotte L. Oskam, Ceridwen I. Fraser Lyme borreliosis (or Lyme Disease) is an emerging threat to human health in the Northern Hemisphere caused by tick-borne bacteria from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) complex. Seabirds are important reservoir hosts of some members of the Bbsl complex in the Northern Hemisphere, and some evidence suggests this may be true of penguins in the Southern Hemisphere. While the Bbsl complex has not been detected in Australia, a novel Borrelia species (‘Candidatus Borrelia tachyglossi’) was recently sequenced from native ticks (Ixodes holocyclus and Bothriocroton concolor) parasitising echidnas (T...
Saturday 16 December 2017
We present an interesting case of a young male whose main manifestation of Lyme carditis was isolated LBBB. He also had mild Lyme myocarditis. The patient was successfully treated with oral doxycycline, and his isolated LBBB and myocarditis rapidly resolved. (Source: IDCases)
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Saturday 16 December 2017
Publication date: Available online 15 December 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Artem Rogovskyy, Maliha Batool, David C. Gillis, Patricia J. Holman, Igor V. Nebogatkin, Yuliya V. Rogovska, Maksym S. Rogovskyy Lyme borreliosis (LB) is caused by tick-borne spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. LB is the most prevalent vector-borne illness in Ukraine, but current data on the prevalence of LB pathogens in their tick vector, Ixodes ricinus, are lacking. I. ricinus ticks may also carry Borrelia miyamotoi, an emerging relapsing fever group spirochete that has been implicated in human illness. Despite its zoonotic potential, the prevalence of B. miyamotoi in ticks has not been examined in Ukraine. Similarly, data on the prevalence of other important tick-...
Friday 15 December 2017
Authors: Treviño Castellano M, Navarro de la Cruz D, Trastoy Pena R PMID: 29233538 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Medicina Clinica)
Friday 15 December 2017
Publication date: Available online 15 December 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Andrea Egizi, Vivien Roegner, Ary Faraji, Sean P. Healy, Terry L. Schulze, Robert A. Jordan Historical specimens, when available, can provide new insight into the distribution and evolution of pathogens that may not be discernible from more recent samples. We used ticks collected from hunter-killed white-tailed deer in New Jersey in 2002 to examine the prevalence and distribution of four pathogens transmitted by Ixodes scapularis, the blacklegged tick. Infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Babesia microti, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum (the agents of Lyme disease, human babesiosis, and human granulocytic anaplasmosis, respectively) was highest in the Coastal Plain and lowest in...
Wednesday 13 December 2017
Nature 552, 7684 (2017). doi:10.1038/d41586-017-08442-8 Author: James G. Logan James G. Logan hails a study of the controversial tick-borne condition. (Source: Nature)
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Wednesday 13 December 2017
The patients said they wanted better tools for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, but also recognition of Lyme as a chronic condition.Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Wednesday 13 December 2017
(Duke University Medical Center) Researchers at Duke Health are working to expand the medical toolkit for treating Lyme disease by identifying vulnerable areas of disease-causing bacteria that could lead to innovative therapies. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Wednesday 13 December 2017
(Tulane University) Lyme bacteria can survive a 28-day course of antibiotic treatment four months following infection by tick bite, according to a new study using a primate model for the disease. Despite testing negative for Lyme disease, some subjects were infected with Lyme bacteria in heart, brain and other organs. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Wednesday 13 December 2017
Lyme disease laid bare, Published online: 13 December 2017; doi:10.1038/d41586-017-08442-8James G. Logan hails a study of the controversial tick-borne condition. (Source: Nature AOP)
Wednesday 13 December 2017
Authors: Keilp JG, Fallon BA PMID: 29244055 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology)
Wednesday 13 December 2017
Lyme carditis is an uncommon manifestation of early disseminated Lyme disease. This case illustrates a 66-year-old male with complaints of fatigue, myalgias, and fever after a tick bite 3days earlier. A large erythema migrans was found on the chest wall. Initial electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm with second degree 2:1 atrioventricular (AV) block, which progressed to intermittent complete AV block rapidly. He was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone. Over the course of 2-weeks of antibiotic therapy, the intermittent high-grade AV block improved slowly and progressively. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Tuesday 12 December 2017
We report the case of an 80-year-old patient with acute onset confusion initially suspected to reflect delirium in incipient Alzheimer’s disease. Cerebrospinal fluid tests revealed an unusually severe form of neuroborreliosis, which resolved following antibiotic treatment. This was mirrored in the measurement of CXCL13, which is suggested as a complementary biomarker. Clinical implications for screening, differential diagnosis and treatment are discussed. (Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases)
Monday 11 December 2017
Publication date: Available online 10 December 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Christine B. Graham, Sarah E. Maes, Andrias Hojgaard, Amy C. Fleshman, Sarah W. Sheldon, Rebecca J. Eisen The incidence and geographic range of tick-borne illness associated with Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus have dramatically increased in recent decades. Anaplasmosis, babesiosis, and Borrelia spirochete infections, including Lyme borreliosis, account for tens of thousands of reported cases of tick-borne disease every year. Assays that reliably detect pathogens in ticks allow investigators and public health agencies to estimate the geographic distribution of human pathogens, assess geographic variation in their prevalence, and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies. As...
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Monday 11 December 2017
Authors: Crossland NA, Alvarez X, Embers ME Abstract Non-human primates currently serve as the best experimental model for Lyme disease due to their close genetic homology with humans and demonstration of all three phases of disease following infection with Borreliella (Borrelia) burgdorferi (Bb). We investigated the pathology associated with late disseminated Lyme disease (12 to 13 months following tick inoculation) in doxycycline-treated (28 days; 5mg/kg, oral, 2x/day) and untreated rhesus macaques (Rm). Minimal to moderate lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, with a predilection for perivascular spaces and collagenous tissues, was observed in multiple tissues including the cerebral leptomeninges, brainstem, peripheral nerves from both fore and hind limbs, stifle synovium and perisyno...
Monday 11 December 2017
Nonhuman primates currently serve as the best experimental model for Lyme disease because of their close genetic homology with humans and demonstration of all three phases of disease after infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. We investigated the pathology associated with late disseminated Lyme disease (12 to 13 months after tick inoculation) in doxycycline-treated (28 days; 5 mg/kg, oral, twice daily) and untreated rhesus macaques. Minimal to moderate lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, with a predilection for perivascular spaces and collagenous tissues, was observed in multiple tissues, including the cerebral leptomeninges, brainstem, peripheral nerves from both fore and hind limbs, stifle synovium and perisynovial adipose tissue, urinary bladder, skeletal muscle, myocardium, and visceral per...
Monday 11 December 2017
Non-human primates currently serve as the best experimental model for Lyme disease due to their close genetic homology with humans and demonstration of all three phases of disease following infection with Borreliella (Borrelia) burgdorferi (Bb). We investigated the pathology associated with late disseminated Lyme disease (12 to 13 months following tick inoculation) in doxycycline-treated (28 days; 5mg/kg, oral, 2x/day) and untreated rhesus macaques (Rm). Minimal to moderate lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, with a predilection for perivascular spaces and collagenous tissues, was observed in multiple tissues including the cerebral leptomeninges, brainstem, peripheral nerves from both fore and hind limbs, stifle synovium and perisynovial adipose tissue, urinary bladder, skeletal muscle, myocar...
Sunday 10 December 2017
Authors: Masters EJ Abstract Preview Because disseminated Lyme disease can be devastating, early recognition and treatment are important. The presence of erythema migrans offers the best opportunity for early diagnosis. Therefore, public awareness and patient education about the rash of Lyme disease are critical. Dr Masters gives practical pointers from his own experience in evaluation of erythema migrans and reviews current treatment recommendations. PMID: 29219679 [PubMed] (Source: Postgraduate Medicine)
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Sunday 10 December 2017
Authors: Paparone PW Abstract Preview The presentation of Lyme disease may resemble that of polymyalgia rheumatica. What's more, the latter may occur in patients who have positive serologic findings for the former. In this case report, the author describes differential diagnosis in an elderly patient whose rheumatic complaints and blood chemistry profile alone could easily have led to misdiagnosis. Important points in evaluation and treatment are discussed. PMID: 29219773 [PubMed] (Source: Postgraduate Medicine)
Saturday 9 December 2017
(MedPage Today) -- CDC surveillance report lists top 7 states (Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease)
Thursday 7 December 2017
Check out some of the recent highlights from NEJM Group: NEJM: Perspective: Dr. Margot Kushel examines the root cause of a hepatitis A outbreak in... (Source: Physician's First Watch current issue)
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Thursday 7 December 2017
(Rutgers University) New diagnostic methods offer a better chance for more accurate detection of the infection from the Lyme bacteria, the most common tick-borne infection in North America and Europe. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Wednesday 6 December 2017
Authors: Alasel M, Dassinger N, Vornicescu D, Keusgen M Abstract Rapid diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis has been carried out on chemically modified porous polyethylene sinter bodies. Photografting of 2-propenol on sinter body's surface was performed as a first step, introducing active hydroxyl groups as a result of polyalcohol formation. The hydroxyl groups were used for further immobilization and could be linked via 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to polysaccharides like mannan. Prone to coupling, mannan was activated using N, N'-disuccinimidyl carbonate (DSC) to allow smooth reaction with the primary amine groups of the silane layer. In a final preparation step, a recombinant fusion protein consisting of the mannan-binding domain of the lectin Concanavalin A (ConA) and a specif...
Wednesday 6 December 2017
The objective of the present study was to examine the interaction of skin fibroblasts withB. burgdorferi sensu stricto B31 (BB) andB. afzelii (BA) in vitro by electron microscopy. We also determined the expression of collagen type I, TGF- β, FGF-1, calreticulin (CALR), decorin (DCN), and PDGF-α at the mRNA level inBorrelia/fibroblast co-cultures. IntactBorrelia attach to and transmigrate fibroblasts, and undergo cystic transformation outside the fibroblasts. Fibroblasts preserve their vitality and express a prominent granular endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting activated protein synthesis. On two different semi-quantitative real-time PCR assays, BB- and BA/fibroblast co-cultures showed a significant induction of type I collagen mRNA after 2 days compared to fibroblasts (fourfold for BA a...
Wednesday 6 December 2017
Publication date: Available online 6 December 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Nanna Skaarup Andersen, Sigurdur Skarphédinsson, Fredrikke C Knudtzen, Carsten Riis Olesen, Thøger Gorm Jensen, Per Moestrup Jensen Lyme neuroborreliosis is the most severe clinical manifestation of Lyme borreliosis. In most of Denmark, and also Europe, the overall prevalence of Lyme borreliosis seems to be stabilising. This is not the case on the island of Funen, Denmark, where the number of human Lyme neuroborreliosis cases has markedly declined throughout the last decade. We propose the reason for the decline is a major epidemic among roe deer, killing almost half of their population, resulting in a reduction in the tick population which make it less likely to get a tick bite and theref...
Tuesday 5 December 2017
As several studies indicated an increase in Lyme disease (LD), notably in neighbouring countries, concerns have arisen regarding the evolution of Lyme disease in Belgium. In order to confirm or infirm the incr... (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)
Monday 4 December 2017
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common reported tick-borne infection in Europe, and involves transmission of Borrelia by ticks. As long as a vaccine is not available and effective measures for controlling tick ... (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)
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Friday 1 December 2017
BY ANUMEHA SINGH, MD, & ANDREJ KIELTYKA, PASymptomatic bradycardia is usually reserved for the over-the-hill crowd, but it is not entirely unheard of in the young and healthy. A 21-year-old African American man was sent to the emergency department by his primary care provider. The patient had no previous medical issues, normal vital signs, and was fine until about a week prior. He had quickly worsening shortness of breath while climbing the stairs to get to his dorm bedroom. The young man denied having been out in the woods or noting tick bites. He had no family history of cardiomyopathy or early cardiac events.The patient had negative toxicology and social history screens. When pressed further, he recalled malaise, stiff neck, low-grade temperature, and muscle aches for about tw...
Friday 1 December 2017
The facial paralysis and drooping is caused by nerve inflammation, but the cause of that inflammation “ is a question for the ages ” says one expert. (Source: NYT Health)
Friday 1 December 2017
Paralysie de Bell récente et maladie de Lyme. Can Fam Physician. 2017 Dec;63(12):e509 Authors: PMID: 29237645 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Canadian Family Physician Medecin de Famille Canadien)
Friday 1 December 2017
Authors: PMID: 29237635 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Canadian Family Physician Medecin de Famille Canadien)
Thursday 30 November 2017
by Simon Pollett, Benjamin M. Althouse, Brett Forshey, George W. Rutherford, Richard G. Jarman Internet-based surveillance methods for vector-borne diseases (VBDs) using “big data” sources such as Google, Twitter, and internet newswire scraping have recently been developed, yet reviews on such “digital disease detection” methods have focused on respiratory pathogens, particularly in high-income regions. Here, we present a narrative review of the literature that has examined the performance of internet-based biosurveillance for diseases caused by vector-borne viruses, parasites, and other pathogens, including Zika, dengue, other arthropod-borne viruses, malaria, leishmaniasis, and Lyme disease across a range of settings, including low- and middle-income countries. The fundamental f...
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Tuesday 28 November 2017
ConclusionsThere was a very high prevalence of D. immitis, hookworm and external parasites in Samoan dogs, and prophylactic medication is rarely administered. This is the first report confirming A. platys in Samoa and the South Pacific islands. The public health implications of poor management of the dogs should be considered and investigated further. (Source: Australian Veterinary Journal)
Saturday 25 November 2017
Performing a tick check after visiting nature is considered the most important preventive measure to avoid contracting Lyme disease. Checking the body for ticks after visiting nature is the only measure that c... (Source: BMC Public Health)
Saturday 25 November 2017
Publication date: Available online 21 November 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): P. Mead, S. Hook, S. Niesobecki, J. Ray, J. Meek, M. Delorey, C. Prue, A. Hinckley Prevention of tick-borne diseases requires an understanding of when and where exposure to ticks is most likely. We used an epidemiologic approach to define these parameters for residents of a Lyme-endemic region. Two persons in each of 500 Connecticut households were asked to complete a log each night for one week during June, 2013. Participants recorded their whereabouts in 15min increments (indoors, outdoors in their yard, outdoors on others’ private property, or outdoors in public spaces) and noted each day whether they found a tick on themselves. Demographic and household information was also collected....
Saturday 25 November 2017
Publication date: Available online 22 November 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Micah B. Hahn, Jenna K.H. Bjork, David F. Neitzel, Frances M. Dorr, Tessa Whitemarsh, Karen A. Boegler, Christine B. Graham, Tammi L. Johnson, Sarah E. Maes, Rebecca J. Eisen The distribution of I. scapularis, the tick vector of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, has been expanding over the last two decades in the north-central United States in parallel with increasing incidence of human cases of Lyme disease in that region. However, assessments of residential risk for exposure to ticks are lacking from this region. Here, we measured the density of host-seeking I. scapularis nymphs in two suburban and two rural public recreational sites located in Washington County, Minnesota as well as ...
Friday 24 November 2017
CONCLUSIONS: Lyme Neuroborreliosis accounts for a small proportion of paediatric stroke even in an endemic country. The strong predilection towards posterior cerebral circulation with clinical occurrence of brainstem signs associated with meningeal symptoms and CSF lymphocytosis are suggestive features that should rapidly point to the diagnosis. This can confirmed by appropriate serological testing in the serum and CSF. Clinicians must be aware of this rare neurological complication of Lyme disease that demands specific antibiotic treatment. PMID: 29208342 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Paediatric Neurology)
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Wednesday 22 November 2017
The bacterial spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of the most commonly reported arthropod-borne illness in the United States, Lyme disease. A family of proteins containing von Willebrand Factor... (Source: BMC Microbiology)
Wednesday 22 November 2017
In the present study, we sought to evaluate the feasibility of targeting vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) by positron emission tomography (PET) for the longitudinal quantitative assessment of Borrelia burgdorf... (Source: Arthritis Research and Therapy)
Tuesday 21 November 2017
ConclusionOur results indicate that horizontal striae distensae of the lower back in adolescent boys is associated with a rapid growth spurt, tall stature, and family history of striae distensae. There is no association between this type of striae distensae and any chronic medical condition, bacterial infection, or exogenous steroid use. Thus a careful review of systems and counseling without further medical testing is reasonable management. (Source: Pediatric Dermatology)
Tuesday 21 November 2017
Ixodes ricinus ticks are commonly encountered in either natural or urban areas, contributing to Lyme disease agents Borreliella [(Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato)] spp. and Borrelia m... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Tuesday 21 November 2017
Schwameis M et al. Topical azithromycin for the prevention of Lyme borreliosis: a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 effi cacy trial. Lancet Infect Dis 2017; 17: 322 –29—In the affiliations, L Meinel's qualification should have been PhD. In the Outcomes section of the Methods, the second sentence of the second paragraph should have read “Treatment failure was defined as seroconversion (IgM, IgG, or both), appearance of erythema migrans throughout the study participants seronegative at baseline (IgM, IgG, or both), or both seroconversion and erythema migrans throughout the study. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
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Monday 20 November 2017
Despite weeks of symptoms, a patient did not seek treatment until his illness rendered him unconscious. The 66-year-old man presented after an episode of witnessed syncope. He had been walking across the room towards his grandchild when he suddenly felt lightheaded and tried to hold on to the wall for support. He then passed out and fell to the floor. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Friday 17 November 2017
Conclusion: CSF CXCL13 is a sensitive marker of LNB in children. The specificity to discriminate LNB from non-Lyme aseptic meningitis may be more moderate, suggesting that CSF CXCL13 should be used together with other variables in diagnosing LNB in children. (Source: The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)
Thursday 16 November 2017
An unusual increase in suspected Lyme disease cases in Arkansas underscores the importance of Lyme disease surveillance in this and other states which have been considered low-risk.Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Monday 13 November 2017
We describe the only reported cases of peri ocular tick bite from India that presented to us within a span of 3 days and its management. Due suspicion and magnification of the lesions revealed the ticks which otherwise masqueraded as small skin tags/moles on gross examination. The ticks were firmly latched on to the skin and careful removal prevented incarceration of the mouth parts. Rickettsial diseases that were believed to have disappeared from India are reemerging and their presence has recently been documented in at least 11 states in the country. Among vector borne diseases, the most common, Lyme disease, also known as the great mimicker, can present with rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue synd...
Sunday 12 November 2017
Publication date: Available online 12 November 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Sandra J. Raffel, Brandi N. Williamson, Tom G. Schwan, Frank C. Gherardini Relapsing fever (RF) in North America is caused primarily by the spirochete Borrelia hermsii and is associated with the bite of its tick vector Ornithodoros hermsi. Although this spirochete was known long before the discovery of the Lyme disease (LD) spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, basic methods to facilitate the study of B. hermsii have lagged behind. One important technique to expedite the study of the molecular biology and pathogenesis of B. hermsii would be a reliable method to grow and clone these bacteria in solid medium, which we now describe. We have defined the solidifying agent, plating temperature, oxyge...
Sunday 12 November 2017
The objectives of this study were to determine the Bb-sl seroprevalence among the general Finnish adult population and to identify risk factors associated with Bb-sl-seropositive status. Two thousand sera from a nationwide health survey from 2011 were tested by whole-cell sonicate IgG ELISA, C6 peptide ELISA, and recomBead IgG 2.0 and test results were linked to a general health questionnaire. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors. The median age of the study population was 56 years (range 29–97) and the Bb-sl weighted seroprevalence was 3.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.03–5.08). The weighted seroprevalence was significantly higher among males than females (adjusted odds ratio 1.91, 95%CI 1.21–3.04). The seroprevalence was highest in Southern...
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Friday 10 November 2017
This report highlights the continuing public health challenge of Lyme disease in states with high incidence and demonstrates its emergence in neighboring states that previously experienced few cases. (Source: PHPartners.org)
Friday 10 November 2017
. (Source: Infectious Diseases)
Friday 10 November 2017
This report highlights the continuing public health challenge of Lyme disease in states with high incidence and demonstrates its emergence in neighboring states that previously experienced few cases. Educational efforts should be directed accordingly to facilitate prevention, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment. As Lyme disease emerges in neighboring states, clinical suspicion of Lyme disease in a patient should be based on local experience rather than incidence cutoffs used for surveillance purposes. A diagnosis of Lyme disease should be considered in patients with compatible clinical signs and a history of potential exposure to infected ticks, not only in states with high incidence but also in areas where Lyme disease is known to be emerging. These findings underscore the ongoing ...
Thursday 9 November 2017
Six year old Adam Mitchell contracted Lyme's disease after bitten by a tick which carries infectious bacteria. The disease spread and caused an outbreak of Meningitis which gave Adam brain damage (Source: the Mail online | Health)
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Thursday 9 November 2017
(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)
Wednesday 8 November 2017
Authors: Lin YP, Li L, Zhang F, Linhardt RJ Abstract The spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferisensu lato is the causative agent of Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in Europe and the United States. The spirochetes can be transmitted to humans via ticks, and then spread to different tissues, leading to arthritis, carditis and neuroborreliosis. Although antibiotics have commonly been used to treat infected individuals, some treated patients do not respond to antibiotics and experience persistent, long-term arthritis. Thus, there is a need to investigate alternative therapeutics against Lyme disease. The spirochete bacterium colonization is partly attributed to the binding of the bacterial outer-surface proteins to the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains of host proteo...
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Wednesday 8 November 2017
Conclusions Non-specific symptoms after tick bite may be caused by uncommon pathogens or co-infection, therefore it should be considered in differential diagnosis after tick bite. (Source: Advances in Medical Sciences)
Wednesday 8 November 2017
Authors: Budhram A, Le C, Jenkins ME PMID: 29115676 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Headache)
Tuesday 7 November 2017
In conclusion, tick-mediated infections can trigger GA in some cases, while correlation of either Borrelia or Chlamydiales with morphea is unlikely. PMID: 29110020 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Acta Dermato-Venereologica)
Tuesday 7 November 2017
CONCLUSIONS: Non-specific symptoms after tick bite may be caused by uncommon pathogens or co-infection, therefore it should be considered in differential diagnosis after tick bite. PMID: 29120859 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Advances in Medical Sciences)
Sunday 5 November 2017
Conclusion The TBE increase that occurred in France in 2016 highlights the need to improve our knowledge about the true burden of TBEV infection and subsequent long-term outcomes. (Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases)
Saturday 4 November 2017
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, can evade the host immune system by a process known as antigenic variation. The spirochete continually changes the sequence of a major surface protein, vlsE, to escape antibodies that would eliminate it. In this study we use next generation sequencing and novel software to study the DNA rearrangements that drive antigenic variability. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Saturday 4 November 2017
Authors: Hartmann D, Šíma R, Konvičková J, Perner J, Kopáček P, Sojka D Abstract By searching nucleotide databases for the North American Lyme disease vector, Ixodes scapularis, we have complemented the previously characterized European Ixodes ricinus legumain IrAE1 with a full set of nine analogous genes (isae1-9). Six of these were PCR confirmed as genes present in all tick genomes tested. The absolute mRNA copy number examined by quantitative (q)PCR enabled expression profiling and an absolute comparison of mRNA levels for individual I. scapularis (Is)AEs in tick tissues. Four IsAEs (1, 2, 4, 9) were expressed solely in the gut and thus are proposed to be involved in host blood digestion. Expression qPCR profiling over developmental stages confirmed IsAE1, the direct analo...
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Wednesday 1 November 2017
Abstract Lyme disease is a common tick‐borne infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi in the United States, where infection is most prevalent in the northeastern and mid‐Atlantic states. Although classically associated with erythema migrans, Lyme disease caused by Borrelia species found in Europe may also present with other cutaneous findings. Here we report the case of a girl who was clinically diagnosed with Lyme disease based on her history of recent travel and the appearance of an areolar lymphocytoma; this was confirmed by testing. Testing for European Lyme disease does not follow the testing algorithm that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends and may be easily missed. Our case serves as an important reminder that common infections can have varying presentatio...
Wednesday 1 November 2017
Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceBartonella spp. exposure was documented throughout North America and at any time of year. Male intact dogs, mixed breed dogs, and dogs exposed to other CVBD have higher seroreactivity to multiple Bartonella species. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine)
Tuesday 31 October 2017
Sarah Jackson, 29, from Colchester,, who was struck down when she visited Australia in 2013, said: 'One of the GP's actually compared me to Stephen Hawking.' (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Monday 30 October 2017
The Environmental Protection Agency barred two agency scientists and an EPA contractor from speaking at a conference on the health of Narragansett Bay. Agency spokesperson John Konkus said, "EPA scientists are attending, they simply are not presenting, it is not an EPA conference." One of the scientists was scheduled to deliver the keynote address. The Association of Ecosystem Research Centers held a science briefing for policymakers on Capitol Hill on 24 October 2017. The event highlighted how ecosystem research is helping to combat emerging infectious diseases, such as Ebola and Lyme disease. Copies of the presentations are available online at https://www.aibs.org/rsvp/aerc.html. Members of the Association also received a half-day of communications training from AIBS. &...
Monday 30 October 2017
(Natural News) Sometimes the traditional medical community is so zoned in on certain treatments and conditions they miss the big picture, and usually to the patient’s detriment. That’s what happened big-time recently when doctors in England misdiagnosed a patient with Lyme disease. As reported by the U.K.’s Daily Mail, a hair stylist who became bedridden... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Monday 30 October 2017
Summary The value of using diagnostic codes in Lyme disease (LD) surveillance in highly endemic states has not been well studied. Surveys of healthcare facilities in Maryland (MD) and New York (NY) regarding coding practices were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using diagnostic codes as a potential method for LD surveillance. Most respondents indicated that their practice utilized electronic medical records (53%) and processed medical/billing claims electronically (74%). Most facilities were able to search office visits associated with specific ICD‐9‐CM and CPT codes (74% and 73%, respectively); no discernible differences existed between the healthcare facilities in both states. These codes were most commonly assigned by the practitioner (82%), and approximately 70% of respond...
Sunday 29 October 2017
is the most common tick-borne illness in the USA and Europe. Pathogens involved are Borrelia burgdorferi in the USA and B. afzelii and B. garinii in Europe. The characteristic rash of erythema migrans occurs in approximately 75% of patients. Neurological disease, including facial palsy, meningoencephalitis, aseptic meningitis and polyradiculopathy, occurs in 10 –15%. Cardiac disease, primarily manifest as heart block, is seen in 1–2%. Arthritis is seen as a late complication in about 30%. (Source: Medicine)
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Friday 27 October 2017
Sarah Jackson, 29, from Essex, was struck ill when she visited Australia 4 years ago. She suffers seizures, eye problems, pain, memory loss and fatigue and needs £40,000 for US treatment. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
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Friday 27 October 2017
Authors: Kwit NA, Dietrich EA, Nelson C, Taffner R, Petersen J, Schriefer M, Mead P, Weinstein S, Haselow D PMID: 29073126 [PubMed - in process] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)
Thursday 26 October 2017
(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)
Thursday 26 October 2017
Authors: Stevenson B, Seshu J Abstract The infectious cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi necessitates persistent infection of both vertebrates and ticks, and efficient means of transmission between those two very different types of hosts. The Lyme disease spirochete has evolved mechanisms to sense its location in the infectious cycle, and use that information to control production of the proteins and other factors required for each step. Numerous components of borrelial regulatory pathways have been characterized to date. Their effects are being pieced together, thereby providing glimpses into a complex web of cooperative and antagonistic interactions. In this chapter, we present a broad overview of B. burgdorferi gene and protein regulation during the natural infectious cycle, discussi...
Wednesday 25 October 2017
Disseminated Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose, as it begins with nonspecific signs and symptoms, which, if not treated correctly, can lead to atrioventricular conduction blocks and meningitis. In addition, the diagnosis can be further complicated by potentially false-positive test results. (Source: The Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Wednesday 25 October 2017
We present the case of a patient with evidence of exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi sl and a long history of debilitating fatigue, cognitive abnormalities and autonomic nervous system issues. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Tuesday 24 October 2017
(Source: Journal of Clinical Microbiology)
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Monday 23 October 2017
ConclusionsIncreased awareness may explain the increase in requests. There is no indication of an increase in incidence. As many GPs treat suspected Lyme borreliosis empirically without testing and as antibody may be undetectable early in the course of illness, the true incidence of infection is likely to exceed the number of laboratory-confirmed cases. (Source: Irish Journal of Medical Science)
Friday 20 October 2017
Linked Article: Bauvin et al. Br J Dermatol 2017; 177:1127–1130. (Source: British Journal of Dermatology)
Friday 20 October 2017
Authors: Urbanová V, Hajdušek O, Šíma R, Franta Z, Hönig-Mondeková H, Grunclová L, Bartošová-Sojková P, Jalovecká M, Kopáček P Abstract Ticks possess components of a primordial complement system that presumably play a role in the interaction of the tick immune system with tick-borne pathogens and affect their transmission. Here we characterized a novel complement component, tagged as IrC2/Bf, from the hard tick Ixodes ricinus, the principal vector of Lyme disease in Europe. IrC2/Bf is a multi-domain molecule composed of 5-7 CCP modules, varied by alternative splicing, followed by a von Willebrand factor A domain and a C-terminal trypsin-like domain. The primary structure and molecular architecture of IrC2/Bf displays the closest homology to the C3-complement component ...
Friday 20 October 2017
This article aims to describe manifestations of Lyme disease in children with an emphasis on Lyme neuroborreliosis. Clinical scenarios will be presented and discussed. Finally, recommendations for clinical psychiatrists who encounter children with possible Lyme disease are presented. (Source: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America)
Thursday 19 October 2017
This article discusses case presentations showing the wide range of symptoms and presentations that are possible with babesiosis. (Source: The Nurse Practitioner)
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Wednesday 18 October 2017
When the doctor told me I had Lyme disease, I cried — not because I was scared, but because I finally had an answer. (Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post)
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Authors: Li X, Wang P, Lutton A, Olesik J Abstract Transition metal ions play important structural, regulatory, and catalytic roles in all biological systems by serving as cofactors for proteins. Due to their relatively low levels in the cell compared to abundant metal ions such as potassium and magnesium, transition metals are often considered micronutrients and referred to as trace elements. Manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) are the most prevalent transition metals in the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Here, we describe a method for the accurate measurement of these trace elements in B. burgdorferi utilizing inductively coupled plasma-sector field mass spectrometry (ICP-SFMS). PMID: 29032538 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Mol Biol Cell)
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Authors: Zhang K, Li C Abstract Swimming plate, cell motion tracking, and capillary tube assays are very useful tools to quantitatively measure bacterial motility and chemotaxis. These methods were modified and applied to study Borrelia burgdorferi motility and chemotaxis. By using these methods, numerous motility and chemotaxis mutants have been characterized and several chemoattractants were identified. With the assistance of these tools, the role of motility and chemotaxis in the pathogenicity of B. burgdorferi has been established. In addition, these tools also facilitate the study of motility and chemotaxis in other spirochetes. PMID: 29032554 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Mol Biol Cell)
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Authors: Bernard Q, Jaulhac B, Boulanger N Abstract The skin plays an essential role in the transmission of Lyme borreliosis since it is the first interface between the Ixodes tick and the host during the inoculation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. A better understanding of the inflammatory reaction at this location is key to develop better strategies (e.g., vaccine and diagnosis) to fight this disease. In vitro cell culture of resident skin cells might constitute an approach to decipher the complex interplay between the tick, the pathogen, and the vertebrate host. PMID: 29032555 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Mol Biol Cell)
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Authors: Iqbal H, Akins DR, Kenedy MR Abstract Co-immunoprecipitation can be utilized to study protein-protein interactions from various environments, cell types, or tissues. Herein, we describe a co-immunoprecipitation protocol that can be used to examine protein complexes found in the pathogenic spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. The method outlined here has successfully identified known and unknown members of borrelial protein complexes and is an efficient method for studying protein interactions in this pathogenic spirochete. PMID: 29032535 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Mol Biol Cell)
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Authors: Kraiczy P Abstract Acquisition of host-derived proteins possessing key regulatory function is a hallmark of Borrelia burgdorferi, and an important step to successfully infect the human host, inhibiting activation of complement as innate immunity's first line of defense. Hence, the identification and characterization of interacting ligands is a prerequisite to gain deeper insights into the molecular principles of how spirochetes overcome the detrimental effects of complement. Far western blotting enables the detection of protein-protein interactions in vitro using cell lysates containing the prey proteins and purified complement proteins or human serum as a source for soluble complement proteins as bait proteins. Here, the methodology for the detection and characterization ...
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Authors: Toledo A, Huang Z, Benach JL, London E Abstract Lipid rafts are membrane microdomains that are involved in cellular processes such as protein trafficking and signaling processes, and which play a fundamental role in membrane fluidity and budding. The lipid composition of the membrane and the biochemical characteristics of the lipids found within rafts define the ability of cells to form microdomains and compartmentalize the membrane. In this chapter, we describe the biophysical, biochemical, and molecular approaches used to define and characterize lipid rafts in the Lyme disease agent, Borrelia burgdorferi. PMID: 29032537 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Mol Biol Cell)
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Authors: Gomes-Solecki M, Richer L Abstract Escherichia coli is the mainstay tool for fundamental microbiology research due to its ease of cultivation and safety. Auxotrophic strains of the K-12 and B lineages of E. coli are the organisms of choice to produce recombinant proteins. Components present in the cell envelope of bacteria are also potent immune modulators and have been used to develop adjuvants. We used live E. coli, after induction of recombinant protein expression, to develop a vehicle which has a dualistic function of producing vaccine while presenting itself as the adjuvant to deliver oral vaccines against a number of infectious diseases, including Lyme disease. Here, we give an example using E. coli expressing B. burgdorferi Outer Surface Protein A, which was proven ...
Wednesday 18 October 2017
Authors: Mason LMK, Hovius JWR Abstract Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that recognize and phagocytose pathogens, and help to orchestrate adaptive immune responses to combat them. DCs are abundant in the skin where Borrelia burgdorferi first enters the body during a tick bite, and are thus critical in determining the initial stages of the innate and adaptive immune responses against Borrelia. Here, we describe two methods to study the response of DCs to Borrelia; an in vitro approach using monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) and an ex vivo approach using a human skin model. PMID: 29032552 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Mol Biol Cell)
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Wednesday 18 October 2017
Authors: Petnicki-Ocwieja T, Hu LT Abstract Phagosomal compartments are critical in microbial defense as vesicles that degrade invading organisms. In a broader context, vesicular trafficking plays an important role in shuttling many different types of cargo that are critical for proper function of the cell. Endosomal and phagosomal vesicles are thus important locations for the assembly of intracellular signaling platforms that mediate host responses to invasive pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi. Isolation of phagosomes from cells is an important technique that allows for a detailed study of phagosomal components and signaling complex assembly. However, purification of phagosomes had previously been challenging and it has been difficult to obtain sufficient purity of the phago...
Tuesday 17 October 2017
We report such a case of bilateral rickettsial retinitis proven by serology which worsened on systemic steroids and responded dramatically to therapy with oral doxycycline and steroid taper. We thus believe that direct bacterial invasion plays a major role in the pathogenesis of rickettsial retinitis. (Source: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology)
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Friday 13 October 2017
Background: Borrelia burgdorferi is a common cause of bacterial meningitis, but there are very few studies on incidence in Europe. The aim of this study was to report the incidence and symptoms of neuroborreliosis in Swedish children. Methods: Medical records of children ( (Source: The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal)
Friday 13 October 2017
Rhiannon Collins, 23, from Erith, south-east London, was bitten by a tick when she was just four years old. For 19 years she suffered joint dislocation, severe muscle pain and crushing fatigue. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Thursday 12 October 2017
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Saturday 7 October 2017
A LYME disease patient has urged the NHS to invest in treatments for the rare condition, after going seven years with the killer disease undiagnosed. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Friday 6 October 2017
In this study, we show that mAb blockade revealed a unique role for IFN-β in Lyme arthritis development in B6.C3-Bbaa1 mice. Genetic control of IFN-β expression was also identified in bone marrow-derived macrophages stimulated with B. burgdorferi, and it was responsible for feed-forward amplification of IFN-stimulated genes. Reciprocal radiation chimeras between B6.C3-Bbaa1 and C57BL/6 mice revealed that arthritis is initiated by radiation-sensitive cells, but orchestrated by radiation-resistant components of joint tissue. Advanced congenic lines were developed to reduce the physical size of the Bbaa1 interval, and confirmed the contribution of type I IFN genes to Lyme arthritis. RNA sequencing of resident CD45(-) joint cells from advanced interval-specific recombinant congenic lines ide...
Wednesday 4 October 2017
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Wednesday 4 October 2017
Publication date: 2017 Source:Handbook of Clinical Neurology, Volume 145 Author(s): Istvan Katona, Joachim Weis This chapter reviews the diseases of the peripheral nerves from a neuropathologic point of view, with a special focus on specific morphologic changes, and includes a summary of the histopathologic methods available for their diagnosis. As the rate of obesity and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes increase, diabetic neuropathy is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Many systemic disorders with metabolic origin, like amyloidosis, hepatic failure, vitamin deficiencies, uremia, lipid metabolism disorders, and others, can also cause axonal or myelin alterations in the peripheral nervous system. The most notable causes of toxic neuropathies are chemotherapeutic agents, alco...
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Tuesday 3 October 2017
Journal of Interferon& Cytokine Research , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Journal of Interferon)
Sunday 1 October 2017
(Source: Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain)
Sunday 1 October 2017
Journal of Interferon& Cytokine Research Oct 2017, Vol. 37, No. 10: 433-439. (Source: Journal of Interferon)
Sunday 1 October 2017
To assess cost-effectiveness of a vaccine that would protect against both Lyme Borreliosis (LB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in a highly endemic setting in Slovenia. (Source: Value in Health)
Sunday 1 October 2017
The incidence of Lyme disease (LD) in Slovak Republic is assumed about 2000- 3000 cases per year with about 100 cases of encephalitis as its complication. No study was published about the impact of LD on quality of life (QoL) and work ability (WA) in Slovak Republic. (Source: Value in Health)
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Saturday 30 September 2017
Publication date: 30 September 2017 Source:New Scientist, Volume 235, Issue 3145 (Source: New Scientist)
Friday 29 September 2017
Daniel P. Dulebohn, Crystal L. Richards, Hua Su, Kevin A. Lawrence, Frank C. Gherardini (Source: Frontiers in Microbiology)
Friday 29 September 2017
Lyme disease in humans is predominantly treated with tetracycline, macrolides or beta lactam antibiotics that have low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) against Borrelia burgdorferi. Horses with Lyme diseas... (Source: BMC Veterinary Research)
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Thursday 28 September 2017
Authors: Brown C PMID: 28947551 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal)
Wednesday 27 September 2017
Authors: Hofmann H, Fingerle V, Hunfeld KP, Huppertz HI, Krause A, Rauer S, Ruf B, Consensus group Abstract This guideline of the German Dermatology Society primarily focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous manifestations of Lyme borreliosis. It has received consensus from 22 German medical societies and 2 German patient organisations. It is the first part of an AWMF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e.V.) interdisciplinary guideline: "Lyme Borreliosis - Diagnosis and Treatment, development stage S3". The guideline is directed at physicians in private practices and clinics who treat Lyme borreliosis. Objectives of this guideline are recommendations for confirming a clinical diagnosis, recommendations for a stage-related laborat...
Tuesday 26 September 2017
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released draft guidelines on how to spot and treat Lyme disease. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Tuesday 26 September 2017
The UK's medical advisory body has warned that there are high concentrations of ticks infected with Lyme disease in the South of England and the Scottish Highlands. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
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Tuesday 26 September 2017
Scientists in the US have developed a new injection which offers promising hope to sufferers of the tick-borne condition. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Monday 25 September 2017
Scientists in the US have developed a new injection which offers promising hope to sufferers of the tick-borne condition. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Monday 25 September 2017
South England and Scottish Highlands have higher prevalence of infected ticks which cause the disease, says health bodyThe south of England and the Scottish Highlands have been earmarked as high risk areas for Lyme disease.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) said some areas appear to havehigher prevalence of infected ticks which cause the disease. But the health body said prevalence data is incomplete as it called for a large study into the condition in the UK.Continue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Monday 25 September 2017
The South of England and Scottish Highlands have been named as high risk areas for Lyme disease, but infection can occur in many parts of the UK (Source: New Scientist - Health)
Monday 25 September 2017
Guidelines have been drawn up to provide “clear advice” to support clinicians in diagnosing and treating patients with Lyme disease, which is spread by ticks. (Source: Nursing Times)
Monday 25 September 2017
GPs should consider Lyme disease in patients presenting with flu-like symptoms alongside neck or joint pain, cognitive impairment and paraesthesia, according to NICE draft guidance. (Source: GP Online News)
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Monday 25 September 2017
NICE guidance on rare but treatable condition (Source: OnMedica Latest News)
Monday 25 September 2017
This study describes the selection of two Borrelia burgdorferi recombinant proteins and evaluation of their performance in a simple 1-tier test for the serological confirmation of LD. These two proteins were generated from (i) the full-length dbpA gene combined with the invariable region 6 of the vlsE gene (DbpA/C6) and (b) the full-length ospC gene (OspC). The expressed DbpA/C6 and OspC proteins were useful in detecting anti-Borrelia IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. A blind study was conducted on a well-characterized panel of 279 human sera from the CDC, comparing ELISAs using these two recombinant antigens with the 2-tier test method. The two methods (DbpA/C6-OspC versus 2-tier test) were equivalent in identifying sera from negative-control subjects (99% and 100% specificity, respec...
Sunday 24 September 2017
SUNDAY, Sept. 24, 2017 -- As tick populations and the threats they pose increase across the United States, people need to know how to deal with them, a skin doctor suggests. Ticks can cause serious illnesses such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain... (Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews)
Thursday 21 September 2017
(Natural News) According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported yearly. As only a small fraction of cases actually gets reported, the agency adds that the actual incidence of this disease in likely much higher. On top of that, emerging studies show that Bartonella disease,... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Wednesday 20 September 2017
Conclusion Through relatively small amounts of grant support over the last 6 y, CRSCI has helped local public health agencies in sixteen states and two cities—whose combined population reaches half of the U.S. total—identify critical climate impacts and vulnerable populations. In the process, the program has helped to integrate health more fully into local climate change efforts. As a result of CRSCI support, these local public health agencies—the backbone of public health climate response capacity—have tools to enhance real-life adaptive capacity and increase the effectiveness of existing interventions, such as heat response plans. They are also better prepared to take the next steps toward developing climate and health adaptation plans. However, the CRSCI program is only a start;...
Wednesday 20 September 2017
Phagocytosis of the Lyme disease-causing pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi has been shown to be important for generating an inflammatory response to the pathogen. As a result, understanding the mechanisms of phagocytosis has been an area of great interest in the field of Lyme disease. Several cell surface receptors that participate in B. burgdorferi phagocytosis have been reported, including the scavenger receptor MARCO and integrin α3β1. We sought to define the mechanisms by which these receptors mediate phagocytosis and to identify signaling pathways activated downstream of these receptors upon contact with B. burgdorferi. We identified both Syk and Src signaling pathways as ones that participate in B. burgdorferi phagocytosis and the resulting cytokine activation. In our studies,...
Tuesday 19 September 2017
(NEW YORK) — One-time pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne has beaten superstar Beyonce at something, but she may not be totally happy with her victory — she’s been named the most dangerous celebrity on the internet. Cybersecurity firm McAfee said Tuesday that Lavigne, whose last album came out in 2013, was the most likely celebrity to land users on websites that carry viruses or malware. Searches for Lavigne have a 14.5% chance of landing on a web page with the potential for online threats, a number that increases to 22% if users type her name and search for free MP3s. Bruno Mars was second in his debut on the list, followed closely behind by Carly Rae Jepsen. Zayn Malik (No. 4), Celine Dion (No. 5), Calvin Harris (No. 6), Justin Bieber (No. 7), Sean “Diddy” Comb...
Tuesday 19 September 2017
Authors: Drecktrah D, Samuels DS Abstract The spirochetes Borrelia (Borreliella) burgdorferi and Borrelia hermsii, the etiologic agents of Lyme disease and relapsing fever, respectively, cycle in nature between an arthropod vector and a vertebrate host. They have extraordinarily unusual genomes that are highly segmented and predominantly linear. The genetic analyses of Lyme disease spirochetes have become increasingly more sophisticated, while the age of genetic investigation in the relapsing fever spirochetes is just dawning. Molecular tools available for B. burgdorferi and related species range from simple selectable markers and gene reporters to state-of-the-art inducible gene expression systems that function in the animal model and high-throughput mutagenesis methodologies, des...
Tuesday 19 September 2017
Publication date: Available online 17 September 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Scott J. Layzell, Daniel Bailey, Mick Peacey, Patricia A. Nuttall Borrelia miyamotoi is a spirochete bacterium related to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, the cause of Lyme borreliosis, and vectored by ticks. In 2014, B. miyamotoi was identified in three questing Ixodes ricinus collected in the UK. We sought to confirm the presence of B. miyamotoi in the UK. Ticks were collected from four locations not previously investigated for B. miyamotoi or B. burgdorferi s.l. and of which two are considered as Lyme borreliosis “hotspots” based on hospital records of the disease. We independently confirm that B. miyamotoi is present in the UK and support the view that B. miyamotoi is likely to hav...
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Monday 18 September 2017
The Dutch model, 53, who lives in New York, reveals that her six-year battle with Lyme disease began with a misdiagnosis of ME. Yolanda reveals all in her new book, Believe Me, which is out next month. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
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Monday 18 September 2017
Whether age at time of diagnosis impacts the clinical presentation or long-term outcome of early Lyme disease is unknown. Subjects enrolled in this study had culture-confirmed early Lyme disease and were followed annually in a long-term prospective study. Subjects ≤50years of age were compared with those who were ≥51years of age at time of study entry. Of the 283 enrolled subjects, the ≥51year old age group was significantly more likely to be female (p=0.0095) and to be compliant with long-term follow-up of at least 11years duration (p=0.0119). (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Friday 15 September 2017
Future Microbiology, Ahead of Print. (Source: Future Microbiology)
Tuesday 12 September 2017
Sam, Lotte and Caroline Parenting is a messy adventure – it tests our patience, our will and our energy, but never our concern, love or passion for our children. With three kids under 10, my wife, Caroline, and I have managed broken noses, split lips, cuts and bruises too numerous to count … even Lyme disease, skin disorders, and serious fevers – most seem to come with the territory. But there have been rare moments when one of our kids was sick and we didn’t know what was wrong or how to ease the pain, and in those moments, we felt pretty desperate. One of those times was when our 4-year-old daughter Charlotte or “Lotte” came down with a high fever when she was 10 months old. While this was not a new experience for us, the part that made us nervous was that the fever, despite ...
Tuesday 12 September 2017
Publication date: Available online 11 September 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Mónica Nunes, Ricardo Parreira, Teresa Carreira, João Inácio, Maria Luísa Vieira Nowadays, at least four clinically important B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) genospecies (B. afzelii, B. garinii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) and B. lusitaniae) circulate in Portugal. Each genospecies have different tropism that result in a diverse array of clinical manifestations. The standard diagnostic procedure used is normally simple, nevertheless, during the “window-period” phase, in which specific antibodies cannot yet be detected, diagnosis becomes difficult, and calls for reliable, sensitive and specific laboratory methods, such as molecular tests. The aim of this study was to develop...
Monday 11 September 2017
(Source: International Journal of General Medicine)
Friday 8 September 2017
(Natural News) Lyme disease cases are on the rise in the Western world, and pharmaceutical companies are hoping to cash in on the illness with the help of a new vaccine. In the U.S., the number of confirmed cases of the tick-borne illness in 2015 was nearly 29,000, compared to 23,000 ten years earlier. Lyme... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Friday 8 September 2017
We report an atypical case of European LCLB, suggesting that ACA is not the only possible presentation of LCLB. The diagnosis of ACA is often clinically missed for months or years, and may be mistaken at the inflammation phase for vascular disorders, erysipelas or bursitis/arthritis, and at the atrophic phase for lichen sclerosus atrophicus, morphoea or anetoderma. To our knowledge, no such tumorous LCLB has previously been described. (Source: British Journal of Dermatology)
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Friday 8 September 2017
Publication date: Available online 7 September 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Kathleen LoGiudice, Kathryn Kurchena, Katherine Christopher, Natasha Scott Due to the problem of tick-borne diseases, there is a need to better understand the importance of different host species in maintaining enzootic disease cycles. We explored the utility of stable isotope analysis to identify the larval hosts of questing ixodid ticks. In laboratory experiments, we used Ixodes scapularis and two host species that are important in the Lyme disease system in eastern North America. First, we tested how effectively a short-term dietary tracer (13C in corn) was reflected in molted ticks. Second, we attempted to identify the host species (either white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) or eas...
Thursday 7 September 2017
Publication date: October 2017 Source:Microbial Pathogenesis, Volume 111 Author(s): Hua Zhao, Aihua Liu, Yuhui Cui, Zhang Liang, Bingxue Li, Fukai Bao Lyme neuroborreliosis is a nervous system infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi). It has been demonstrated that cytokines induced by B. burgdorferi are related to Lyme neuroborreliosis. Microglia is known as a key player in the immune responses that occur within the central nervous system. In response to inflammation, it will be activated and generate cytokines and chemokines. Experiments in vitro cells have showed that B. Burgdorferi membrane protein A (BmpA), a major immunogen of B. Burgdorferi, could induce Lyme arthritis and stimulate human and murine lymphocytes to produce inflammatory cytokines. In our ...
Wednesday 6 September 2017
The castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus) transmits infectious diseases such as Lyme borreliosis, which constitutes an important ecosystem disservice. Despite many local studies, a comprehensive understanding of the ... (Source: BMC Ecology)
Wednesday 6 September 2017
Authors: Kadkhoda K, Dumouchel C, Brancato J, Gretchen A, Krause PJ Abstract BACKGROUND: Hard tick-borne relapsing fever caused by Borrelia miyamotoi has been reported in Russia, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan and the northeastern and upper midwestern United States. We sought to investigate the presence of B. miyamotoi infection in humans in Manitoba, Canada. METHODS: Two hundred fifty sera collected from residents of Manitoba with suspected Lyme disease between 2011 and 2014 were tested for Borrelia burgdorferi antibody using a C6 peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) followed by Western blot. Residual sera were then anonymized, stored at -80°C and subsequently thawed and tested for B. miyamotoi antibody using a 2-step glycerosphosphodiester phosphodiesterase-bas...
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Wednesday 6 September 2017
In this study we looked at the availability and type of content represented in a (n = 700) selection of YouTube videos on the subject of Lyme disease. We classified video content into a small number of content areas, and studied the relationship between these content areas and 1) video views and 2) video likeability. We found very little content uploaded by government or academic institutions; the vast majority of content was uploaded by independent users. The most viewed videos tend to contain celebrity content and personal stories; videos with prevention information tend to be of less interest, and videos with science and medical information tend to be less liked. Our results suggest that important public health information on YouTube is very likely to be ignored unless it is made more...
Monday 4 September 2017
Authors: Stewart PE, Rosa PA Abstract Borrelia burgdorferi is a symbiont of ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. These ticks serve as vectors to disseminate the spirochete to a variety of susceptible vertebrate hosts, which, in turn, act as reservoirs for naïve ticks to become infected, perpetuating the infectious life cycle of B. burgdorferi. The pivotal role of ticks in this life cycle and tick-spirochete interactions are the focus of this chapter. Here, we describe the challenging physiological environment that spirochetes encounter within Ixodes ticks, and the genetic factors that B. burgdorferi uses to successfully infect, persist, and be transmitted from the vector. PMID: 28864829 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology)
Monday 4 September 2017
(Source: International Journal of General Medicine)
Saturday 2 September 2017
U.S. health officials warn that cases of the illness are on the rise Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Lyme Disease, Pet Health (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Saturday 2 September 2017
In this study, we evaluated two mouse models - the C3H/N and Balb/c strains for susceptibility to infection and ability to transmit the pathogens via tick vector and to reveal the potential interactions between various bacterial tick-borne agents. Our results indicated that the C3H/N and Balb/c mice are well-accepted models of B. afzelii infection. However, they are not suitable for interaction studies with R. helvetica since the animals did not acquire rickettsiemia and do not transmit Rickettsia sp. to feeding ticks. PMID: 28854805 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Acta Virologica)
Saturday 2 September 2017
10 hours ago ... Boomers are skipping needed vaccines · Explore the full list of benefits available to you as an AARP Member · Should you record your next ... (Source: AARP.org News)
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Friday 1 September 2017
Abstract Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) is the causative agent of Lyme disease in the US, a disease that can result in carditis, and chronic and debilitating arthritis and/or neurologic symptoms if left untreated. Bb survives in the midgut of the Ixodes scapularis tick, or within tissues of immunocompetent hosts. In the early stages of infection, the bacteria are present in the bloodstream where they must resist clearance by the innate immune system of the host. We have found a novel role for OspC from B. burgdorferi and B. garinii in interactions with the complement component C4b and bloodstream survival in vivo. Our data show that OspC inhibits the classical and lectin complement pathways and competes with complement protein C2 for C4b binding. Resistance to complement is important for mainte...
Thursday 31 August 2017
Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is a frequent manifestation of Lyme disease in children and its current diagnosis has limitations. The elevation of the chemokine CXCL13 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of adult pa... (Source: Journal of Neuroinflammation)
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Tuesday 29 August 2017
Only four years ago, ex-Army fitness instructor Lorraine Murray, 46, from Montrose, Angus, had completed four Olympic-length triathlons, ran her own businesses and was raising two children. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Monday 28 August 2017
Conclusions: Borrelia whole blood PCR was bundled to a pre-existing tick-borne panel to potentially account for unexplained fevers and other nonlocalizing symptoms in high-risk patients. Treatment recommendations for B. miyamotoi are based on case reports of successful treatments in other causes of relapsing fever, and the same antibiotics regimens are used for both. The utility of B. miyamotoi PCR in first-line screening of patients with unexplained fever may be minimal, given the low positivity rate observed and uniform effective empiric treatments prescribed. (Source: Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice)
Monday 28 August 2017
A team of researchers has found that the Lyme disease bacterium is ancient in North America, circulating silently in forests for at least 60,000 years. (Source: Yale Science and Health News)
Monday 28 August 2017
In this study, ticks were collected from dogs by veterinarians participating in a U.K.‐wide tick surveillance programme. The ticks were subjected to polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and Babesia spp. pathogens, the distributions of which were mapped. DNA of B. burgdorferi s.l. and Babesia spp. was detected in 2.0% and 1.5% of the ticks analysed, respectively. The results map a widespread distribution of the two pathogens in the U.K. (Source: Medical and Veterinary Entomology)
Sunday 27 August 2017
Authors: Verhaegh D, Joosten LAB, Oosting M Abstract Lyme disease is a zoonosis caused by infection with bacteria belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi species after the bite of an infected tick. Even though an infection by this bacterium can be effectively treated with antibiotics, when the infection stays unnoticed B. burgdorferi can persist and chronic post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome is able to develop. Although a cellular and humoral response is observed after an infection with the Borrelia bacteria, these pathogens are still capable to stay alive. Several immune evasive mechanisms have been revealed and explained and much work has been put into the understanding of the contribution of the innate and adaptive immune response. This review provides an overview with the late...
Sunday 27 August 2017
In 2015, there were more than 700 cases of Lyme disease reported to the Public Health Agency of Canada, up from roughly 130 in 2009. (Source: CBC | Health)
Saturday 26 August 2017
Publication date: 26 August 2017 Source:New Scientist, Volume 235, Issue 3140 (Source: New Scientist)
Saturday 26 August 2017
Publication date: Available online 26 August 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Sanne C. Ruyts, Wesley Tack, Evy Ampoorter, Elena C. Coipan, Erik Matthysen, Dieter Heylen, Hein Sprong, Kris Verheyen The human pathogens Borrelia afzelii, which causes Lyme borreliosis and B. miyamotoi, which causes relapsing fever, both circulate between Ixodes ricinus ticks and rodents. The spatiotemporal dynamics in the prevalence of these pathogens have not yet been fully elucidated, but probably depend on the spatiotemporal population dynamics of small rodents. We aimed to evaluate the effect of different forest types on the density of infected nymphs in different years and to obtain more knowledge about the spatial and temporal patterns of ticks and tick-borne pathogens. We analysed u...
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Friday 25 August 2017
Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne infection in the US. Recent studies have demonstrated that the incidence of human Lyme disease would have been even greater were it not for the presence of strain specific immunity, which protects previously infected patients against subsequent infections by the same B. burgdorferi strain. Here, spatial heterogeneity is incorporated into epidemiological models to accurately estimate the impact of strain specific immunity on human Lyme disease incidence. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Friday 25 August 2017
Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne infection in the US. Recent studies have demonstrated that the incidence of human Lyme disease would have been even greater were it not for the presence of strain-specific immunity, which protects previously infected patients against subsequent infections by the same B. burgdorferi strain. Here, spatial heterogeneity is incorporated into epidemiological models to accurately estimate the impact of strain-specific immunity on human Lyme disease incidence. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Thursday 24 August 2017
Lyme disease is commonly caused by ticks. Another lesser known risk of tick bites is babesia, a dangerous microparasite that can infect human blood. (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Thursday 24 August 2017
Lyme disease is on the rise. How can you prevent it? What are the symptoms, and what should you do if you think you or your pet have it? (Source: FDA Consumer Health Information Updates)
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Thursday 24 August 2017
-- Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium B. burgdorferi, is transmitted by biting deer ticks that are quite small and may be difficult to see. Within 30 days of a deer tick bite, a circular red patch of about five inches'diameter often appears. The... (Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews)
Wednesday 23 August 2017
The clip shows a doctor removing a tick embedded inside an unnamed patient's eardrum. Ticks can cause Lyme disease, caused Matt, 44, to need heart surgery after suffering complications. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Wednesday 23 August 2017
The clip shows a doctor removing a tick embedded inside an unnamed patient's eardrum. Ticks can cause Lyme disease, caused Matt, 44, to need heart surgery after suffering complications. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Wednesday 23 August 2017
Publication date: Available online 23 August 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Bruno Dall’Agnola, Thaís Michel, Bárbara Weck, Ugo Araújo Souza, Anelise Webster, Bruna Ferreira Leal, Guilherme Marcondes Klafke, João Ricardo Martins, Ricardo Ott, José Manuel Venzal, Carlos Alexandre Sanchez Ferreira, José Reck Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex includes the agents of Lyme disease/borreliosis in North America, Europe, and Asia, such Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia bavariensis, Borrelia spielmanii, Borrelia bissettiae, and Borrelia mayonii. In 2013 B. burgdorferi s.l. was reported for the first time in the Neotropical region, from Ixodes aragaoi ticks in Uruguayan Pampa. In addition, from 2011 to 2016, 17 ...
Tuesday 22 August 2017
The recently published article by Shapiro et al1 hoped to be topical in this age of “alternative facts” but fell short, providing mainly biased viewpoints that prevent independent assessment of existing research in chronic Lyme disease. Defined here as “…patients with persistent, unexplained subjective symptoms with no documented his tory of Lyme disease and without credible laboratory evidence—past or present—of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi…,” this definition is a disservice to those who suffer from this affliction. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Tuesday 22 August 2017
Rugby star Matt Dawson, 44, developed a rash and fever after being bitten by a tick while working out at a park in Chiswick, West London in July 2015. He was eventually diagnosed with Lyme Disease. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Monday 21 August 2017
INSECT bites are usually harmless but can sometimes require hospital treatment. These include ticks, which left former rugby player Matt Dawson with Lyme disease. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
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Monday 21 August 2017
A QUESTION of Sport team captain and former England rugby captain Matt Dawson has revealed how he underwent heart surgery after being bitten by a tick. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Friday 18 August 2017
Researchers Developing Test For Lyme Disease (Source: WebMD Health)
Friday 18 August 2017
Publication date: Available online 18 August 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Sándor Szekeres, Jenny Lügner, Volker Fingerle, Gabriele Margos, Gábor Földvári The hard tick Ixodes ricinus is the most important vector of tick-transmitted pathogens in Europe, frequently occurring in urban parks and greenbelts utilized for recreational activities. This species is the most common vector of the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis in Europe. Similarly, the species spreads Borrelia miyamotoi, causing a relapsing-fever like illness. A total of 1774 Ixodes ricinus (50 females, 68 males, 840 nymphs and 818 larvae) were collected with flagging between March and September 2014 in a coniferous forest patch in Niederkaina near the town of Bautzen in Saxony, Germany. To measure ...
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Thursday 17 August 2017
Scientists are developing a new way to test early for Lyme disease, using a "signature" of molecules in patients' blood (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Thursday 17 August 2017
Dr. Jennifer Ashton brings all the details on a new study on Lyme disease that is creating a buzz within the medical community. (Source: ABC News: Health)
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Thursday 17 August 2017
Researchers differentiated Lyme disease from similar tick-borne illnesses. (Source: ABC News: Health)
Wednesday 16 August 2017
Lyme disease needs to be treated quickly, but it can be hard to tell it apart from other conditions. Now a test could help diagnose the infection (Source: New Scientist - Health)
Wednesday 16 August 2017
Diagnosing if a tick bite caused Lyme or something else can be difficult but scientists are developing a new way to catch the disease early _ using a "signature" of molecules in patients' blood (Source: ABC News: Health)
Wednesday 16 August 2017
(Colorado State University) A team of researchers led by Colorado State University has identified a way to distinguish Lyme disease from similar conditions. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Wednesday 16 August 2017
Lyme disease, the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States, results from infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. Early clinical diagnosis of this disease is largely based on the presence of an erythematous skin lesion for individuals in high-risk regions. This, however, can be confused with other illnesses including southern tick–associated rash illness (STARI), an illness that lacks a defined etiological agent or laboratory diagnostic test, and is coprevalent with Lyme disease in portions of the eastern United States. By applying an unbiased metabolomics approach with sera retrospectively obtained from well-characterized patients, we defined biochemical and diagnostic differences between early Lyme disease and STARI. Specifically, a metabolic biosignature consis...
Thursday 10 August 2017
LYME Disease is a growing problem in the UK. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Thursday 10 August 2017
Lisa Vallo, 49, from Bradford, would fall asleep anywhere and moving left her gasping for breath. She first became 'fluey' after a bite from deer tick brought home by her cat in 2002. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
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Wednesday 9 August 2017
Publication date: 15 September 2017 Source:Veterinary Parasitology, Volume 244 Author(s): Saran Davies, Swaid Abdullah, Chris Helps, Séverine Tasker, Hannah Newbury, Richard Wall In a study of tick and tick-borne pathogen prevalence, between May and October 2016, 278 veterinary practices in Great Britain examined 1855 cats. Six-hundred and one cats were found to have attached ticks. The most frequently recorded tick species was Ixodes ricinus (57.1%), followed by Ixodes hexagonus (41.4%) and Ixodes trianguliceps (1.5%). Male cats, 4–6 years of age living in rural areas were most likely to be carrying a tick; hair length and tick treatment history had no significant association with attachment. For cats that were parasitized by ticks in large urban areas, I. hexagonus was the most frequ...
Monday 7 August 2017
Conclusions: The results of detection and attribution studies can inform evidence-based risk management to reduce current, and plan for future, changes in health risks associated with climate change. Gaining a better understanding of the size, timing, and distribution of the climate change burden of disease and injury requires reliable long-term data sets, more knowledge about the factors that confound and modify the effects of climate on health, and refinement of analytic techniques for detection and attribution. At the same time, significant advances are possible in the absence of complete data and statistical certainty: there is a place for well-informed judgments, based on understanding of underlying processes and matching of patterns of health, climate, and other determinants of human...
Monday 7 August 2017
This study aims to estimate the incidence of PTLDS in patients with Lyme borreliosis and to quantify the disease burden and economic costs associated with the different clinical mani festations of Lyme borreliosis in Belgium.MethodsThe project is a prospective cohort study in which about 600 patients with an erythema migrans and 100 patients with disseminated Lyme borreliosis will be followed up. Questionnaires, including the SF-36 vitality and pain subscale, the Cognitive Failure Questionnaire and the EQ-5D-5L, will be used to collect information on acute and persisting symptoms and the impact on quality of life. Symptom frequency and severity will be compared with self-reported pre-Lyme health status, a control group and existing Belgian population norms. Additionally, information on the...
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Friday 4 August 2017
The bacterium that causes Lyme disease may have some help from a gene found in the guts of infected ticks. (Source: Yale Science and Health News)
Friday 4 August 2017
Find out what there is to know about the ED management of patients with Lyme disease.The Journal of Emergency Medicine (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Friday 4 August 2017
Authors: Zhou W, Brisson D Abstract The population dynamics of pathogens within hosts result from interactions between host immune responses and mechanisms of the pathogen to evade or resist immune responses. Vertebrate hosts have evolved adaptive immune responses to eliminate the infection, while many pathogens evade immune clearance through altering surface antigens. Such interactions can result in a characteristic pattern of pathogen population dynamics within hosts consisting of population growth after infection, rapid population decline following specific immune responses, followed by persistence at low densities during a chronic infection stage. Despite the medical importance of chronic infections, little is known about the conditions of the interactions between variable anti...
Wednesday 2 August 2017
New data suggests the rise of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases may be tied to a scarcity of traditional mouse predators. (Source: NYT Health)
Wednesday 2 August 2017
An infectious disease specialist at the University of Alberta Hospital says the risk of contracting Lyme disease from a tick bite is overblown. (Source: CBC | Health)
Tuesday 1 August 2017
A 23-year-old woman presented with a 2-week history of progressive blurring of vision in her left eye, associated with fever, fatigue, and myalgia. The patient had a pet cat and reported incidents of being scratched. Her fundus examination revealed optic disc edema and macular satellite exudates/star bilaterally (Figure). Laboratory test results revealed a normal complete blood count and liver enzymes. Screening results for human immunodeficiency virus, Lyme disease, syphilis, and tuberculosis were negative. (Source: Mayo Clinic Proceedings)
Saturday 29 July 2017
In this report we review the validity of three studies that reported the recovery of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from the blood of a high proportion of patients for whom no evidence was presented, and no claim was made, that the patients had untreated early Lyme disease. In two of the studies the patients had been treated extensively with antibiotics for Lyme disease before the cultures were obtained. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Saturday 29 July 2017
In this report we review the validity of three studies that reported the recovery of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from the blood of a high proportion of patients for whom no evidence was presented, and no claim was made, that the patients had untreated early Lyme disease. In two of the studies the patients had been treated extensively with antibiotics for Lyme disease before the cultures were obtained. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Thursday 27 July 2017
(FAIR Health) Although Lyme disease historically has been concentrated in the Northeast and upper Midwest, our data suggest that it is spreading. In the United States in 2007 (as shown in the heat map below), claim lines with Lyme disease diagnoses as a percentage of all claim lines with all diagnoses in the state were highest in the Northeast. The states with the highest percentages of such claim lines were (in order from highest to lowest) New Jersey, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
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Tuesday 25 July 2017
Zooloist Stacey Venzel, 29, from Seattle, suddenly became ill and too weak to lift her arms or stand but vowed to continue her animal sanctuary work after being spurred on by paralyzed sheep Rocky. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Tuesday 25 July 2017
Authors: Tylewska-Wierzbanowska S, Rogulska U, Lewandowska G, Chmielewski T Abstract The aim of our studies was to invent a reliable method for detection of the bactericidal activity of disinfectants against Borrelia burgdorferi in suspension (in vitro) and in cell line cultures (in vivo). In the suspension method, 0.01% octenidine at 20°C and 35°C was bactericidal to Borrelia afzeli; Borrelia garini, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto after 5 minutes treatment. Increase of the temperature to 35°C speed up the bactericidal effect to 1 minute. The bactericidal action of octenidine towards B. burgdorferi spirochetes growing in fibroblasts was less effective and needed a longer time to kill them than in the suspension. PMID: 28735308 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Polish Journal of M...
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Tuesday 25 July 2017
The CDC is fieldingreports of serious bacterial infections resulting from treatments prescribed for “chronic Lyme disease”—a misleading diagnosis sometimes given for vague symptoms such as fatigue, generalized pain, or neurologic disorders. (Source: JAMA)
Tuesday 25 July 2017
In this study, we evaluated a novel assay for the direct detection of three species of Borrelia spirochetes in whole blood. The T2 magnetic resonance (T2MR) assay platform was used to amplify Borrelia DNA released from intact spirochetes and to detect amplicon. Analytical sensitivity was determined from blood spiked with known concentrations of spirochetes, and the assay's limit of detection was found to be in the single-cell-per-milliliter range: 5 cells/ml for B. afzelii and 8 cells/ml for Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia garinii. Clinical samples (n = 66) from confirmed or suspected early LD patients were also analyzed. B. burgdorferi was detected using T2MR in 2/2 (100%) of blood samples from patients with confirmed early LD, based on the presence of erythema migrans and documentation...
Monday 24 July 2017
This study is an extension of previous work published in 20141 showing the predicted expansion of the distribution of the Lyme disease tick vector into Canada,” says Maria Diuk-Wasser, a professor at Columbia University who focuses on the emergence of vector-borne diseases. “Although the results are not qualitatively different, it represents an improvement on the previous study by incorporating the full range of and most up-to-date climate models and emission scenarios.” Importantly, she says, the new study accounts for the inherent uncertainty in such models and scenarios but also indicates that an increased risk can be expected in any event. Canada’s public health officials track the leading edge of the tick’s range expansion in several ways: through laboratory identification o...
Monday 24 July 2017
The disease-carrying blood suckers are spreading more pathogens and putting more Americans at risk, even for more rare illnesses. (Source: NYT Health)
Monday 24 July 2017
(Source: Journal of Infection)
Thursday 20 July 2017
Nearly 16 years ago, a former co-worker of mine at the San Jose Mercury News was found dead in the back of her car. She had been shot in the head by her estranged husband. I remember being confused upon hearing the news and not quite believing what had happened. Luci Houston, who was 43 […]Related:Unapproved stem-cell treatments touted on federal database ClinicalTrials.gov, study says‘How did this happen to a 10-year-old?’: Child dies with heroin and fentanyl in his systemWhy this adorable mouse is to blame for the spread of Lyme disease (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Thursday 20 July 2017
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Thursday 20 July 2017
ConclusionsAutonomic dysfunction may be responsible for additional morbidity in some infectious diseases. (Source: Clinical Autonomic Research)
Thursday 20 July 2017
AbstractFor laboratory diagnostics of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB), the recomBead Borrelia antibody index (AI) assay has shown promising results in a mixed age population, but has not previously been evaluated with specific focus on paediatric patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the recomBead Borrelia AI assay in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for the laboratory diagnosis of LNB in children. We also wanted to explore whether early markers, such as CXCL13 in CSF and/or total IgM index could be useful as complementary diagnostic tools. Children being evaluated for LNB in a Swedish Lyme endemic area were included in the study (n = 146). Serum and CSF were collected on admission. Patients with other specific diagnoses were controls (n = 15). The recomBead Borrelia AI assay and the rec...
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Wednesday 19 July 2017
Stem cell clinics offering unapproved treatments for ailments from hip pains to autism to erectile dysfunction increasingly are using a federal clinical-trials database as a marketing tool — a strategy that confuses patients and exposes them to “unjustifiable” safety risks and high costs, according to a new study. At least 18 purported clinical trials — […]Related:‘How did this happen to a 10-year-old?’: Child dies with heroin and fentanyl in his systemWhy this adorable mouse is to blame for the spread of Lyme diseaseNew NIH report finds low morale, continued patient safety concerns (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Wednesday 19 July 2017
A gunshot wound to the face left a teenager with so much damage that for years doctors knew plastic surgery could only help so much to give her back a regular life. In May, the now-21-year-old woman joined the small but growing ranks of face transplant recipients, doctors announced Tuesday. For the woman, now the youngest to receive […]Related:‘How did this happen to a 10-year-old?’: Child dies with heroin and fentanyl in his systemDiet drinks are associated with weight gain, new research suggestsWhy this adorable mouse is to blame for the spread of Lyme disease (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
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Tuesday 18 July 2017
A Florida state attorney is voicing alarm after a 10-year-old boy died with a dangerous opioid mixture in his system — making him one of the state's youngest victims in the nationwide drug epidemic. The Miami Herald reported that Alton Banks started vomiting June 23 after he returned to his Miami home from a community pool. Authorities said the boy was later found […]Related:Why this adorable mouse is to blame for the spread of Lyme diseaseNew NIH report finds low morale, continued patient safety concernsHalf a million Medicare recipients were prescribed too many opioid drugs last year (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Tuesday 18 July 2017
A Florida state attorney is voicing alarm after a 10-year-old boy died last month with a dangerous opioid mixture in his system — making him one of the youngest victims in the state's drug epidemic. The Miami Herald reported that Alton Banks started vomiting June 23 after he returned to his Miami home from a community pool. Authorities said the boy was later […]Related:Why this adorable mouse is to blame for the spread of Lyme diseaseNew NIH report finds low morale, continued patient safety concernsHalf a million Medicare recipients were prescribed too many opioid drugs last year (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Tuesday 18 July 2017
Over the past decade, Americans have soured on artificial sweeteners. Once heralded as sweet substitutes for sugar without as many belt-busting calories, people once couldn't get enough sucralose and aspartame. But recently, people have started looking at the molecules with increasing suspicion, amid founded studies that linked them to increased belly fat — and bogus but widespread […]Related:Why this adorable mouse is to blame for the spread of Lyme diseaseNew NIH report finds low morale, continued patient safety concernsHalf a million Medicare recipients were prescribed too many opioid drugs last year (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Tuesday 18 July 2017
T2 Biosystems Inc. (NSDQ:TTOO) said today it won CE Mark approval in the European Union for its T2Bacteria Panel magnetic resonance-based bacterial detector, and said that it has entered the final stages of its FDA pivotal trial as it seeks 510(k) approval from the agency. The T2Bacteria Panel is designed to run on the company’s T2Dx instrument, a miniaturized MR diagnostic device, to provide species-specific test results of targeted bacterial infections in approximately 3.5 hours, the Lexington, Mass.-based company said. The T2Bacteria Panel is designed to identify 6 of the deadliest prevalent bacteria species not covered by empiric therapy. The company said the system can identify approximately 90% of gram-negative infections coming in through ER departments and 70% of community-a...
Tuesday 18 July 2017
Recognition of the erythema migrans rash and other symptoms can aid prompt identification of Lyme disease. (Source: GP Online Education)
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Monday 17 July 2017
The critters run through forest floors throughout the eastern United States, snatching up acorns and other tree seeds, berries and bugs. White-footed mice — known for their wide eyes and ears, long tails and snow-white bellies and the feet from which they get their name — are often overlooked by humans, hiding out by the billions in […]Related:New NIH report finds low morale, continued patient safety concernsHalf a million Medicare recipients were prescribed too many opioid drugs last yearNovel cancer treatment wins endorsement of FDA advisers (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Monday 17 July 2017
(Natural News) The vast majority of general practitioners in the United Kingdom are ill-equipped to handle Lyme disease. So much so that, according to Lyme Disease UK, a mere three percent of general practitioners have completed the free online course on Lyme disease being offered by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). Taking into... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Saturday 15 July 2017
Authors: Zhang RZ, Zhu WY Abstract A 45-year-old Chinese man had begun to show asymmetry of the face 30 years previously. Subsequently, he developed visual extinction of the right eye, slight numbness, and weakness of the left extremities. Simultaneously, multiple atrophic brownish patches occurred on his side. He denied prior trauma or tick bites at those sites. There was no report of preceding redness, induration, or a history of trauma. The atrophic lesions extended and enlarged slowly. Ten years previously, some brownish patches with normal texture had appeared on the right side of the trunk. There was no further progression of the lesions. In November 2010, the patient consulted our department for the final diagnosis and prognosis of his disease. He did not suffer from epilept...
Friday 14 July 2017
Stevia, a common sugar alternative, could be a potential cure for Lyme disease following ongoing clinical trials. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Thursday 13 July 2017
Conclusions The combined biochip-based immunoassay, as a potential substitution of ELISA, provided a promising approach to extend the detection spectrum of infectious antibodies against a panel of Borrelia antigens. (Source: Clinica Chimica Acta)
Wednesday 12 July 2017
Experts at UMass Medical School in Boston have stopped mice getting the disease. Lyme disease is one of the fastest growing illnesses in the Western World. It could take 2-3 years to be available. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Monday 10 July 2017
PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to investigate the association between suicide and Lyme and associated diseases (LAD). No journal article has previously performed a comprehensive assessment of this subject. INTRODUCTION: Multiple case reports and... (Source: SafetyLit)
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Monday 10 July 2017
LYME DISEASE is a bacterial infection spread to human when they are bitten by an infected tick. Symptoms of the disease can include one very distinctive rash which patients might not associated with the condition. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Monday 10 July 2017
(Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
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Monday 10 July 2017
A 54 year-old healthy woman presented to the emergency department with a right sided facial paralysis. About 3 weeks ago, she woke up and noticed an attached engorged tick in her right lower extremity. A week later, she noticed a mild to moderate right jaw pain which progressed to a severe right facial pain so she visited her doctor. On physical, II to XII cranial nerve examination was unremarkable. Doppler ultrasound did not show any vascular abnormalities in temporal artery. Her inflammatory markers were within normal limits (C-reactive protein:0.3mg/dL; sedimentation rate:6mm/h). (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Saturday 8 July 2017
CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook and CBS News contributor Dr. Tara Narula join "CBS This Morning: Saturday" to discuss a new type of bacteria that can cause Lyme disease, PSAPs (personal sound amplification products), and the search for tuberculosis treatments in ocean life. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Saturday 8 July 2017
Did Canadians consume more high-fructose corn syrup after the North American free trade deal lowered tariffs on the sweetener? Also two immunotherapy trials for multiple myeloma patients are cancelled and a new pathogen is linked to Lyme disease. (Source: CBC | Health)
Saturday 8 July 2017
LYME DISEASE is a bacterial infection spread to human when they are bitten by an infected tick. Symptoms of the disease can include one very distinctive rash which patients might not associated with the condition. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Friday 7 July 2017
Having a pet dog or cat more than doubles the odds that humans will find a tick on themselves, and that could raise the risk of contracting tick-borne diseases like Lyme, researchers say. (Source: Reuters: Health)
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Friday 7 July 2017
Authors: Stein E, Elbadawi LI, Kazmierczak J, Davis JP Abstract Babesiosis is an emerging zoonotic disease caused primarily by Babesia microti, an intraerythocytic protozoan. Babesia microti, like the causal agents for Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, is endemic to the northeastern and upper midwestern United States where it is usually transmitted by the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis. Although babesiosis is usually a mild to moderate illness, older or immunocompromised persons can develop a serious malaria-like illness that can be fatal without prompt treatment. The most common initial clinical signs and symptoms of babesiosis (fever, fatigue, chills, and diaphoresis) are nonspecific and present diagnostic challenges that can contribute to delays in diagnosis and effective trea...
Friday 7 July 2017
Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Viktor Zöldi, Topi Turunen, Outi Lyytikäinen, Jussi Sane Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and Lyme borreliosis (LB) are endemic in Finland, with tens and thousands of cases, respectively, reported annually. We performed a field survey to investigate people’s knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding ticks, tick-borne diseases, and prevention strategies. The KAP were assessed using a pre-validated anonymous questionnaire consisting of 39 questions and statements. On two consecutive days in July 2016, convenience sampling was used in the cities of Parainen and Kotka, located in high-risk areas of tick-borne diseases, particularly of TBE. In attitudes and practices sections, each question...
Thursday 6 July 2017
Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is a life-threatening condition in which patients may present to the Emergency Department in respiratory distress leading to death. The early identification and treatment of such a condition is paramount in preventing mortality. While there are many infections associated with GBS, the association with Lyme disease is uncommon. Through our case we aim to highlight Borrelia burgdorferi as an important antecedent infection associated with the development of GBS. In this case we report a 31-year-old male who was diagnosed with Lyme disease and GBS with relevant clinical presentation including progressive numbness and weakness in bilateral hands and feet for the past 1week along with areflexia. (Source: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine)
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Thursday 6 July 2017
In conclusion, our model provided an insight into mechanisms underlying the relative frequency of different Borrelia genospecies, as observed in field studies. PMID: 28690096 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Theoretical Population Biology)
Thursday 6 July 2017
Authors: van den Wijngaard CC, Hofhuis A, Simões M, Rood E, van Pelt W, Zeller H, Van Bortel W Abstract Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in Europe. Erythema migrans (EM), an early, localised skin rash, is its most common presentation. Dissemination of the bacteria can lead to more severe manifestations including skin, neurological, cardiac, musculoskeletal and ocular manifestations. Comparison of LB incidence rates in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and Balkan countries are difficult in the absence of standardised surveillance and reporting procedures. We explored six surveillance scenarios for LB surveillance in the EU/EEA, based on the following key indicators: (i) erythema migrans, (ii) neuroborreliosis, (iii) all human LB mani...
Thursday 6 July 2017
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most prevalent tick-borne disease in Europe. Erythema migrans (EM), an early, localised skin rash, is its most common presentation. Dissemination of the bacteria can lead to more severe manifestations including skin, neurological, cardiac, musculoskeletal and ocular manifestations. Comparison of LB incidence rates in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) and Balkan countries are difficult in the absence of standardised surveillance and reporting procedures. We explored six surveillance scenarios for LB surveillance in the EU/EEA, based on the following key indicators: (i) erythema migrans, (ii) neuroborreliosis, (iii) all human LB manifestations, (iv) seroprevalence, (v) tick bites, and (vi) infected ticks and reservoir hosts. In our opinion, neu...
Wednesday 5 July 2017
This article looks at diseases other than Lyme spread by ticks, such as Powassan virus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. (Source: WebMD Health)
Wednesday 5 July 2017
Is this a bad year for ticks and Lyme disease? The evidence is patchy and the science complicated (Source: ABC News: Health)
Wednesday 5 July 2017
With a bumper crop of ticks possible this season, experts are tackling the problem across entire neighborhoods with fungal sprays and bait boxes (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Wednesday 5 July 2017
These cases highlight the serious risks of prolonged antibiotic treatment often given for chronic Lyme disease, despite the fact that there is no accepted definition or treatment for this condition.Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Wednesday 5 July 2017
Researchers in a Lyme disease-plagued part of New York's Hudson Valley are tackling tick problems across entire neighborhoods with fungal sprays and bait boxes (Source: ABC News: Health)
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Wednesday 5 July 2017
(Entomological Society of America) A new species of bacteria that causes Lyme disease needs the same amount of time for transmission after a tick bite compared to previously implicated bacteria, according to new research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Existing guidelines for frequent tick checks and prompt removal of attached ticks remain the same. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Wednesday 5 July 2017
AbstractPurpose of ReviewLyme disease is a tick-borne zoonosis transmitted through a bite of a tick carrying a spirochete belonging toBorrelia species. In the last 20 years, the reported incidence of Lyme disease is increased by three times in Europe. Clinically, the illness develops through a primary stage with a typical skin rash (erythema marginatum), then a secondary stage with possible neurologic or cardiac involvement. The last stage (chronic Lyme disease ) is mainly represented by arthritis or late neurological complications but nowadays is rarely seen due to precocious antibiotic use.Recent FindingsThe diagnosis of Lyme disease is essentially based on history in agreement with tick exposure (living/recent traveling in endemic area or tick bite) and clinical findings compatible wi...
Tuesday 4 July 2017
This impressive ‘bull’s eye’ rash (pictured) was caused by a tiny tick and is a clear sign of Lyme disease, which is one of the fastest-growing infections in the Western world. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Tuesday 4 July 2017
In conclusion, there seem to be a gap between evidence-based recommendations and treatment practice of LNB in Norway. (Source: Journal of Neurology)
Monday 3 July 2017
Diseases carried by ticks are on the rise and some scientists predict this summer could be the worst tick season in years. More than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported nationwide each year but studies suggest the actual number is closer to 300,000. Dr. David Agus joins "CBS This Morning" from Los Angeles to discuss what might be the reason for the trend and tips for tick bite prevention. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Monday 3 July 2017
Everybody knows about Lyme. But other tick-borne diseases, including the Powassan virus, can cause lasting damage. (Source: NYT Health)
Monday 3 July 2017
Authors: Koetsveld J, Draga ROP, Wagemakers A, Manger A, Oei A, Visser CE, Hovius JW Abstract Hard tick-borne relapsing fever (HTBRF) is an emerging infectious disease throughout the temperate zone caused by the relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia miyamotoi Antibiotic treatment of HTBRF is empirically based on the treatment of Lyme borreliosis, however antibiotic susceptibility of B. miyamotoi has not been studied to date. Thus, we set out to determine the in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of B. miyamotoiA microdilution method with 96-well microtiter plates was used to determine antibiotic susceptibility of two B. miyamotoi strains isolated on two different continents (Asia and North America), two Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) strains and one Borrelia hermsii isolate f...
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Saturday 1 July 2017
CONCLUSIONS: The combined biochip-based immunoassay, as a potential substitution of ELISA, provided a promising approach to extend the detection spectrum of infectious antibodies against a panel of Borrelia antigens. PMID: 28676442 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: International Journal of Clinical Chemistry)
Saturday 1 July 2017
Authors: Szekeres S, Lakos A, Földvári G Abstract Borrelia miyamotoi is a recently described relapsing fever spirochete transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. This pathogen is different from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (the Lyme borreliosis spirochetes) in its epidemiology, ecology and also genetics. Over 50 patients have been described worldwide with Borrelia miyamotoi disease, and three immunocompromised patients were reported with neurological symptoms. Our knowledge about Borrelia miyamotoi infection in ticks and its distribution in different habitats and also the mechanism of the infection is limited. The most common symptom is fever; thus it can be easily confused with other tick-borne diseases. Due to the intensive research in recent years, Borrelia miyamo...
Saturday 1 July 2017
Publication date: Available online 1 July 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Lars Eisen, Dominic Rose, Robert Prose, Nicole E. Breuner, Marc C. Dolan, Karen Thompson, Neeta Connally Summer-weight clothing articles impregnated with permethrin are available as a personal protective measure against human-biting ticks in the United States. However, very few studies have addressed the impact of contact with summer-weight permethrin-treated textiles on tick vigor and behavior. Our aim was to generate new knowledge of how permethrin-treated textiles impact nymphal Ixodes scapularis ticks, the primary vectors in the eastern United States of the causative agents of Lyme disease, human anaplasmosis, and human babesiosis. We developed a series of bioassays designed to: (i) clarify ...
Friday 30 June 2017
The CDC is telling ABC News that the public should be cautious with false-negative results from Lyme disease tests after getting a tick bite. (Source: ABC News: Health)
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Thursday 29 June 2017
Small RNAs of Borrelia burgdorferi: Characterizing Functional Regulators in a Sea of sRNAs . Yale J Biol Med. 2017 Jun;90(2):317-323 Authors: Lybecker MC, Samuels DS Abstract Borrelia (Borreliella) burgdorferi and closely related genospecies are the causative agents of Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease north of the equator. The bacterium, a member of the spirochete phylum, is acquired by a tick vector that feeds on an infected vertebrate host and is transmitted to another vertebrate during subsequent feeding by the next tick stage. The precise navigation of this enzootic cycle entails the regulation of genes required for these two host-specific phases as well as the transitions between them. Recently, an expansive swath of small RNAs has been identifie...
Thursday 29 June 2017
H. M. Frost et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
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Wednesday 28 June 2017
Standard methods often fail to catch infections during the first month -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com (Source: Scientific American)
Wednesday 28 June 2017
CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi among our patients with uveitis was 7.9% compared with6%â€"8.5% in the general French population which leads to a low predictive value of serological testing. Its use should be reserved for patients with unexplained uveitis, an exposure history, systemic findings suggestive of Lyme disease and steroids resistance. PMID: 28659389 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The British Journal of Ophthalmology)
Wednesday 28 June 2017
Authors: Guarino C, Asbie S, Rohde J, Glaser A, Wagner B Abstract Borrelia burgdorferi can induce Lyme disease. Approved Lyme vaccines for horses are currently not available. In an effort to protect horses, veterinarians are using Lyme vaccines licensed for dogs. However, data to assess the response of horses to, or determine the efficacy of this off-label vaccine use are missing. Here, antibodies against outer surface protein A (OspA), OspC, and OspF were quantified in diagnostic serum submissions from horses with a history of vaccination with canine Lyme vaccines. The results suggested that many horses respond with low and often short-lasting antibody responses. Subsequently, four experimental vaccination trials were performed. First, we investigated antibody responses to three c...
Tuesday 27 June 2017
Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato), the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis is a bacterium transmitted by hard ticks, Ixodes spp. Bacteria are injected into ... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
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Tuesday 27 June 2017
This study evaluated canine antibody responses to the A. phagocytophilum p44 peptides APH-1 and APH-4 as well as the B. burgdorferi C6 peptide before and after doxycycline treatment. A total of eight dogs were infested with wild-caught I. scapularis for 1 week. Blood was collected prior to tick attachment and from Days 3-77 and 218-302 with doxycycline treatment beginning on Day 218. Blood was assayed for A. phagocytophilum DNA by PCR assay. Sera was assessed for antibodies by IFA and ELISA. Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA was amplified from blood of all dogs by day seven. Antibodies to APH-4 were detected in serum as early as 14days after tick exposure and six dogs had APH-4 antibodies detected three to seven days before antibodies against APH-1. All dogs were seropositive for A. phagocytop...
Monday 26 June 2017
Lyme borreliosis is associated with memory deficits. While this may be related to cerebral infection by Borrelia bacteria, it may also be caused by concomitant co-infection by Babesia protozoa. The anti-malarial artemisinin-derivative artesunate has been shown to be effective against a number of Babesia species and to have efficacy against human cerebral malaria. We hypothesised that concomitant administration of artesunate in Lyme borreliosis patients would help alleviate the severity of self-reported short-term memory impairment. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Monday 26 June 2017
CONCLUSION: PET/CT imaging with [(18)F]FDG is a reliable method to longitudinally monitor the development and progression of B. burgdorferi infection-induced inflammation in vivo in mouse joints. PMID: 28649922 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology)
Friday 23 June 2017
(Children's National Health System) Mattia Chason, M.D., and colleagues in infectious disease examined how quickly Lyme disease symptoms typically resolve in children, a research question that has received little prior study. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Friday 23 June 2017
Conclusions: These results show that a specific combination of flavones might play a supporting role in combating Borrelia spp. through either synergistic or additive anti‐borreliae effects. Significance and Impact of Study: Presented here in vitro results might help advancing our knowledge and improving the approach to target Borrelia spp. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Journal of Applied Microbiology)
Thursday 22 June 2017
Prolonged antibiotics or other treatments for patients diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease are unproven and can lead to serious complications and death, the CDC warns.Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Wednesday 21 June 2017
-- A bite from an infected tick can cause a number of ills, including Lyme disease. But taking precautions before going outside can help protect you. Here are suggestions from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Know where ticks... (Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews)
Wednesday 21 June 2017
Grant applications to advance Lyme and tick-borne disease research now available online.(PRWeb June 21, 2017)Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/06/prweb14446935.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)
Tuesday 20 June 2017
Natalie Walsh, of West Virginia, shared an alarming post on Facebook recounting how her daughter woke up with a headache,104-degree fever, and a quarter-size bump on her head. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
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Tuesday 20 June 2017
(Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post)
Tuesday 20 June 2017
(MedPage Today) -- Also: worldwide obesity prevalence now tops 10% (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)
Tuesday 20 June 2017
By Megan Molteni for WIRED. First comes the unscratchable itching, and the angry blossoming of hives. Then stomach cramping, and — for the unluckiest few — difficulty breathing, passing out, and even death. In the last decade and a half, thousands of previously protein-loving Americans have developed a dangerous allergy to meat. And they all have one thing in common: the lone star tick. Red meat, you might be surprised to know, isn’t totally sugar-free. It contains a few protein-linked saccharides, including one called galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, or alpha-gal, for short. More and more people are learning this the hard way, when they suddenly develop a life-threatening allergy to that pesky sugar molecule after a tick bite. Yep, one bite from the lone star tick &mdash...
Tuesday 20 June 2017
E. Sajanti et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Tuesday 20 June 2017
This article presents the results of a comprehensive survey of the burden of tick-borne infectious diseases (TBIDs) in the Altai region of Russia. Official data for TBID incidence were analyzed and 201 samples from patients with suspected TBID were studied. Furthermore, questing ticks and ticks recovered from humans were examined to estimate prevalence of TBID-causative agents. The Altai region was determined to have a heightened risk for TBIDs in Russia. The most epidemiologically significant tick-borne illness in this area is spotted fever group rickettsiosis, while nationally in Russia, the leading TBID is Lyme borreliosis. The prevalence of mixed infection was 12.4% among the studied cases. Additionally, the prevalence of poorly studied pathogens − Kemerovo virus (KEMV) and Rickettsi...
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Monday 19 June 2017
Background: Lyme arthritis (LA) of the hip can present similarly to septic arthritis (SA) and transient synovitis (TS). The primary purpose of this study was to determine clinical and laboratory parameters differentiating LA of the hip from SA or TS among children who had undergone hip aspiration during the evaluation of hip pain. Methods: This was a retrospective review of all patients who underwent hip aspiration for the evaluation of hip pain at a tertiary care children’s hospital in a Lyme endemic area. Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed and comparative analyses were performed between those diagnosed with LA, SA, and TS. Independent samples t test, ANOVA, and χ2 test were used to compare clinical and laboratory variables as appropriate. Multivariable logistic regression was...
Saturday 17 June 2017
Actress Carrie Fisher was unabashedly vocal about her lifelong battles with mental illness and drug abuse. She once defiantly told ABC News, “I am mentally ill. I can say that. I am not ashamed of that. I survived that, I’m still surviving it. But bring it on.” Her candor inspired a generation of women. If a cool and […]Related:Why a single gunshot to Steve Scalise’s hip can be a life-threatening injuryEnvironmental watchdog group warns of lead in baby foodDangerous unproven treatments for ‘chronic Lyme disease’ are on the rise (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Saturday 17 June 2017
Erin Hills ’ s thick fescue presents a challenge to players, but is also a hospitable spot for ticks, prompting concern about Lyme disease. (Source: NYT Health)
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Friday 16 June 2017
(Source: Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment)
Friday 16 June 2017
The position of the victim, speed of the bullet and path it follows all are critical in how severe injuries will be. Related:Environmental watchdog group warns of lead in baby foodDangerous unproven treatments for ‘chronic Lyme disease’ are on the riseFever during pregnancy may increase autism risk in offspring (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Friday 16 June 2017
Authors: Brown CR, Dennis EA Abstract Experimental Lyme arthritis provides a mouse model for exploring the development of pathology following infection of C3H mice with Borrelia burgdorferi. Infected mice develop a reliable inflammatory arthritis of the ankle joint with severity that typically peaks around two to three weeks post-infection and then undergoes spontaneous resolution. This makes experimental Lyme arthritis an excellent model for investigating the mechanisms that drive both the development and resolution phases of inflammatory disease. Eicosanoids are powerful lipid mediators of inflammation and are known to regulate multiple aspects of inflammatory processes. While much is known about the role of eicosanoids in regulating immune responses during autoimmune disease and...
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Friday 16 June 2017
Publication date: Available online 15 June 2017 Source:Microbes and Infection Author(s): Jorge Cervantes Lyme disease is a zoonosis caused by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). A great amount of research has attempted to elucidate the mechanisms by which Bb causes inflammation and chronic symptomatology in some patients. Patients often seek unconventional treatments that lack scientific evidence, as medical care is unable to effectively explain and treat their illness. Bb-DNA can persist for long periods of time in some individuals, even after antibiotic therapy. Herein, scientific rationale is presented for a new therapeutic approach against remaining bacterial DNA, and/or increasing the ability of human macrophages to remove extracellular Bb DNA. (Source: Microbes and Infection)
Friday 16 June 2017
This report describes cases of septic shock, osteomyelitis, Clostridium difficile colitis, and paraspinal abscess resulting from treatments for chronic Lyme disease. Patients, clinicians, and public health practitioners should be aware that treatments for chronic Lyme disease can carry serious risks. PMID: 28617768 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkl...)
Friday 16 June 2017
By Cara Adler Edited by William E. Chavey, MD, MS Use of unproven treatments for patients given a diagnosis of " chronic Lyme disease " can cause serious adverse events, including death, according to an MMWR … (Source: Physician's First Watch current issue)
Thursday 15 June 2017
When parents think about the dangers of lead, paint and water often come to mind as potential sources. But a report published Thursday by the Environmental Defense Fund raises questions about another, surprising possibility: food. More specifically, baby food. The group looked at data from more than 12,200 food samples that were analyzed from 2003 to 2013 as part […]Related:Why a single gunshot to Steve Scalise’s hip could be life-threateningDangerous unproven treatments for ‘chronic Lyme disease’ are on the riseFever during pregnancy may increase autism risk in offspring (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Thursday 15 June 2017
The position of the victim, speed of the bullet and path it follows all are critical in how severe injuries will be. Related:Environmental watchdog group warns of lead in baby foodDangerous unproven treatments for ‘chronic Lyme disease’ are on the riseFever during pregnancy may increase autism risk in offspring (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
Thursday 15 June 2017
An increasing number of Americans with medically ambiguous symptoms are being misdiagnosed with “chronic Lyme disease” and prescribed dangerous and often expensive treatments that do not work, according to a new report. In some instances, patients have died after receiving intensive, long-term and inappropriate courses of intravenous antibiotics that led to septic shock. In other […]Related:Fever during pregnancy may increase autism risk in offspringUNC oncologist and researcher named head of the National Cancer InstituteZika risk for birth defects drops for each trimester, CDC finds (Source: Washington Post: To Your Health)
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Thursday 15 June 2017
(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)
Wednesday 14 June 2017
In order to study the antibody seroprevalence of the causal agent of Lyme borreliosis, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), and the history of tick bites at a geographical distribution limit of Ixodes ricinus, we compared healthy blood donors in geographically extreme regions: the borreliosis‐endemic Vestfold County (59°N) and the region of northern Norway. Blood samples were screened using IgG/VlsE ELISA, and positive/borderline samples were confirmed using C6 ELISA and immunoblot assays. Also, donors completed a questionnaire consisting of several items including the places they have lived, and whether they owned any pets. The seroprevalence was 0.48% (5/1048) in northern Norway and 9.25% (48/519) in Vestfold County. Seven donors (of 1048) had experienced a single tick bite in the ...
Monday 12 June 2017
By Jessica Migala It’s a heartbreaking story: an Indiana girl just shy of her third birthday has died of organ failure caused by Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). Doctors didn’t realize Kenley Ratliff contracted the tick-borne illness until it was too late for the antibiotics to work. Now, her devastated family, along with health officials, are sounding the alarm about this sometimes lethal infection, which despite its name isn’t limited to the Rocky Mountains. “If we could save one child’s life then we will have done our job,” Jordan Clapp, Kenley’s aunt told Today. RELATED: 15 Important Facts You Must Know About Ticks While you dry your eyes, consider Kenley’s story to be a wakeup call about RMSF, cases of which have been on th...
Saturday 10 June 2017
The CDC is warning of a particularly severe season for tick-borne diseases. The number of cases of Lyme diseases has spiked in recent years, and experts say the ticks that carry it are spreading to other areas of the country. Anna Werner reports. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Friday 9 June 2017
BOSTON (CBS) – Managing a chronic illness can be difficult, especially with many medications, but a company located in Boston has developed an app that could make a world of difference. “I have chronic neurological Lyme disease and co-infections,” says Emily Levy of Charlestown. The 23-year old takes more medications than most 80-year-olds. “On a daily basis, I’m taking anywhere from 20 to 30 pills and then I do anywhere from two to four IV infusions per day,” says Emily. (WBZ-TV) Staying on top of all of her antibiotics, supplements, probiotics, and infusions was a real challenge until she was introduced to Medisafe. “Medisafe gives patients a tool, a medication management tool, to get their medications organized,” says Jon Michaeli, Medisafe Executive Vice Presid...
Thursday 8 June 2017
As it gets warmer and people start spending more time outside, I have more and more patients coming into my office and complaining of a “sun allergy.” A sun allergy is really a layman’s term, which refers to a number of conditions when a rash occurs on skin that has been exposed to the sun. These are also referred to as photosensitive disorders or photodermatoses, and can be broadly categorized into the following medical terms: idiopathic photodermatoses, exogenous photodermatoses, photoexacerbated dermatoses, genetic photodermatoses, and metabolic photodermatoses. Sounds complicated, right? A sun allergy refers to a number of conditions when a rash occurs on skin that has been exposed to the sun. Let’s break it down: If, after spending a few hours in...
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Monday 5 June 2017
Borrelia mayonii is currently the latest species belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) complex to be discovered. Interestingly it is involved in human pathology causing a ... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Monday 5 June 2017
Scott J. Mellis, M.D., Ph.D. and Utpal Pal, Ph.D. bring their expertise and experience to GLA’s Scientific Advisory Board whose members have all made valuable contributions to the understanding,...(PRWeb June 05, 2017)Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/06/prweb14394555.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)
Monday 5 June 2017
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Protein Science)
Sunday 4 June 2017
(Natural News) What seemed like a run-of-the-mill case of headaches and joint pain turned out to be chronic Lyme disease in an eight-year old girl, who now has to live with the effects of the debilitating disease for the rest of her life. The girl’s mother, Jamie Buss, shared in a story on KHou.com that her daughter... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Saturday 3 June 2017
This study opens up promising perspectives and reinforces the need for additional studies to determine the epidemiological characteristics of the disease, as well as the impact of the prevalence of Brazilian borreliosis in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. (Source: Revista Brasileira de Reumatologia)
Thursday 1 June 2017
This study shows strong evidence that Lyme disease-causing bacteria exist transiently in blood,” co-author Dr. Thomas Fritsche said in prepared remarks. “T2MR is the only technology proven sensitive enough to directly detect these bacteria.” Traditionally, researchers use serology to diagnose Lyme disease by detecting antibodies that are triggered by the disease. There is no FDA-approved diagnostic based on direct measurement of Lyme disease-causing bacteria. Regulatory agencies recommend a 2-tiered approach to diagnose Lyme disease, but the technique detects 2 antibodies that require 1-2 weeks and 4-6 weeks to reach detectable levels, leaving a window where diagnosis of early Lyme disease is not possible. T2MR detected both confirmed cases of Lyme disease tested in the s...
Thursday 1 June 2017
We examined whether pet ownership increased the risk for tick encounters and tickborne disease among residents of three Lyme disease‐endemic states as a nested cohort within a randomized controlled trial. Information about pet ownership, use of tick control for pets, property characteristics, tick encounters and human tickborne disease were captured through surveys, and associations were assessed using univariate and multivariable analyses. Pet‐owning households had 1.83 times the risk (95% CI = 1.53, 2.20) of finding ticks crawling on and 1.49 times the risk (95% CI = 1.20, 1.84) of finding ticks attached to household members compared to households without pets. This large evaluation of pet ownership, human tick encounters and tickborne diseases shows that pet owners, whether of c...
Thursday 1 June 2017
In conclusion, the findings of the present study show that a fenced freeway may contribute to differences in tick species diversity and tick-borne pathogen prevalence along its two sides, and this effect is most likely a consequence of its barrier role preventing deer movements. PMID: 28605964 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Acta Veterinaria Hungarica)
Thursday 1 June 2017
AbstractAppropriate, critical application of evidence-based diagnostic criteria enables both a clear definition of what constitutes neuroborreliosis —nervous system infection withBorrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto in the US,B garinii and less commonlyB. afzelii and other species in Europe —and recognition that this disorder is quite similar in Europe and the US. Most commonly evidenced by lymphocytic meningitis and/or multifocal inflammation of the peripheral (common; cranial neuropathy, radiculopathy, mononeuropathy multiplex) or central (rare) nervous system, it is readily diagno sed and highly antibiotic responsive. Encephalopathy—altered cognition or memory—can occur as part of the systemic infection and inflammatory state, but is not evidence of neuroborreliosis. Post treatmen...
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Wednesday 31 May 2017
By Anthea Levi Warmer months don’t just bring sunshine — they can also present serious health hazards for our favorite furry friends. “Summer is the busiest time of year in the veterinary ER,” says Justine Lee, DVM, a board-certified veterinary emergency critical care specialist in Minneapolis. “Pet owners are jogging, picnicking, and enjoying the outdoors, and unfortunately we see more animals experience trauma because of it.” Follow this advice so your dog has a safer summer. Nix ticks and fleas Ticks, fleas and mosquitoes are much more common this time of year, and they cause all kinds of illnesses. “At the very least, ticks leave an itchy bite that can become infected, and at worst they can transmit diseases like Lyme,” says Kathryn ...
Wednesday 31 May 2017
Conclusion: Our results highlight the potential for climate change to have an effect on future Lyme disease risk in Canada even if the Paris Agreement’s goal to keep global warming below 2°C is achieved, although mitigation reducing emissions from RCP8.5 levels to those of RCP6.0 or less would be expected to slow tick invasion after the 2030s. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP57 Received: 02 March 2016 Revised: 26 August 2016 Accepted: 30 August 2016 Published: 31 May 2017 Address correspondence to H. Beltrami, Earth Science Department, Physical Sciences Center, PO Box 5000, 1 West St, Antigonish, NS B2G 1W5. Telephone: (902) 870-4547. E-mail: hbeltram@stfx.ca Supplemental Material is available online (https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP57). The authors declare they have no actual or potential ...
Tuesday 30 May 2017
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences said Tuesday that Mark Smeltzer has been awarded $11 million in federal funding for Phase II of a program that supports microbiology and immunology research. Phase I of the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant was awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2012 at $10 million. Phase II began May 1 and is $11 million. The first COBRE grant allowed Smeltzer to establish the UAMS Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Host Inflammatory Responses. Its focus is pathogens – bacteria, viruses and microorganisms – and the disease responses they cause in humans. The latest award continues funding of the center, with individual projects on cancer, Lyme disease, pneumonic plague and chlamydial infection. Smeltzer...
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Tuesday 30 May 2017
The federal government is spending $4 million to aid research into Lyme disease. Health Minister Jane Philpott unveiled Canada's plan to establish a Lyme disease research network this morning. (Source: CBC | Health)
Tuesday 30 May 2017
In previous studies, human oligodendrocytes were demonstrated to undergo apoptosis in the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi under an inflammatory milieu. Subsequently, we determined that the MEK/ERK pathway played... (Source: Journal of Neuroinflammation)
Thursday 25 May 2017
The population dynamics of vector-borne pathogens inside the arthropod vector can have important consequences for vector-to-host transmission. Tick-borne spirochete bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lat... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
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Wednesday 24 May 2017
(MedPage Today) -- Lyme may be an overlooked public health problem (Source: MedPage Today Pediatrics)
Wednesday 24 May 2017
Publication date: Available online 24 May 2017 Source:Joint Bone Spine Author(s): Marie Schmitt, Benoît Daubail, Amélie Bohm (Source: Joint Bone Spine)
Wednesday 24 May 2017
Authors: Tomassone L, Ceballos LA, Ragagli C, Martello E, De Sousa R, Stella MC, Mannelli A Abstract During the investigations on ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBP) range expansion in the Northern Apennines, we captured 107 Podarcis muralis lizards. Sixty-eight animals were infested by immature Ixodes ricinus, Haemaphysalis sulcata and H. punctata. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 3.7% of I. ricinus larvae and 8.0% of nymphs. Together with the species-specific B. lusitaniae, we identified B. garinii, B. afzelii and B. valaisiana. Rickettsia spp. (18.1% larvae, 12.0% nymphs), namely R. monacensis, R. helvetica and R. hoogstraalii, were also found in I. ricinus. R. hoogstraalii was detected in H. sulcata nymphs as well, while the two H. punctata did not harbour any bacteri...
Tuesday 23 May 2017
This study reveals disparate results in terms of dog exposure to fleas and ticks in the studied communities, which may be related to factors such as the owners’ capability/willingness to afford the use of ectoparasiticides on their dogs and level of restriction. Further research is needed to establish the relationship between dog owners’ socioeconomic situation and the level of exposure to ectoparasites and their transmitted pathogens. (Source: Veterinary Parasitology)
Tuesday 23 May 2017
The recommended laboratory diagnostic approach for Lyme disease is a standard two-tiered testing (STTT) algorithm where the first tier is typically an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) that if positive or equivocal is reflexed to Western immunoblotting as the second tier. bioMérieux manufactures one of the most commonly used first-tier EIAs in the United States, the combined IgM/IgG Vidas test (LYT). Recently, bioMérieux launched its dissociated first-tier tests, the Vidas Lyme IgM II (LYM) and IgG II (LYG) EIAs, which use purified recombinant test antigens and a different algorithm than STTT. The dissociated LYM/LYG EIAs were evaluated against the combined LYT EIA using samples from 471 well-characterized Lyme patients and controls. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the p...
Monday 22 May 2017
Lyme disease (LD), a multisystem infection caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (B. burgdorferi), is the most reported vector-borne disease in North America, and by 2020, 80% of the populat... (Source: BMC Family Practice)
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Saturday 20 May 2017
Publication date: Available online 19 May 2017 Source:Pathology - Research and Practice Author(s): V. Krenn, G. Perino, W. Rüther, V.T. Krenn, M. Huber, T. Hügle, A. Najm, S. Müller, F. Boettner, F. Pessler, W. Waldstein, J. Kriegsmann, R. Casadonte, T. Häupl, S. Wienert, M.G. Krukemeyer, S. Sesselmann, S. Sunitsch, R. Tikhilov, L. Morawietz The histopathological synovitis score evaluates the immunological and inflammatory changes of synovitis in a graduated manner generally customary for diagnostic histopathological scores. The score results from semiquantitative evaluation of the width of the synovial surface cell layer, the cell density of the stroma and the density of the inflammatory infiltration into 4 semiquantitative levels (normal 0, mild 1, moderate 2, severe 3). The additio...
Friday 19 May 2017
“This year, there are worse ticks than many of us have ever seen in our lives,” says Janet Foley, an epidemiologist at the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Ticks are roaming American forests in greater numbers this year than any in recent memory leaving thousands of humans at risk for lyme disease, say public health officials. And things could get much worse through the summer if weather conditions remain humid, spelling trouble for the people who roam in their habitat. The prevalence of ticks—and the diseases they carry—has been on the rise in recent decades as reforestation and climate change expanded the range of the eight-legged bacterial vectors. Public health officials have attributed the pervasiveness of ticks so far this year to ...
Friday 19 May 2017
A 33-year-old male with cystic fibrosis 220 days removed from bilateral lung transplantation presented with 1 week of intermittent fevers (maximum 102 °F), malaise, bilateral lower extremity edema, unintentional weight gain (8 pounds), and 2 days of dyspnea on exertion. His post-transplant course was complicated by persistent leukopenia with intermittent neutropenia attributed to his anti-rejection regimen of mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus. On presentation, his temperature was 98.9°F, his heart rate was 84 beats per minute, his blood pressure was 148/83 mmHg, and he was breathing 20 times per minute with an oxygen saturation of 98% on room air. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Thursday 18 May 2017
The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence, intensity of infestation, and aggregation of hard ticks on this deer species, and to determine the presence of borrelial pathogens in the ticks. Sixty-six deer were examined over a two-year period. A total of 179 ticks of two species, I. stilesi and Ixodes taglei, were collected. Of those, 100 were adults, 78 were nymphs, and one was a larva. Ixodes stilesi was the most prevalent tick (47%) and was highly aggregated (D=0.77) on the deer. Deer body weight was positively associated with tick burden. Borrelia spirochetes were detected in two (6.45%) of the examined I. stilesi ticks. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S and flaB gene sequences positioned these samples in the same clade with Borrelia chilensis VA1 previously described fro...
Tuesday 16 May 2017
Publication date: August 2017 Source:Microbial Pathogenesis, Volume 109 Author(s): Seema Patel Zoonotic diseases are a subset of infectious diseases, which account for enormous morbidity and mortality. Pathologies like malaria, rabies, Lyme disease, leptospirosis, avian flu etc. are microbe- and parasite-caused ailments, where the etiological agents are introduced into or on the human body via ticks, mosquitoes, birds, rodents, bats, and deer, among other members of kingdom Animalia. While some of the zoonotic diseases are well-investigated and caution taken against, a lot many are yet to be recognized. This ignorance costs health, and lives, especially in developing countries. To promote awareness regarding the risks of immunogenicity and pathogen dissemination by hitherto unknown non-pl...
Monday 15 May 2017
Dr. Dan Rahn and Dr. Robert Hopkins Jr. of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock have been awarded Mastership in the American College of Physicians, the national organization of internists. Rahn and Hopkins were two of 53 internists from across the world to receive the honor at the ACP’s annual scientific conference held in San Francisco this year and were the only two Arkansans to achieve Mastership this year. Just more than 0.5 percent of the 148,000 ACP members worldwide have been awarded Mastership of the College. “Mastership is the highest honor the college bestows, and it comes only after a long, arduous process during which they carefully vet the credentials of all nominees and ensure that the recipients deserve it,” Dr. Omar Atiq, a profes...
Monday 15 May 2017
(Source: Journal of Vector Ecology)
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Monday 15 May 2017
(Source: Journal of Vector Ecology)
Monday 15 May 2017
(Source: Journal of Vector Ecology)
Sunday 14 May 2017
LYME DISEASE is a bacterial infection spread to human when they are bitten by an infected tick. One woman who is battling the disease has spoken out about the symptoms and coping with the chronic pain it can cause. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
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Sunday 14 May 2017
LYME DISEASE is a bacterial infection spread to human when they are bitten by an infected tick. One woman who is battling the disease has spoken out about the symptoms and coping with the chronic pain it can cause. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Sunday 14 May 2017
Publication date: Available online 13 May 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): H. Quarsten, A. Grankvist, L. Høyvoll, I.B. Myre, T. Skarpaas, V. Kjelland, C. Wenneras, S. Noraas The most common tick-borne human disease in Norway is Lyme borreliosis. Ticks in Norway also harbour less known disease-causing agents such as Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Borrelia miyamotoi and Rickettsia helvetica. However, human infections caused by these pathogens have never been described in Norway. The main aims of the study were to evaluate the contribution of several tick-borne bacterial agents, other than Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, to zoonotic diseases in Norway and to determine their clinical pictures. Blood samples from 70 symptomatic tick-bitten adults from the Agder count...
Saturday 13 May 2017
BOSTON (CBS) – Here in New England we are at a higher risk of getting Lyme disease. Despite the danger there is no vaccine. But UMass researchers are closing in on a treatment that could prevent the debilitating illness. It’s an illness Jennifer Crystal knows all too well. It took eight years of feeling rundown with flu-like symptoms before Jennifer was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease. “Basically lost the whole second half of my twenties to Lyme disease,” Jennifer explained. She was bedridden for months at a time, she had to quit her job, and move back in with her parents. “It was hard to get up a flight of stairs, I couldn’t empty the dishwasher, I mean basic tasks,” she said. Even after the official diagnosis and treatment Jennifer relapsed...
Saturday 13 May 2017
Publication date: Available online 13 May 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Patrick Waindok, Sabine Schicht, Volker Fingerle, Christina Strube Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most important human tick-borne disease, but Borrelia genospecies cause different clinical manifestations. Ticks of the genus Ixodes removed from humans between 2006 and 2012 were analysed for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl) infections. The majority of ticks originated from the Greater Hanover region in Northern Germany. The engorgement status varied over the entire spectrum from unengorged (no evidence of started blood feeding) to fully engorged. In the present study, prevalence data for B. burgdorferi sl 2011 and 2012 were obtained by quantitative real-time PCR and compared to those from a form...
Friday 12 May 2017
Only 3 per cent of GPs in the UK have taken the recommended module on Lyme disease which teaches them how to spot early symptoms. A charity says there may be 45,000 UK cases a year. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Friday 12 May 2017
(Natural News) Scientists have urged those in the Northeastern United States to prepare for a rise in Lyme disease cases this year. The forecast comes at the heels of a population surge among white-footed mice which serve as hosts for Lyme-bearing ticks, USAToday.com reported. Scientists trace the upsurge in ticks to an acorn abundance in 2015, which caused the... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Thursday 11 May 2017
New research offers veterinarians a forecasting map that tells them which parts of the country are most at risk of Lyme disease infections in dogs, which could also help track and predict Lyme disease in people. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
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Thursday 11 May 2017
A. Egizi et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
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Thursday 11 May 2017
In North America, Lyme disease is principally caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, hereafter referred to as B. burgdorferi. It is acquired by the bite of an infected Ixodes tick. The most common clinical manifestation is a skin lesion, referred to as erythema migrans, which is due to cutaneous infection with B. burgdorferi. Other objective manifestations may involve the nervous system, heart, or joints. Treatment with antibiotics typically resolves the objective clinical manifestation. Accompanying subjective symptoms, such as fatigue and joint or muscle pain, often persist for many weeks. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Wednesday 10 May 2017
GPs must consider Lyme disease in patients with bull's-eye rash or if they become unwell following a tick bite, campaigners have warned as modelling suggests the disease is set to reach epidemic levels. (Source: GP Online News)
Wednesday 10 May 2017
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Wednesday 10 May 2017
Authors: Maija Laaksonen, Eeva Sajanti, Jani J Sormunen, Ritva Penttinen, Jari Hänninen, Kai Ruohomäki, Ilari Sääksjärvi, Eero J Vesterinen, Ilppo Vuorinen, Jukka Hytönen & Tero Klemola (Source: Emerging Microbes and Infections)
Monday 8 May 2017
(MedPage Today) -- Review finds most Lyme symptoms resolved within 6 months of starting therapy (Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease)
Monday 8 May 2017
The Lyme arthritis is a common manifestation of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete. Despite its infectious background, the inflammation clinically and histopatologically resembles juvenile idiopathic ... (Source: Pediatric Rheumatology)
Monday 8 May 2017
It's transmitted faster and can be more disabling and deadly than Lyme Disease. How can you prevent and treat it? (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Sunday 7 May 2017
We all know that bee stings are incredibly painful and best avoided. But Ingrid Watt of Scotland subjects herself to 30 every week in a bizarre bid to beat the life-threatening Lyme disease. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Saturday 6 May 2017
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: British Journal of Dermatology)
Friday 5 May 2017
Lyme disease isn't the only reason you'll want to take extra precautions to avoid ticks (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
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Friday 5 May 2017
Lyme disease is increasing in areas around the country, and researchers warn that's not the only tick-borne disease to watch out for. One called Powassan virus is rare but can be deadly. Dave Delozier of WISC-TV reports. (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Friday 5 May 2017
Tick season is upon us, and it’s shaping up to be a real doozy. Scientists predict 2017 will bear the highest number of ticks in recent years, with a jump in reported cases of tick-borne illnesses in some regions of the U.S. Ticks are thriving thanks to a recent explosion of the white-footed mice population, which carry Lyme disease, Powassan virus and other tick-borne illnesses. Meanwhile, warmer winters caused by climate change are allowing ticks to remain active longer and carry diseases into new regions of the U.S. Experts suggest people living in regions where these diseases are most prevalent ― the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and upper Midwest ― should learn about common tick misconceptions and best practices to avoid bites. Black-legged ticks are the common carriers...
Friday 5 May 2017
It's a mysterious and dangerous disease in humans, but did you know it poses a serious threat to pets as well? (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Friday 5 May 2017
Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis (LB) in man is caused by a spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) which is introduced into the body by bites of (Source: Annals of Saudi Medicine)
Thursday 4 May 2017
Authors: Silverman ED Abstract The 72nd Annual Meeting of The Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) was held at The Westin Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February 8-11, 2017. The program consisted of presentations covering original research, symposia, awards, and lectures. Highlights of the meeting include the following 2017 award winners: Dr. Vinod Chandran, Young Investigator; Dr. Jacques P. Brown, Distinguished Investigator; Dr. David Robinson, Teacher-Educator; Dr. Michel Zummer, Distinguished Rheumatologist; Ms. Rebecca Gole, Best Abstract on SLE Research by a Trainee - Ian Watson Award; Ms. Bailey Russell, Best Abstract on Clinical or Epidemiology Research by a Trainee - Phil Rosen Award; Dr. Sahil Koppikar and Dr. Henry Averns, Practice Reflection Award; Dr. Shirine Usma...
Thursday 4 May 2017
Researchers say they expect it to be a "particularly bad year" for Lyme disease for an unlikely reason (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Thursday 4 May 2017
Authors: Izac JR, Oliver LD, Earnhart CG, Marconi RT Abstract The lipoprotein OspA is produced by the Lyme disease spirochetes primarily in unfed ticks. OspA production is down-regulated by the blood meal and it is not produced in mammals except for possible transient production during late stage infection in patients with Lyme arthritis. Vaccination with OspA elicits antibody (Ab) that can target spirochetes in the tick midgut during feeding and inhibit transmission to mammals. OspA was the primary component of the human LYMErix™ vaccine. LYMErix™ was available from 1998 to 2002 but then pulled from the market due to declining sales as a result of unsubstantiated concerns about vaccination induced adverse events and poor efficacy. It was postulated that a segment of OspA that ...
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Wednesday 3 May 2017
Emma Horlock, 42, from Liverpool has raised £25,000 to travel to America in the hope antibiotics will cure her from Lyme disease. Says the condition has stopped her having children. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
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Wednesday 3 May 2017
CBS Local – There are a few drawbacks to the calendar shifting to the summer months, like the influx of ticks and infections like Lyme Disease. Now doctors are cautioning of another, potentially fatal tick-borne disease: Powassan Virus. Powassan virus is even more serious than Lyme, as it causes inflammation to the brain. For the reported cases, 15 percent of those infected have died and another 50 percent have had some form of a neurological disability. As of right now, there’s no cure. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, loss of coordination, speech difficulties and seizures. “About 15 percent of patients who are infected and have symptoms are not going survive,” Dr. Jennifer Lyons, chief of the division of neurological and inflamm...
Wednesday 3 May 2017
Summer is nearly here, and it's bringing fears of a rare tick-borne disease called Powassan. This potentially life-threatening virus is carried and transmitted by three types of ticks, including the deer tick that transmits Lyme disease. (Source: CNN.com - Health)
Wednesday 3 May 2017
[Fifteen years of the histopathological synovitis score : Review and further developments of a diagnostic score]. Z Rheumatol. 2017 May 03;: Authors: Krenn V, Perino G, Rüther W, Krenn VT, Huber M, Hügle T, Najm A, Müller S, Boettner F, Pessler F, Waldstein W, Kriegsmann J, Häupl T, Wienert S, Krukemeyer MG, Sesselmann S, Tikhilov R, Morawietz L Abstract The histopathological synovitis score evaluates in a graded approach, as is largely usual for diagnostic histopathological scores, the immunological and inflammatory changes caused by synovitis. A synovitis score of between 1 and ≤ 4 is classified as low-grade (osteoarthritis-related synovitis, post-traumatic synovitis, meniscopathy-related synovitis and synovitis in hemochromatosis). Synovitis scores of be...
Tuesday 2 May 2017
This study showed that although PCPs of the Franche-Comté region manage tick bites as per current guidelines, they need further training on Lyme serology limitations and availability of tick-borne encephalitis vaccination. PMID: 28457701 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Medecine et Maladies Infectieuses)
Tuesday 2 May 2017
For as long as Maeve Sheehy can remember, she’s had short spells of feeling like she was about to fall over. “It wasn’t like feeling faint, it was more like my knees would buckle underneath me,” says Maeve, now 16. “I would instinctually try to keep from falling by bracing myself.” Sometimes the bracing didn’t work and Maeve would topple over. If she was with friends, she’d pretend she had tripped, to cover it up. But she secretly worried something was wrong with her. When she tried to explain the falling feeling to her parents and doctors, she was told she was probably dehydrated. More mysterious symptoms As she entered middle school, Maeve started to have other symptoms. She felt exhausted all the time, despite regular naps. Sometimes, she was so tired in class that she c...
Tuesday 2 May 2017
LYME disease symptoms could be very similar to those of the common flu virus, Dr Chris Steele has warned. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Tuesday 2 May 2017
CONCLUSIONS: The role of the PHCC doctor is essential for achieving an early diagnosis of Lyme disease, as a higher percentage of seropositives was detected in samples submitted from PHCC. Furthermore, most early localised LD patients were diagnosed in PHCC, avoiding the appearance of sequelae. Therefore, detection of Borrelia specific antibodies using an ELISA assay is a useful screening test for patients at risk of LD. PMID: 28476293 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Atencion Primaria)
Monday 1 May 2017
In Reply We appreciate the Letter in Reply from Dr Lee highlighting his research on the detection of persistent borreliosis by novel gene-sequencing methods. However, we contend that persistent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity forBorrelia burgdorferi does not signify the presence of active infection or bacteremia that merits prolonged antibiotic treatment. To this point, Marques et al tested a cohort of patients with treated Lyme disease and posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PLTDS) for the presence of viableB burgdorferi. Using a xenodiagnostic technique wherein laboratory-raisedIxodes scapularis ticks fed on patients and subsequently attempted to infect immunodeficient mice, both ticks and mice were tested for the presence ofB burgdorferi by PCR and culture. Despite detecting...
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Monday 1 May 2017
To the Editor I appreciate the Teachable Moment by Marks and colleagues in a recent issue ofJAMA Internal Medicine on chronic Lyme disease. However, I disagree with their statement about the lack of objective evidence regarding the existence of chronic Lyme disease. (Source: JAMA Internal Medicine)
Friday 28 April 2017
This study determines the wide spectrum of tick-borne bacterial and protozoal pathogens that can be encountered in Austria. Surveillance of (putative) pathogenic microorganisms occurring in the environment is of medical importance, especially when those agents can be transmitted by ticks and cause disease. The observation of significant co-infections of certain microorganisms in field-collected ticks is an initial step to an improved understanding of microbial interactions in ticks. In addition, we show that variations in molecular detection methods, such as in primer pairs and target genes, can considerably influence the final results. For instance, certain genospecies of borreliae can be better or worse detected by one or the other method; a fact of great importance for future screening ...
Wednesday 26 April 2017
Key Clinical Message Timely diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment is essential in Lyme carditis to achieve favorable prognosis. Externalized permanent pacemaker with an active fixation lead as supportive pacing modality is a feasible option till complete resolution of conduction block with continued antibiotic therapy. Timely diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment is essential in Lyme carditis to achieve favorable prognosis. Externalized permanent pacemaker with an active fixation lead as supportive pacing modality is a feasible option till complete resolution of conduction block with continued antibiotic therapy. (Source: Clinical Case Reports)
Tuesday 25 April 2017
Bacterial dissemination via the cardiovascular system is the most common cause of infection mortality. A key step in dissemination is bacterial interaction with endothelia lining blood vessels, which is physically challenging because of the shear stress generated by blood flow. Association of host cells such as leukocytes and platelets with... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Monday 24 April 2017
Scientists have built a large body of knowledge about Lyme disease over the past 40 years, yet controversies remain and the number of cases continues to rise. In the United States, reported cases of Lyme disease, which is transmitted from wild animals to humans by tick bites, have tripled in the past 20 years. A multitude of interacting factors are driving the increase in Lyme disease cases, but their relative importance remains unclear. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
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Monday 24 April 2017
Simtee Few, 32, from Harlow, Essex, developed flu-like symptoms days after a family gathering in July 2015. Doctors eventually diagnosed her with Lyme disease after a year of testing. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Monday 24 April 2017
Simtee Few, 32, from Harlow, Essex, developed flu-like symptoms days after a family gathering in July 2015. Doctors eventually diagnosed her with Lyme disease after a year of testing. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Monday 24 April 2017
(University of California - Santa Cruz) Scientists have built a large body of knowledge about Lyme disease over the past 40 years, yet controversies remain and the number of cases continues to rise. In the United States, reported cases of Lyme disease, which is transmitted from wild animals to humans by tick bites, have tripled in the past 20 years. A multitude of interacting factors are driving the increase in Lyme disease cases, but their relative importance remains unclear. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Monday 24 April 2017
Conclusion: LB leads to a substantial societal cost. Further research should therefore focus on additional preventive interventions. (Source: The European Journal of Public Health)
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Monday 24 April 2017
We present a case of neuroretinitis as presenting and the only presentation of Lyme disease in a 25-year-old female who visited hilly areas in the Himalayas of North India. She presented with right eye sudden and painless blurring of vision. Her vision at presentation was 20/60. She had fundus examination; fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging showed classical features of neuroretinitis. No other organ was involved. Oral steroids were prescribed and relevant investigations sent for noninfective and infective causes. Worsened visual acuity (VA) to hand movement and positive IgM titers for Borrelia burgdorferi led to the diagnosis of Lyme disease-associated neuroretinitis. Treatment with oral doxycycline plus oral steroids for 4 weeks revealed VA...
Monday 24 April 2017
Listen: Mayo Clinic Radio 4/22/17 On the Mayo Clinic Radio podcast, orthopedic surgeon?Dr. Norman Turner III?discusses treatment for common foot problems and ways to prevent them. Also on the program, parasitologist Dr. Bobbi Pritt has an update on the Lyme disease predictions for 2017. And critical care physician and sleep medicine expert Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler?tries [...] (Source: News from Mayo Clinic)
Sunday 23 April 2017
Canadian Journal of Zoology, e-First Articles. Ixodes scapularis Say, 1821 (the black-legged tick) is becoming established in Canada. The northwards expansion of I. scapularis leads to contact between I. scapularis and Ixodes cookei Packard, 1869, a well-established tick species in Eastern Canada. Examination of I. cookei and I. scapularis collected from New Brunswick revealed ticks with ambiguous morphologies, with either a mixture or intermediate traits typical of I. scapularis and I. cookei, including in characteristics typically used as species identifiers. Genetic analysis to determine if these ticks represent hybrids revealed that four had I. cookei derived mitochondrial DNA but I. scapularis nuclear DNA. In one case, the nuclear sequence showed evidence of heterozygosity for I. scap...
Saturday 22 April 2017
When my son Dan was diagnosed with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, his psychiatrist informed me and my husband that Dan was “borderline psychotic.” In other words, our son was out of touch with reality. For most people, psychosis usually presents in one of two ways: Hallucinations – consist of seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not actually there. A common example is hearing voices. Delusions – consist of beliefs that are not likely to be true and that seem irrational or nonsensical to other people. A typical example involves believing that outside forces are controlling your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. At the time we were told of our son’s issues, my thoughts immediately turned to schizophrenia, as that is the illness typically associated with psychosis. A...
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Saturday 22 April 2017
Summary Lyme disease (LD) is a common tick‐borne disease in New Hampshire (NH). While LD is a reportable condition and cases are counted for public health surveillance, many more people receive care for tick bites or diagnoses of LD than are reflected in surveillance data. NH's emergency department (ED) data system was queried for tick bite and LD‐related encounters. Chief complaint text was queried for words related to LD or tick bites. International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision (ICD‐9) codes were queried for the LD diagnosis code (088.81). Emergency department patient data were matched to reportable disease data to determine the proportion of ED patients reported to the health department as a suspected LD case. Data were analysed to calculate frequencies for key demograp...
Thursday 20 April 2017
Adam Garkowski, Joanna Zajkowska, Agata Zajkowska, Alina Ku łakowska, Olga Zajkowska, Bożena Kubas, Dorota Jurgilewicz, Marcin Hładuński, Urszula Łebkowska (Source: Frontiers in Neurology)
Thursday 20 April 2017
Lyme disease is among the most common vector-borne illnesses in North America, Europe, and some parts of Asia. A spirochete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi causes the disease, and blacklegged ticks are responsible for the majority of North American transmissions. In a new paper, researchers present a mathematical model of Lyme disease that incorporates seasonality and climate factors. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Thursday 20 April 2017
Celeste Clancy, 28, from, Georgia, contracted Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick during a trip two years ago. It caused her to suffer from uncontrollable shaking and stroke-like symptoms. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Thursday 20 April 2017
(Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics) Lyme disease is among the most common vector-borne illnesses in North America, Europe, and some parts of Asia. A spirochete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi causes the disease, and blacklegged ticks are responsible for the majority of North American transmissions. In a paper publishing next week in the SIAM Journal on Applied Dynamical Systems, Xiunan Wang and Xiao-Qiang Zhao present a mathematical model of Lyme disease that incorporates seasonality and climate factors. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Thursday 20 April 2017
Xuwu Xiang, Youyun Yang, Jimei Du, Tianyu Lin, Tong Chen, X. Frank Yang, Yongliang Lou (Source: Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology)
Thursday 20 April 2017
CONCLUSION: The current study further validates that the monovalent and multivalent LB vaccines result in mild local side effects and self-limiting systemic adverse effects, with the multivalent vaccine slightly more tolerable than the monovalent one. Both vaccine classes were similarly highly immunogenic. A new vaccine with high safety standards, better efficacy, low cost, and public acceptance is yet to be developed. Meanwhile, personal protection limiting exposure to ticks is recommended. PMID: 28425901 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Canadian Journal of Public Health)
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Wednesday 19 April 2017
Regarding the article entitled “Errancy on Lyme Diagnosis,”1 we want to add some comments regarding the therapy issues in Lyme disease we mentioned in response to Goddard's article.2 (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Wednesday 19 April 2017
I thank Perronne et al for their thoughtful response to my brief observation, “Not All Erythema Migrans Lesions Are Lyme Disease,” published in the September issue of The American Journal of Medicine.1 The authors point out that there may be issues with serologic tests for Lyme disease, leading to false-negatives . Incidentally, other readers also have responded to my original article by e-mail, saying that Lyme disease is present—even widespread—in the southern United States and that this article does a disservice both to patients and to physicians alike. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Wednesday 19 April 2017
We read with great interest the article by Goddard,1 “Not All Erythema Migrans Lesions Are Lyme Disease,” in the September issue of The American Journal of Medicine and congratulate the authors. Erythema migrans usually is easily diagnosed, making serology useless. However, according to the author's study, all erythema migrans lesions might not be due to the agent of Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Tuesday 18 April 2017
LYME DISEASE cases are set to soar in the UK - an expert has warned. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by ticks, but few people know the symptoms of the condition - which (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Monday 17 April 2017
Researchers at Yale University found perceived risk of contracting Lyme disease causes many in the northeast United States to skip going outside. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)
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Monday 17 April 2017
(Natural News) Biologists say that 2017 is going to be a big year for Lyme disease, and that the condition could ravage the United States and other parts of North America. The culprit? An explosion in mice populations across the country, but particularly in the Northeast. But what do mice have to do with Lyme... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Monday 17 April 2017
(Yale School of Forestry& Environmental Studies) In a new study, Yale researchers find that perceived risks of contracting Lyme disease on average cause a person in the Northeast to forego eight 73-minute outdoor trips per year -- exacting a total cost roughly $2.8 billion to $5 billion annually in the densely populated region. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:AIDP following Lyme infection is a rare entity that should be considered in patients who present with findings atypical for CNS Lyme Disease, such as a progressive weakness or symmetric loss of reflexes despite antibiotic therapy.Disclosure: Dr. Li has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hocquard has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sorenson has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
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Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:This case highlights how Lyme disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis for multiple cranial neuropathies. Further, as prior case reports of CNS Lyme patients have shown polyclonal and monoclonal lymphocyte expansion, this case demonstrates the diagnostic uncertainty regarding whether flow cytometry reflects a reactive process to infection or a new lymphoma. Treatment with antibiotics and clinical improvement helped to clarify the etiology in this case.Disclosure: Dr. Perrone has nothing to disclose. Dr. Xu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ganguly has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kurowski has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mullen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pruitt has received research support from Teva. (Source: Neurology)
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Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:This study documents worse clinical outcomes and significantly increased mortality in the hospitalized patients with community acquired pneumonia and associated cerebrovascular disease.Disclosure: Dr. SirDeshpande has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kolikonda has nothing to disclose. Dr. Peyrani has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ramirez has nothing to disclose. Dr. Arnold has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wiemken has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:The current clinical observation serves to remind clinicians of the challenges faced in diagnosing brain ring-enhancing lesions, especially in patients with pre-existing brain disorders. Furthermore, it highlights the difficulty in treating invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised hosts. More studies are needed to establish the incidence and clinical course of invasive fungal infections in patients with sarcoidosis and infliximab therapy.Disclosure: Dr. Van Sanford has nothing to disclose. Dr. Obeidat has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zabeti has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen, Genzyme, and Acorda Therapeutics as a speaker. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Diagnostic approach to bilateral FNP should evaluate for: traumatic (skull fractures), infectious (classically Lyme disease), metabolic (diabetes), autoimmune (sarcoidosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome), congenital (Moebius syndrome) and neoplastic (brainstem tumors) entities. WM is a rare cause, a condition due to low-grade B cell lymphoma where lymphoplasmacytoid cells infiltrate different tissues and secrete monoclonal IgM. Peripheral neuropathy develops in 15–30% of the cases, usually a chronic, progressive, symmetric, predominantly distal polyneuropathy. Facial nerve impairment is unusual, caused by anoxic damage as a result of an increased blood viscosity from IgM monoclonal gammopathy, direct nerve infiltration of tumorous cells and an antibody (anti-MAG) mediate...
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:With this review we intend to demonstrate the wide range of neurological symptoms that LN can cause, and enhance that epidemiological context and clinical suspicion are important factors to the diagnosis.Disclosure: Dr. Espírito Santo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Almendra has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mendes has nothing to disclose. Dr. Veiga has nothing to disclose. Dr. Costa has nothing to disclose. Dr. Velon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Guimarães has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:While back pain is a common symptom following LP, physicians should also be aware of discitis as a rare, but potential, complication in patients with persistent pain even in the absence of focal neurological deficits and laboratory abnormalities. Our case also supports the hypothesis that multiple attempts during an LP may be a risk factor for post-LP discitis.Disclosure: Dr. Doherty has nothing to disclose. Dr. Saylor has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Silent neuritis should be recognized early to prevent leprosy disability, and it is based on clinical parameters. NCS is a sensitive tool to study leprous nerve damage. It can provide information concerning clinically undetected alterations. Most recent studies have conveyed the idea that early electrophysiological changes of leprosy patients are discordant from the initiation and type of the predominant injury, which is considered by most authors as demyelination. If treatment with corticosteroids is indicated to prevent further disability in these cases is a question that remains to be answered. A better comprehension about the physiopathology of leprosy neuropathy and its follow up is necessary to better clarify this question.Disclosure: Dr. Pitta has nothing to disclose. Dr...
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:An emerging condition, acute opthalmoparesis without ataxia and/or areflexia, was described in a handful of publications as "atypical MFS.4" The diagnostic criteria include acute onset of opthalmoplegia, presence of anti GQ1B IgG, and exclusion of other causes3. Other neurological symptoms such as blepharoptosis, bilateral facial paresis, and oropharyngeal palsy have been demonstrated with this condition.4 IVIG and plasmapharesis are not yet a well established treatment5. The diagnosis of acute opthalmoparesis without ataxia and/or areflexia underscores the vast clinical presentations associated with Gq1b spectrum disorders1.Disclosure: Dr. Suresh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schutt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tumkur has nothing to disclose. Dr. Suradi has nothing to disclose....
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Neuroimaging findings of neurosyphilis commonly are cerebral infarctions, leptomeningeal enhancement or nonspecific white matter lesions. Less common features on a fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences are cortical atrophy and mesial temporal parenchymal signal changes. It is prudent to keep Neurosyphilis in differential of mesial temporal lobe white matter changes as early diagnosis and treatment results in better prognosis.Study Supported by: NoneDisclosure: Dr. Tiwana has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ahmed has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:This study provides an overview of NNICU acquired VAP that could help clinicians while treating such patients by early identification of those at risk and wisely choosing antibiotic regimen.Disclosure: Dr. Mehndiratta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nayak has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ali has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:This case highlights the importance of considering acute CMV infection in the differential of transverse myelitis. The patient received a course of oral steroids shortly before onset of symptoms which may have influenced the course of the illness and explained the lack of enhancement on MRI. It also highlights the benefit of prompt treatment with appropriate anti-viral agents to ensure resolution.Disclosure: Dr. O'Donnell has nothing to disclose. Dr. Iyer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Togher has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nduwke has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tubridy has received research support from Bayer-Schering, the Health Research Board of Ireland and MS Ireland. Dr. Feeney has received personal compensation for activities with Gilead and Abbvie as an Advisory Board Member. Dr...
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Mycoplasma infection should be considered in cases of brainstem skew deviation with associated encephalitis. In these cases, administration of azithromycin and IvIG can lead to rapid clinical improvement.Disclosure: Dr. Lin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Levin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gupta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Urday has nothing to disclose. Dr. Albin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Venna has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Although mechanical causes are high in the differential diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy, Lyme disease is well-known to have symptoms of radiculitis and should be considered in the assessment of cervical pain. A typical early syndrome due to neuroborreliosis has been characterized as a triad of the symptoms mentioned above including radicular pain, cranial or peripheral paresis, and lymphocytic meningitis and is called "Bannwarths syndrome" (Bannwarth, 1941).Disclosure: Dr. Hannoun has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gudin has received personal compensation for activities with Purdue, Endo, Astra Zeneca, Daiichi Sankyo, Collegium, and Kaleo Pharmaceuticals as a consultant. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:This case establishes the importance of clinical reasoning. Neurological exam suggested multilevel radiculopathy/plexopathy. Normal SNAPS argue against plexopathy, MRI, and CSF analysis confirmed the diagnosis of secondary CNS lymphoma invading the meninges and nerve roots.Disclosure: Dr. Datta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Roy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Meira Benchaya has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boland has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:This case series illustrates important features currently attributed to neurosyphilis, which remains an important disease in Neurology, especially in some epidemiological risk groups.Disclosure: Dr. Borges has nothing to disclose. Dr. Germiniani has nothing to disclose. Dr. Koslyk has nothing to disclose. Dr. Teive has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Focal neurologic deficits are not a common early presentation of IE. The visual field cut in this case was typical for a retinal artery occlusion and represented an embolic event. The diplopiawas likely caused by the thalamic infarct, with involvement of the corticomesencephalic tract. In characteristic fashion for IE, time required for bacterial culture growth was lengthy. Prompt recognition of focal deficits in a patient with signs and symptoms of systemic inflammation may allow for earlier recognition of IE.Study Supported by:Disclosure: Dr. Stephens has nothing to disclose. Dr. Frattalone has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:LE is an uncommon manifestation of neurosyphilis requiring prompt recognition and treatment. It can present with a clinical syndrome and MRI appearance similar to other causes of LE. In contrast to autoimmune/paraneoplastic LE, brain PET imaging reveals hypometabolism of the affected temporal lobe and may be a useful adjunct.Disclosure: Dr. Al-Louzi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mason has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rondeau has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rubin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lyons has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bhattacharyya has received personal compensation for activities with Advance Medical. (Source: Neurology)
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Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Our case demonstrates that rapidly progressive acute axonal polyneuropathy is a serious neurological manifestation of porphyria and if not diagnosed early, can lead to irreversible axonal injury and severe disability. This diagnosis should be considered in all cases of acute ascending weakness with minimal sensory deficits when electrodiagnostic features of demyelination are lacking.Disclosure: Dr. Sharma has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kumbham has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sahaya has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sasapu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gundogdu has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:New-onset focal neurological deficits in immunocompromised patients with basal ganglia and cerebellar lesions may be infectious or neoplastic in etiology. Previously described pathogens associated with this presentation include Cryptoccocus, Candida, Toxoplasmosis, Mycobacterium, Coccidioides, Nocardia, and Listeria. Our case demonstrates unusual microbiology, with Klebsiella and Curvularia species as likely causative organisms. Awareness of these uncommon causes of CNS infection may allow for more prompt diagnosis and treatment.Disclosure: Dr. Das has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pohlen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kass has received personal compensation for activities as an expert witness in litigation. Dr. Kass has received personal compensation as a speaker at non-commercial CM...
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Our patient shows a chronological dissociation of Tolosa-Hunt clinical features but otherwise he fits ICHD-3 criteria for Tolosa-Hunt syndrome. This case teach us to think about this rare syndrome if the patient develops a typical pain after the presentation of the oftalmoplegia when other causes have been appropriately excluded and the response to corticoid therapy is rapid and complete.Disclosure: Dr. Pire has nothing to disclose. Dr. Villa has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pareja has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lillo has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
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Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:By education and restricted use initiatives, inappropriate CSF Lyme PCR testing for diagnosing neuroborreliosis was significantly affected. This initiative led to reduced healthcare costs for the institution and patient while improving evidence based medical practices.Disclosure: Dr. Vanino has nothing to disclose. Dr. Baldwin has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusion:CNS manifestations are relatively common in patients with HME but GBS has not been previously reported. Our case illustrates the importance of a high index of clinical suspicion which will facilitate early diagnosis and initiate timely therapy, thus avoiding potentially life-threatening complications.Background:Not applicableDesign/Methods:Not applicableResults:Not applicableConclusions:Not applicableDisclosure: Dr. Zhu, MD has nothing to disclose. Dr. Arukala, MD has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sheikh, MD has nothing to disclose. Dr. Uprety, MD has nothing to disclose. Dr. McCrary, MD has nothing to disclose. Dr. Silverman, MD has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cranston, MD has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Based on literature review, the transient splenial lesion of corpus callosum has never been reported in patients with CNS tuberculosis. The mechanisms underlying transient splenial lesions may due to intramyelinic edema and inflammatory cell infiltration. This hypothesis supported by the MR spectroscopy findings in our patient. Since early diagnosis and treatment can reduce mortality and morbidity, patients with isolated splenial lesion warrant diagnostic tests for CNS tuberculosis.Study Supported by:The authors report no disclosures relevant to the manuscript.Disclosure: Dr. Wu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chen has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
We describe a patient with subacute radiculopoliomyelitis-myelitis matching the selective involvement of the anterior horns and roots of the cervical spinal cord seen on MRI and on electrodiagnostic studies. We demonstrate positive CSF Lyme antibodies and document a near-complete recovery with antibiotics. This case highlights the importance of recognizing an atypical presentation of Lyme disease in the setting of initial radiculitis and or myelitis, particularly given the potential for favorable outcomes with appropriate treatment. (Source: Journal of the Neurological Sciences)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Infectious myositis should be considered in a patient with febrile focal myositis. Although uncommon, TB can infect muscle in immunocompromised patients before typical pulmonary manifestations.Disclosure: Dr. Stein has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Zhou has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Zika can induce GBS after a brief viral illness. Neuropathy can be a mixture of demyelinating and axonal. Dysautonomia may also be present including severe dysphagia, orthostatics and retention.Zika RNA has a short detection window in serum and CSF making a diagnosis time sensitive. Serological assays using IgM and IgG cross-react with other flaviviruses making them unable to differentiate between recent Zika exposure and cross reactivity with Dengue and Chikungunya. Our pt likely had prior exposure to Dengue, being from an endemic area. Prior Dengue exposure may possibly modulate the response to Zika via antibody dependent enhancement or via unknown immune mechanisms.Disclosure: Dr. Tantillo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sclar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vasa has nothing to di...
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:TB meningitis is a severe and frequently fatal cause of meningitis and vasculopathy. While well characterized and often on the initial differential for chronic meningitis, it is rarely encountered as a cause of acute meningitis in an immunocompetent population in the US. In this particular case rapid progression and likely secondary vasculopathy with brainstem infarcts precluded timely diagnosis and directed treatment.Disclosure: Dr. Utigard has nothing to disclose. Dr. Katyshev has nothing to disclose. Dr. Isada has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dani has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
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Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Knowledge of NP characteristics could be used to develop more effective therapeutic approaches for a pain condition that is notoriously difficult to treat.Disclosure: Dr. Giesel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pitta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Silveira has nothing to disclose. Dr. Andrade has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vital has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sarno has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jardim has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:This case highlights the importance of early recognition of VKHS syndrome in patients who present with focal neurological signs associated with a history of ocular disease and cutaneous findings. VKH is considered a severe inflammatory disease that requires prompt recognition and early initiation of immunosuppresive treatment to preserve visual acuity. Early diagnosis can facilitate appropriate tailoring of therapy for recurrent episodes which can occur in as many as 25% of patients with VKH syndrome.Disclosure: Dr. Lai has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pyburn has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
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Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:In this series, EVD tract hemorrhage was associated more often with gram negative ventriculitis. This finding needs to be further studied in larger cohorts to determine whether patients with EVD tract hemorrhages should be on gram negative specific antibiotic prophylaxis.Disclosure: Dr. Feng has nothing to disclose. Dr. Chartrain has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kim has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sobotka has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pain has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dangayach has nothing to disclose. Dr. Mayer has received personal compensation for activities with Bard Medical. Dr. Gordon has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
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Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Neuroinfections can masquerade as dementia and strong suspicion should be there while evaluating dementia especially in endemic regions. In our study SSPE, PML and Neurosyphilis were the most common infectious causes of dementiaDisclosure: Dr. Patil has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vishnu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Naheed has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goyal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Modi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lal has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Together, our results suggest that understanding the regulatory pathways associated with IL-6 could be an interesting lead to novel therapeutic strategies for neuropathic pain in leprosy patients.Disclosure: Dr. Jardim has nothing to disclose. Dr. Silveira has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pitta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Giesel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Andrade has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vital has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sarno has nothing to disclose. Dr. Olmo has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Antibiotic treatment for S. pneumoniae meningitis correlated with improvement in clinical status and TCD hemodynamics. Serial TCDs may be a potentially useful strategy in the management of bacterial meningitis.Disclosure: Dr. Idris has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tai has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tan has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
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Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Tetanus is a clinical diagnosis and its incidence is on the decline in developed countries like U.S. It is thus important to know the epidemiology, presentation, management and prognosis. Clear delineation of tetanus spasms with seizure spells is required for effective management.Disclosure: Dr. Kolikonda has nothing to disclose. Dr. Doddamani has nothing to disclose. Dr. Khattak has nothing to disclose. Dr. Palade has received personal compensation for activities with BlueCross BlueShield as an advisory board member. Dr. Jayakumar has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Spinal cord compression from extradural/extramedullary lesions has a broad differential even for patients with tuberculosis. This case presented with radiological and pathological findings that were atypical for spinal tuberculosis. In case of idiopathic inflammatory compression myelopathy, surgical intervention with close monitoring is warranted to improve functional outcome.Disclosure: Dr. Agashe has nothing to disclose. Dr. Fang has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:There was no report describing CIDP related to leprosy reverse reaction in the literature. This case could be attributed to cell injury caused by type 1reaction that exposed the neural antigens and incited an autoimmune reaction.Disclosure: Dr. Andrade has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vital has nothing to disclose. Dr. Pitta has nothing to disclose. Dr. Silveira has nothing to disclose. Dr. Giesel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Olmo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sarno has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jardim has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Monday 17 April 2017
Conclusions:Focal thickening and enhancement of affected cranial nerve is seen in the majority of pediatric ROCN. These findings are best seen with thin MRI cuts and gadolinium infusion. Recognizing this pattern is important in establishing the diagnosis.Disclosure: Dr. Alawadhi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Saint-Martin has nothing to disclose. Dr. Oskoui has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Saturday 15 April 2017
LYME DISEASE is a bacteria infection spread to human when they are bitten by an infected tick. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Friday 14 April 2017
We describe the case of fulminant myocarditis due to Lyme disease and use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for the treatment of the Lyme carditis associated with refractory cardiogenic shock. Fulminant Lyme myocarditis in young adult male patient led to a sudden onset of acute, severe biventricular heart failure with progressive cardiogenic shock, and multiorgan failure immediately after admission. PMID: 28409501 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Croatian Medical Journal)
Friday 14 April 2017
We describe a case of bilateral simultaneous facial nerve palsy associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in a 3-year-old boy. Several symptoms led to the diagnosis of EBV infection: the clinical situation (fever, stomachache, and throat infection), white blood cell count (5300/mm(3) with 70% lymphocyte count), seroconversion with EBV-specific antibodies, lymphocytic meningitis, and a positive blood EBV polymerase chain reaction (9.3×10(3) copies of EBV-DNA). An MRI brain scan showed bilateral gadolinium enhancement of the facial nerve. A treatment plan with IV antibiotics (ceftriaxone) and corticosteroids was implemented. Antibiotics were stopped after the diagnosis of Lyme disease was ruled out. The patient's facial weakness improved within a few weeks. Bilateral facial nerve p...
Thursday 13 April 2017
IN the run up to the Easter bank holiday, pet owners across the UK are being warned of a potential increase in the risk of their pet picking up a tick. Bayer Animal Health says that a favourable spring climate allows ticks to begin feeding earlier and for longer throughout the year. This increase in tick activity could lead to a greater risk of zoonotic diseases such as Lyme disease. ‘Easter time is perfect parasite season,’ said Jenny Helm, a veterinary clinician from the University of Glasgow. ‘Tick bites are painful, irritating and can cause anxiety as well as distress to our pets. It's important for pet owners to be aware that tick bites can lead to other more harmful problems such as anaemia especially in young dogs.’ Bayer is also warning that increased pet tr...
Tuesday 11 April 2017
Marie Vancov á, Nataliia Rudenko, Jiří Vaněček, Maryna Golovchenko, Martin Strnad, Ryan O. M. Rego, Lucie Tichá, Libor Grubhoffer, Jana Nebesářová (Source: Frontiers in Microbiology)
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Tuesday 11 April 2017
Authors: Ohn J, Park SY, Moon J, Choe YS, Kim KH Abstract Morgellons disease is a rare disease with unknown etiology. Herein, we report the first case of Morgellons disease in Korea. A 30-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of pruritic erythematous patches and erosions on the arms, hands, and chin. She insisted that she had fiber-like materials under her skin, which she had observed through a magnifying device. We performed skin biopsy, and observed a fiber extruding from the dermal side of the specimen. Histopathological examination showed only mild lymphocytic infiltration, and failed to reveal evidence of any microorganism. The polymerase chain reaction for Borrelia burgdorferi was negative in her serum. PMID: 28392653 [PubMed] (Source: Annals of Dermatology)
Monday 10 April 2017
(University of Massachusetts at Amherst) The LMZ at UMass Amherst earned a two-year, renewable contract for up to $112,000 per year to test several thousand ticks for six bacterial and one protozoan pathogen using DNA-based assays. UMass Amherst microbiology professor and LMZ director Stephen Rich says these tests will detect the pathogens that cause Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis, among others. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Monday 10 April 2017
(Source: International Journal of General Medicine)
Monday 10 April 2017
CONCLUSION: Healthcare practitioners should have a high index of suspicion for Lyme disease following travel in the areas shown, particularly in the summer months. The authors suggest that patients presenting with facial palsy should be tested for Lyme disease. PMID: 28396367 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The British Journal of General Practice)
Saturday 8 April 2017
Authors: Yaldiz M, Erdem T, Dilek FH PMID: 28387204 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Hong Kong Medical Journal)
Friday 7 April 2017
As the spring weather approaches, many common winter infections recede. However, warmer temperatures can introduce a new set of health challenges. As trees and flowers bloom and grass grows, susceptible children will start to display symptoms of seasonal allergies, triggering flares of asthma and eczema. And, As children spend more time outdoors, parents also need to watch for exposure to ticks, poison ivy and excess sun. Here are a few tips to keeping your child healthy this spring. Seasonal allergies: What can you do? During allergy season: have your child bathe after spending time outdoors to remove allergens from the skin and reduce symptoms keep your child with bad allergies indoors on days with high-pollen counts close windows and turn on air conditioning to help remove allerg...
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Monday 3 April 2017
Discussion Inflammation of the middle layer of the eye, or uvea, is termed uveitis. Uveitis can be divided into anterior, intermediate or posterior uveitis by involving the anterior (iris and ciliary body), intermediate (vitreous) or posterior (choroid and usually retina) compartments. Panuveitis involves all 3 compartments. Duration can also be used to classify uveitis. Acute is 6 weeks and > 3 months is chronic persistent uveitis. Episodic periods of inactivity and reactivity that last more than 3 months are called recurrent uveitis. A third way to characterize uveitis is if it is granulomatous or not. Uveitis increases with age with the highest incidence and prevalence in > 65 year olds. Only ~10% of uveitis occurs in the pediatric age group. Uveitis can be difficult to identify i...
Saturday 1 April 2017
Authors: Loh SM, Gillett A, Ryan U, Irwin P, Oskam C Abstract Recently, a novel species of the genus Borreliawas identified in Bothriocroton concolor and Ixodes holocyclus ticks from echidnas. Analyses of 16S rRNA and flaB genes identified three closely related genotypes of this bacterium (Borrelia sp. Aus A-C) that were unique and distinct from previously described borreliae. Phylogenetic analyses of flaB (763 bp), groEL (1537 bp), gyrB (1702 bp) and glpQ (874 bp) gene sequences and concatenated sequences (3585 bp) of three gene loci (16S rRNA, flaB and gyrB) were consistent with previous findings and confirm that this novel species of the genus Borrelia is more closely related to, yet distinct from, the Reptile-associated (REP) and Relapsing Fever (RF) groups. At the fl...
Saturday 1 April 2017
Publication date: 1 April 2017 Source:New Scientist, Volume 234, Issue 3119 Author(s): Chelsea Whyte Lyme disease is set to explode in the US this year, and there's no vaccine. How worried should you be, asks Chelsea Whyte (Source: New Scientist)
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Saturday 1 April 2017
A 49-year-old man from Minnesota presented to the emergency department in October with acute-onset diplopia and a 1-month history of progressive erythematous rash (Figure 1), fatigue, and myalgias. Pertinent exposure history included tick removal from his outdoor cat 1 month previously. On presentation, his vital signs were stable, and results of a complete blood cell count and electrolyte panel were unremarkable. Electrocardiography revealed new second-degree Mobi tz type I heart block (Supplemental Figure 1, available online at http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org). (Source: Mayo Clinic Proceedings)
Wednesday 29 March 2017
A new prediction says 2017 and 2018 will see major Lyme disease outbreaks in new areas. This could lead to lifelong health consequences, so where's the vaccine? (Source: New Scientist - Health)
Wednesday 29 March 2017
A new prediction says 2017 and 2018 will see major Lyme disease outbreaks in new areas. This could lead to lifelong health consequences, so where's the vaccine? (Source: New Scientist - Health)
Monday 27 March 2017
Title: Lyme Disease Is on the RiseCategory: Doctor's& Expert's views on SymptomsCreated: 4/29/2000 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 3/27/2017 12:00:00 AM (Source: MedicineNet Arthritis General)
Monday 27 March 2017
Title: Lyme Disease Quiz: Symptoms& SignsCategory: MedicineNet QuizCreated: 6/15/2010 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 3/27/2017 1:47:19 PM (Source: MedicineNet Arthritis General)
Monday 27 March 2017
(Source: Journal of Neurology)
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Thursday 23 March 2017
The objective of this study was to identify local abiotic and biotic factors of significance for the invasion of I. scapularis in Ontario. The presence of ticks was determined by drag sampling at 154 sites in southern, eastern and central Ontario from May to October in 2014 and 2015. At each site, data on site aspect, forest cover, understory density and composition, soil moisture and composition, and the depth of litter layer were collected. Cumulative degree days above zero °C, total precipitation and elevation were attributed to each site using a geographic information system. A mixed multi-variable logistic regression model was created to assess the impact of the ecological factors on the presence of I. scapularis. In total, I. scapularis was found at 29 sites (18.8%) across the study...
Wednesday 22 March 2017
CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results show that the pheasants had developed antibodies to the investigated tick-borne agents. For this reason, they seem to be involved in the epidemiology of the studied tick-borne bacteria. PMID: 28378988 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Tuesday 21 March 2017
Global warming already widens the footprint of Lyme disease while Zika virus exacerbates asthma and lung diseases and increases the risks posed by violent weather and wildfires. Now, new research suggests rising temperatures lead to a surge in diagnoses of type-2 diabetes. The study, published Monday in the BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, compared annual average temperatures across the United States from 1996 to 2009 with reported new cases of type-2 diabetes. The disease, which typically develops later in life, prevents the body from absorbing glucose needed to produce energy. In particularly hot years, the number of new diagnoses spiked. “When it gets warmer, there is higher incidence of diabetes,” Lisanne Blauw, the study’s co-author and a PhD candidate at the N...
Tuesday 21 March 2017
In conclusion, co-infections with various pathogens in D. reticulatus ticks seem to be relatively rare and mostly not significant. PMID: 28378977 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Friday 17 March 2017
This piece by Michelle Marie Wallace originally appeared on The Establishment, an independent multimedia site founded and run by women. “Maybe I should stop my periods.” It wasn’t something I had ever before considered and I had, in fact, wondered if there could be potential, unknown, long-term ramifications when friends of mine stopped theirs. I had never considered my periods an inconvenience or gross or annoying; in fact, I had liked the rhythm of them. The times I had been on birth control I resented how it made me feel divorced from my body. When I asked this question, I was sitting in my doctor’s office, nine months into antiviral treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, 11 years after starting treatment for Lyme disease. The previous year had be...
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Thursday 16 March 2017
Cases of Lyme disease in Michigan have risen dramatically in recent years, and a new study links that trend to larger and more widespread tick populations. Researchers collected data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on 1,057 Lyme disease cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2014, and aligned them with a new analysis of tick distribution across the state. Results showed that not only did the number of yearly infections in the state increase significantly over the 15-year period, but so did the number of counties where ticks had been seen, or found to be established. And the number of infected people may be much higher than the records indicate, the researchers said. Because Lyme disease is frequently misdiagnosed as other illnesses, reported cases likely represent only ...
Wednesday 15 March 2017
For SELF, by Amy Marturana. Regardless of your skin type, chances are you’ve had an itchy, red, bumpy rash at one time or another. It’s like the international sign of skin irritation. If it’s not affecting your daily life or covering whole body, and you’re not feeling sick otherwise, chances are it’s nothing to worry about and will clear up on its own, Rebecca Kazin, M.D., dermatologist and associate director at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery, tells SELF. Treating it with over-the-counter hydrocortisone itch relief cream until it goes away may be sufficient. “But if it lasts for over two weeks, or goes away and comes back” or if your itch cream is not bringing you relief, it’s a good idea to visit your dermatologist &...
Wednesday 15 March 2017
One morning in July 2011, Samantha Ahdoot’s 9-year-old son, Isaac, grabbed his clarinet, trekked up the hilly road to the bus stop and set off for another day at the band camp near his home in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. Within an hour, Ahdoot’s phone rang: Isaac had collapsed and was en route to the emergency room on a stretcher. Her otherwise healthy son suffered heat exhaustion and dehydration from the blistering heat of a summer that regularly broke temperature records. July alone shattered two daytime high temperature records in just the D.C. area. Concerned, Ahdoot, a pediatrician, volunteered to be camp physician. As temperatures soared, she was forced to cut soccer games short and limit campers to swimming and indoor activities. “That was the experience ...
Monday 13 March 2017
The human face of climate change is its impact on our health. Higher temperatures intensify air pollution and respiratory illness. Changing weather patterns lead to drought and then famine, while increasing rains in other areas will create the breeding ground for disease and pandemics. While the policy changes needed to blunt climate change are surely substantial, the cost of ignoring the science behind climate change will be felt through its harmful effects on our health. Recently, the CDC cancelled its Climate and Health Summit out of fear of retribution from the Trump administration. Working with Al Gore and others, Harvard worked to revive the meeting, which was held in Atlanta on February 16. This meeting reminded us that universities have a unique responsibility that we ensure ...
Sunday 12 March 2017
Dr. Conover, a chemist, developed tetracycline, a powerful chemically altered antibiotic with fewer side effects than the drug from which it was derived. (Source: NYT Health)
Sunday 12 March 2017
Researchers are saying this year is shaping up to be another big Lyme disease season in Vermont (Source: ABC News: Health)
Saturday 11 March 2017
The world is seeing more and more new diseases, and the U.S. is no exception. We're living in a hot spot for tick-borne diseases. Some are deadly. The key to stopping them may be an unlikely critter.(Image credit: Kayana Szymczak for NPR) (Source: NPR Health and Science)
Friday 10 March 2017
This reporting is brought to you by HuffPost’s health and science platform, The Scope. Like us on Facebook and Twitter and tell us your story: scopestories@huffingtonpost.com. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. (Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post)
Thursday 9 March 2017
Lyme disease (LD) is the most common vector-borne illness in North America. Reported cases of LD have increased from approximately 10,000 cases annually in 1991 to>25,000 cases in 2014. Greater recognition, enhanced surveillance, and public education have contributed to the increased prevalence, as have geographic expansion and the number of infected ticks. Cases are reported primarily in the Northeastern United States, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, with children having the highest incidence of LD among all age groups. (Source: The Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Wednesday 8 March 2017
8 hours ago ... Experts expect an increase in Lyme disease cases due to an influx of infected ticks. Lyme disease, if untreated, can lead to fever and joint pain. (Source: AARP.org News)
Tuesday 7 March 2017
Authors: Scott JD, Foley JE, Anderson JF, Clark KL, Durden LA Abstract We document the presence of blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, in the Grand River valley, Centre Wellington, Ontario. Overall, 15 (36%) of 42 I. scapularis adults collected from 41 mammalian hosts (dogs, cats, humans) were positive for the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.). Using real-time PCR testing and DNA sequencing of the flagellin (fla) gene, we determined that Borrelia amplicons extracted from I. scapularis adults belonged to B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), which is pathogenic to humans and certain domestic animals. Based on the distribution of I. scapularis adults within the river basin, it appears likely that migratory birds provide an annual influx of I. scapularis ...
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Tuesday 7 March 2017
European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are urban dwellers and host both Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes hexagonus. These ticks transmit several zoonotic pathogens like Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato), Anaplasma pha... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Monday 6 March 2017
Ray, from Sussex, has suffered from several serious illnesses including Lyme disease and malaria during his expeditions for programmes such as 'Ray Mears' Bushcraft' and 'World of Survival'. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Monday 6 March 2017
One scientist is predicting a risky year for tick-borne Lyme disease in the Northeast, and it's spreading. But don't panic. We've got tips.(Image credit: Stephen Reiss for NPR) (Source: NPR Health and Science)
Monday 6 March 2017
Lyme disease is spreading, and this summer is shaping up as a whopper. Why has the tick-borne illness gotten so bad? The answer traces back to something the colonists did more than 200 years ago.(Image credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) (Source: NPR Health and Science)
Monday 6 March 2017
Discussion Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a Flavivirae, arbovirus that is endemic to many areas of Asia and the Pacific. It is estimated to affect ~70,000 people/year with ~10-15,000 deaths yearly in 20 countries, with a fatality rate of 35-40%. It can cause encephalitis and irreversible neurological morbidity. JEV is spread by Culex mosquitos which feed on swine. Increased environmental temperature and increased humidity (warm air is more moist) increases mosquito numbers, their survivability and ultimate dissemination. China has the highest rates of JEV with particular areas being more prone, as some areas co-farm rice and swine and the families live closely to the rice paddies and livestock which encourages transmission. JEV’s range has expanded over the past few decades inc...
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Monday 6 March 2017
Everyone agrees that ticks are exceedingly nasty creatures. For hundreds of millions of years, they have survived on Earth by sucking blood from their victims for days, often leaving behind terrible diseases as a thank-you note. In humans, these diseases include many unpleasant and dangerous illnesses, such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, babesiosis, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, and tularemia, to name a few. (Source: University of Maryland School of Medicine News Headlines)
Friday 3 March 2017
Spring is in the air a little earlier this year, but don’t go celebrating just yet. This year’s weather is shattering norms. Washington, D.C., for example, not only had the warmest February on record, but last month’s temps already surpassed the average records for March, too. The situation is similar for a lot of other spots across the country, and that could be bad news when it comes to public health. Experts theorize climate change may be part of the cause of this year’s early spring phenomenon, and warn the overall warming of the planet can have physical and mental health consequences. Below are just a few ways the rising temperatures can take a toll on our wellbeing. An earlier spring could lead to an increase in illness. When the weather is co...
Thursday 2 March 2017
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Maria N. Saracho Bottero, Patrick S. Sebastian, Luis A. Carvalho, Leonor Guardia Claps, Mariano Mastropaolo, Atilio J. Mangold, José M. Venzal, Santiago Nava This work was performed to evaluate the presence of Borrelia in different populations of Ixodes pararicinus from northwestern Argentina (Jujuy, Salta and Tucumán provinces). Questing adults and nymphs of I. pararicinus were collected from vegetation, and I. pararicinus nymphs were also collected on birds. Eighty-two ticks were tested for Borrelia presence by PCR targeting the gene flagellin and the rrfA-rrlB intergenic spacer region. Pools of ticks positive to Borrelia were formed by two nymphs collected on Turdus rufiventris in Tucu...
Thursday 2 March 2017
Ashley L. Marcinkiewicz, Peter Kraiczy, Yi-Pin Lin (Source: Frontiers in Microbiology)
Wednesday 1 March 2017
We present a case of a patient working in Africa, who returned with fever, constitutional symptoms, headache, and blurred vision. An initial diagnosis of malaria was made, and additional workup revealed Borrelia burgdorferi co‐infection and antiphospholipid syndrome. The differential diagnosis of fever in a returned traveler is wide and challenging. We present a case of a patient working in Africa, who returned with fever, constitutional symptoms, headache, and blurred vision. An initial diagnosis of malaria was made, and additional workup revealed Borrelia burgdorferi co‐infection and antiphospholipid syndrome. (Source: Clinical Case Reports)
Wednesday 1 March 2017
Authors: Khan J, Mathias P PMID: 28339873 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Clinical Pathology)
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Wednesday 1 March 2017
CONCLUSIONS: An increased frequency of depressive and neurotic disorders was observed in patients with LB, particularly in patients with neuroborreliosis. Neurotic disorders, mainly adaptive, were most common in males with LB, while depressive disorders were more frequent in females. An increased frequency of cognitive deficits was observed in patients with neuroborreliosis, particularly in females. PMID: 28378969 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Tuesday 28 February 2017
This study demonstrates that LTB4 promotes macrophage phagocytosis of bacteria via BLT1, and that BLT2 can fulfill this role in the absence of BLT1. (Source: The Journal of Lipid Research)
Tuesday 28 February 2017
Lyme carditis poses a challenge to physicians given dramatic clinical presentations like the one presented in this case. Quite frequently, these young patients are implanted with permanent pacemakers; given lack of knowledge on the transient nature of the cardiac conduction system inflammation. This is the first case in the literature that has captured the electrocardiographic evolution of Lyme carditis, day by day until complete resolution. (Source: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine)
Tuesday 28 February 2017
Conclusions By using a strict cut-off value, it was possible to exclude B. miyamotoi infection in LB and TBE patients and to serologically confirm B. miyamotoi infection in 44% to 94% of the PCR-positive BMD patients (95% confidence interval). Thus, sensitive serological assays should not solely rely on rGlpQ, to support the diagnosis of acute BMD. (Source: Journal of Microbiological Methods)
Tuesday 28 February 2017
Untitled by PublicDomainPictures is licensed under CC0. Recently, the Arkansas Department of Health announced it had discovered two diagnosed cases of tickborne diseases, which meet the surveillance definition for Lyme disease–this is the first time the state has had cases that meet this definition in 10 years. Arkansas is generally considered a low-incidence state for Lyme disease, but several other tickborne diseases are more prevalent in the state, including tularemia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Ehrlichia, all of which can be fatal. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans by infected blacklegged ticks. The symptoms are similar to flu and include fever, headache, and fatigue as well as a bullseye rash. If you observe any of these symptoms and have recent...
Monday 27 February 2017
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Maria N. Saracho Bottero, Patrick S. Sebastian, Luis A. Carvalho, Leonor Guardia Claps, Mariano Mastropaolo, Atilio J. Mangold, José M. Venzal, Santiago Nava This work was performed to evaluate the presence of Borrelia in different populations of Ixodes pararicinus from northwestern Argentina (Jujuy, Salta and Tucumán provinces). Questing adults and nymphs of I. pararicinus were collected from vegetation, and I. pararicinus nymphs were also collected on birds. Eighty two ticks were tested for Borrelia presence by PCR targeting the gene flagellin and the rrfA-rrlB intergenic spacer region. Pools of ticks positive to Borrelia were formed by two nymphs collected on Turdus rufiventris in Tucu...
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Monday 27 February 2017
Authors: Harman MW, Hamby AE, Boltyanskiy R, Belperron AA, Bockenstedt LK, Kress H, Dufresne ER, Wolgemuth CW Abstract Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochete that causes Lyme disease, is a tick-transmitted pathogen that requires motility to invade and colonize mammalian and tick hosts. These bacteria use a unique undulating flat-wave shape to penetrate and propel themselves through host tissues. Previous mathematical modeling has suggested that the morphology and motility of these spirochetes depends crucially on the flagellar/cell wall stiffness ratio. Here, we test this prediction using the antibiotic vancomycin to weaken the cell wall. We found that low to moderate doses of vancomycin (≤2.0 μg/mL for 24 h) produced small alterations in cell shape and that as the dose was increa...
Monday 27 February 2017
Authors: Glatz M, Müllegger RR Abstract Serology, the detection of B. burgdorferi-specific IgM and IgG serum antibodies, is the most common laboratory test to diagnose cutaneous manifestations of Lyme disease. In a two-tiered approach, an ELISA is used as a screening test. A positive or equivocal ELISA result needs confirmation by a specific immunoblot. The sensitivity of this approach reaches 80-95%. The diagnosis of erythema migrans is based on its typical clinical appearance. Serology is only indicated in atypical cases. In contrast, serology is mandatory in the diagnostic workup of borrelial lymphocytoma and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans. A positive serology can persist for many years, even after adequate antibiotic treatment. A positive serology is no indication ...
Friday 24 February 2017
Helena P ětrošová, Azad Eshghi, Zoha Anjum, Nataliya Zlotnikov, Caroline E. Cameron, Tara J. Moriarty (Source: Frontiers in Microbiology)
Wednesday 22 February 2017
Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, responds to numerous host-derived signals to alter adaptive capabilities during its enzootic cycle in an arthropod vector and mammalian host. Molecular mechanisms that enable B. burgdorferi to detect, channel, and respond to these signals have become an intense area of study for developing strategies to limit transmission/infection. Bioinformatic analysis of the borrelial genome revealed the presence of polyamine transport components (PotA, PotB, PotC, and PotD), while homologs for polyamine biosynthesis were conspicuously absent. Although potABCD is cotranscribed, the level of PotA was elevated under in vitro growth conditions mimicking unfed ticks compared to the level in fed ticks, while the levels of PotD were similar under the aforement...
Tuesday 21 February 2017
Jenny A. Hyde (Source: Frontiers in Immunology)
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Tuesday 21 February 2017
ABSTRACT Daylight photodynamic therapy has been used in countries with high latitudes during the summer for actinic keratoses treatment with reports of similar efficacy to conventional photodynamic therapy. We evaluate its safety in 20 patients in the city of Fortaleza, a local with low latitude and high brightness. Sixteen patients did not report any discomfort due to the procedure. Daylight photodynamic therapy is an easy application method with great tolerability by the patient and has the possibility of being performed throughout the year in these regions. It can mean a promising tool in the control of skin cancer. (Source: Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia)
Monday 20 February 2017
Publication date: Available online 20 February 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Kateřina Kybicová, Kateřina Baštová, Marek Malý The aim of the present study is to compare the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in questing ticks by using molecular methods from spring to autumn 2007. A total of 526 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected from vegetation in three different sampling sites, representing an urban area (city park), a suburban area (village) and a natural montane habitat. The prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. was 17.3% (7.5% in males, 18.7% in females and 20.2% in nymphs), while 4.4% of ticks (13.1% of males, 3.7% of females and 1.6% of nymphs) tested positive for A. phagocytophilum. We found higher rates of An...
Monday 20 February 2017
Karen E. Tracy, Nicole Baumgarth (Source: Frontiers in Immunology)
Friday 17 February 2017
The Labour candidate for the key Stoke-on-Trent Central by-election believes that his day job with UNISON – “at the coalface of public services” – has had a major impact on his campaign. Gareth Snell (pictured with Labour MPs Angela Rayner, left, and Ruth Smeeth) is in the last stages of a high-profile election fight, in which his chief rival is UKIP leader Paul Nuttall. One of the key differences between the Mr Snell and Mr Nuttall is that only one of them is a local. While the UKIP leader recently moved to the constituency in order to contest it, Mr Snell has lived in the Potteries for the past 13 years. He is a former leader of the nearby Newcastle-under-Lyme council and has worked with UNISON since 2014 – first as an organiser and now as a manager for the West Midlands regio...
Wednesday 15 February 2017
Recently, there has been considerable interest in the topic of fake news. For infectious diseases physicians, false and misleading information about the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease is not new. It is increasing in frequency and prominence, creating much confusion among primary care physicians and their patients. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Wednesday 15 February 2017
There has been an emergence and expansion of tick-borne diseases in Europe, Asia and North America in recent years, including Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis and human anaplasmosis. The primary vectors i... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Wednesday 15 February 2017
We report here a comparative analysis of the nucleotide sequences of 236 plasmids present in fourteen independent isolat... (Source: BMC Genomics)
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Wednesday 15 February 2017
Substance P (SP) is produced at high levels in the central nervous system (CNS), and its target receptor, neurokinin 1 receptor (NK-1R), is expressed by glia and leukocytes. This tachykinin functions to exacer... (Source: Journal of Neuroinflammation)
Tuesday 14 February 2017
For hundreds of millions of years, ticks have survived on Earth by sucking blood from their victims for days, often leaving behind terrible diseases as a thank-you note. But no one has ever looked at why ticks, themselves, are able to survive while harboring bacteria, viruses and parasites. Now, for the first time, scientists have decoded how the ingenious tick immune system fights a myriad of microbes. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
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Tuesday 14 February 2017
(University of Maryland School of Medicine) For hundreds of millions of years, ticks have survived on Earth by sucking blood from their victims for days, often leaving behind terrible diseases as a thank-you note. But no one has ever looked at why ticks, themselves, are able to survive while harboring bacteria, viruses and parasites. Now, for the first time, scientists have decoded how the ingenious tick immune system fights a myriad of microbes. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Monday 13 February 2017
Publication date: Available online 14 February 2017 Source:Veterinary Parasitology Author(s): Víctor M. Montenegro, Marta C. Bonilla, Darwin Kaminsky, Juan José Romero-Zúñiga, Susanne Siebert, Friederike Krämer In a study in Costa Rica 314 serum samples from dogs throughout all seven provinces were tested using a commercial kit for the detection of circulating antibodies against Anaplasma spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Ehrlichia canis, and of circulating antigen of Dirofilaria immitis. A total of 6.4% (20/314) and 38.2% (120/314) were positive for Anaplasma spp. (An) and E. canis (Ec) antibodies. Overall, 8.0% (25/314) were positive for D. immitis (Di) antigen. One single dog reacted positive with B. burgdorferi s.l. (Bb) antigen (0.3%, 1/314). E. canis positive dogs were ...
Thursday 9 February 2017
We report the most complete version of lp150, and this study indicates that the plasmid likely facilitates vector colonization and establishing early mammalian infection (Source: GEO: Gene Expression Omnibus)
Wednesday 8 February 2017
Skills for Communicating in Veterinary Medicine Cindy L. Adams and Suzanne Kurtz 310 pages, paperback, £35. Otmoor Publishing. 2017. ISBN 978 1 910303 12 2 Ecology and Prevention of Lyme Borreliosis: Ecology and Control of Vector Borne Diseases, Vol 4 Edited by Marieta A. H. Braks, Sipke E. van Wieren, Willem Takken and Hein Sprong 462 pages, hardback, 99. Wageningen Academic Publishers. 2016. ISBN 978 90 8686 293 1 Diseases of the Goat, 4th edn John G. Matthews 424 pages, paperback, £44.99. Wiley-Blackwell. 2016. ISBN 978 1 119 07351 2 (Source: Veterinary Record)
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Tuesday 7 February 2017
It can only be hoped that the paper by Wormser et al.(Wormser& Strle, 2016) can accomplish what a quarter century of deliberate neglect has not – the elimination of the concept of a symmetric diffuse axonal neuropathy as a distinct nosologic entity in Lyme disease. As the authors point out, this concept was introduced early in our understanding of Lyme disease –before 2 tier serologic testing - and included some patients diagnosed on th e basis of T cell testing – a procedure then advocated by one of Dr. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Tuesday 7 February 2017
We thank Drs. Halperin and Greenberg for their interest in our recent article that provided a critical appraisal of what has been termed the mild axonal peripheral neuropathy of late neurologic Lyme disease [1 –3]. Dr. Halperin is correct that this entity was described in papers published over 20years ago [4–7]. Essentially, no recent articles have provided any new data affirming this entity in North America, but no systematic and rigorously conducted studies have been conducted to refute the existenc e of this entity in North America as well. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Tuesday 7 February 2017
I read with great interest the article by Wormser et al. but found that many of the authors' stated reasons for questioning the existence and frequency of this type of Lyme neuropathy require critical appraisal themselves. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Monday 6 February 2017
by Eva Ru žić-Sabljić, Vera Maraspin, Daša Stupica, Tereza Rojko, Petra Bogovič, Franc Strle, Tjaša Cerar The isolation ofB.burgdorferi sensu lato requires the use of complex cultivation media. The aim of the study was to compare the usefulness of BSK-H (a commercial medium produced by HiMedia, India) and MKP medium. MKP and BSK-H media were prepared in accordance with the relevant protocols.Borrelia strains and skin culture biopsies were simultaneously inoculated into both media, incubated and checked for growth. Borrelial growth characteristics, isolation rates and characteristics of the isolated borreliae were analysed and compared. Initially, numbers of spirochaetes were higher in BSK-H than in MKP; however, in comparison with MKP, the strains subcultured in BSK-H medium were mo...
Monday 6 February 2017
Authors: Dersch R, Rauer S Abstract Lyme neuroborreliosis is a tick-borne infectious disease caused by the spirochete bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Clinical manifestations are classified as early and late Lyme neuroborreliosis. Early manifestations are much more common than late manifestations. Serological testing should only be performed when typical neurological symptoms are present because false positive results are common due to a high seroprevalence in the population. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis should be performed if Lyme neuroborreliosis is suspected. A systematic review found similar effects of beta-lactam antibiotics and doxycycline regarding the outcome of neurological symptoms and adverse effects. The prognosis after antibiotic treatment is usually...
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Monday 6 February 2017
Wild hosts are commonly co-infected with complex, genetically diverse, pathogen communities. Competition is expected between genetically or ecologically similar pathogen strains which may influence patterns of... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Monday 6 February 2017
There are only few cases of renal pathology induced by Lyme borreliosis in the literature, as this damage is rare and uncommon in humans. This patient is the first case of minimal change glomerular disease ass... (Source: BMC Nephrology)
Thursday 2 February 2017
Mritunjay Kumar, Ragini Singh, Mohsin RashidJournal of Pediatric Neurosciences 2016 11(4):384-385 (Source: Journal of Pediatric Neurosciences)
Thursday 2 February 2017
George Mason University spinoff Ceres Nanosciences Inc. has raised $3 million in Series A funding. The round, announced Thursday, was led by Concord, Massachusetts-based GreyBird Ventures, an early stage venture firm that committed up to $5.5. million over the next year to Ceres. The firm is also working to help raise up to $9 million to complete the Series A round, which will be used to accele rate the market release of a highly sensitive diagnostic test for Lyme disease. The Manassas company has… (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care News Headlines)
Thursday 2 February 2017
(University of Texas at San Antonio) Janakiram Seshu, associate professor of biology and associate dean of The Graduate School at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), has received a $404,250 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease to support his research to better understand and prevent the spread of Lyme disease. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Thursday 2 February 2017
Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB), caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Previously, we reported that in a model of acute LNB in rhesus monkeys, tr... (Source: Journal of Neuroinflammation)
Wednesday 1 February 2017
(Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism)
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Wednesday 1 February 2017
B cell immunity, including the chemokine CXCL13, has an established role in Lyme neuroborreliosis, and also, T helper (Th) 17 immunity, including IL-17A, has recently been implicated. (Source: Journal of Neuroinflammation)
Tuesday 31 January 2017
The purpose of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of C6 ELISA antibodies in healthy blood donors in Kalmar County, Sweden, in relation to age, sex and time of year (peak season vs off season). In addition, we wanted to assess serological status over time in a group of C6 ELISA seropositive blood donors. Sera were collected from 273 (131 women, 142 men) blood donors in autumn 2011 and 300 (144 women, 156 men) in winter 2014. All sera were analysed in the C6 ELISA and the results were interpreted according to the manufacturer′s instructions. The seroprevalence was 22% (females 16%, males 28%) in 2011 and 24% (females 15%, males 33%) in 2014. The seroprevalence was significantly higher in males and increased with age. The highest seroprevalence was observed among elderly men, 60–...
Monday 30 January 2017
Publication date: Available online 31 January 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Carolina K. Rangel, Luís F. Parizi, Gabriela A. Sabadin, Evenilton P. Costa, Nelilma C. Romeiro, Masayoshi Isezaki, Naftaly W. Githaka, Adriana Seixas, Carlos Logullo, Satoru Konnai, Kazuhiko Ohashi, Itabajara da Silva Vaz Cystatins are cysteine peptidase inhibitors that in ticks mediate processes such as blood feeding and digestion. The ixodid tick Ixodes persulcatus is endemic to the Eurasia, where it is the principal vector of Lyme borreliosis. To date, no I. persulcatus cystatin has been characterized. In the present work, we describe three novel cystatins from I. persulcatus, named JpIpcys2a, JpIpcys2b and JpIpcys2c. In addition, the potential of tick cystatins as cross-protective anti...
Monday 30 January 2017
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Protein Science)
Monday 30 January 2017
Conclusions: The OspA vaccine against Lyme disease is safe and its immunogenicity and efficacy have been verified. Instead of stagnating or giving up, further research on improving the vaccine is needed. On the foundation of preliminary studies, we can attempt to develop new vaccines for human use. (Source: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries)
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Sunday 29 January 2017
We describe a case of early Lyme borreliosis in American woman diagnosed in a Colombian hospital. (Source: Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease)
Friday 27 January 2017
Publication date: Available online 28 January 2017 Source:Best Practice & Research Clinical Haematology Author(s): Maurilio Ponzoni, Andrés JM. Ferreri In the last decades some bacteria have been associated with a various extent with marginal zone (extra nodal, nodal and splenic types) lymphomas are frequently associated with chronic infections, with important clinical, molecular, biological, and therapeutic implications. The well-known correlation between Helicobacter pylori and gastric MALT-lymphoma, the recently reported links between Chlamydia psittaci and ocular adnexal MALT-lymphoma and Borrelia burgdorferi and cutaneous MALT lymphoma constitute the most studied examples; in addition, Campylobacter jejuni and some more recent associations encompassing Achromobacter xylosoxi...
Thursday 26 January 2017
Authors: Barbour AG, Adeolu M, Gupta RS Abstract This rebuttal Letter responds to a Letter in the IJSEM by Margos et al. challenging division of the genus Borrelia into two genera. We discuss here point-by-point the issues raised by Margos et al. and show that much of their criticism is unfounded and in several cases based on misreading of the presented results. We summarize here the extensive evidence based on genomic, genetic and phenotypic properties showing that the members of the family Borreliaceae (containing mainly the genus Borrelia) comprises two distinct and cohesive groups of microbes, differing in diseases they cause and other phenotypes. Prior to the proposed division, Borrelia spp. causing Lyme disease (LD) were already functionally treated as a distinct group, refer...
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Wednesday 25 January 2017
We recently identified the Borrelia burgdorferi outer membrane protein (OMP) BB0406 and found that the gene encoding this OMP was cotranscribed with the gene encoding the OMP BB0405. Interestingly, BB0405 and BB0406 share 59% similarity and are grouped into the same B. burgdorferi paralogous gene family. Given their overall similarity, it is plausible that both OMPs have similar or overlapping functions in this pathogenic spirochete. BB0405 was recently shown to be required for mammalian infection despite the observations that BB0405 is poorly immunogenic and not recognized during mouse or human infection. BB0405 orthologs have also been shown to bind the complement regulator protein factor H. Therefore, to better elucidate the role of BB0405 and its paralog BB0406 during infection and in ...
Wednesday 25 January 2017
In this study, we investigated whether B. burgdorferi infection affects bone health in mice. In mice inoculated with B. burgdorferi or vehicle (mock infection), we measured the presence of B. burgdorferi DNA in bones, bone mineral density (BMD), bone formation rates, biomechanical properties, cellular composition, and two- and three-dimensional features of bone microarchitecture. B. burgdorferi DNA was detected in bone. In the long bones, increasing B. burgdorferi DNA copy number correlated with reductions in areal and trabecular volumetric BMDs. Trabecular regions of femora exhibited significant, copy number-correlated microarchitectural disruption, but BMD, microarchitectural, and biomechanical properties of cortical bone were not affected. Bone loss in tibiae was not due to increased os...
Wednesday 25 January 2017
No abstract available (Source: Lippincott's Bone and Joint Newsletter)
Tuesday 24 January 2017
Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is a disease of the nervous system caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies, which is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. Approximately 15% of patients with Lyme borreliosis develop neurological manifestations; most frequently meningitis, cranial neuritis or polyradiculitis [1]. Ischemic stroke due to cerebral vasculitis is rarely ( (Source: Journal of the Neurological Sciences)
Tuesday 24 January 2017
(TellMed Strategies) Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a national organization funding research to make Lyme disease easy to diagnose and simple to cure, announces the launch of the Lyme Disease Biobank, which is the first program to provide researchers with blood and urine samples from people with acute Lyme disease from multiple regions across the country, including the East Coast, West Coast and Upper Midwest. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
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Monday 23 January 2017
To the authors of “The ‘Normal’ Heart: Fascicular Ventricular Tachycardia”1: Tell us more about your 51-year-old man with unexplained right bundle branch block and regular broad complex fascicular tachycardia. At what time of year did he develop the arrhythmia? If he had dogs or enjoyed the great outdoors, mi ght he have Lyme carditis due to Borrelia spirochetes? If so, amiodarone and anti-arrhythmic drugs might be given with Lyme antibiotics, such as intravenous ceftriaxone and at least 3 weeks of oral doxycycline. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Monday 23 January 2017
Discussion Fatigue is a subjective feeling of decreased energy, tiredness or feeling of exhaustion. Lethargy is often used synonymously, but lethargy is a state of being drowsiness or sleepy, and implies mental status changes. Both can cause the person to be apathetic or less active. Fatigue is a common state that almost everyone experiences multiple times in his or her lifetime. For most people it is a relatively acute or short-term chronic problem, often with a relatively easily identifiable problem cause, such as inadequate sleep, acute illness, or overexertion. For some, it can be less readily identifiable such as depression, anemia, or hypothyroidism or because of a chronic illness with its waxing and waning natural history or being under- or over-treated. Chronic fatigue and cause d...
Thursday 19 January 2017
Brandee L. Stone, Catherine A. Brissette (Source: Frontiers in Immunology)
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Wednesday 18 January 2017
U.S. National Park Service and CDC advise using insect repellents on clothes and skin (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Tuesday 17 January 2017
HealthDay News Planning a hiking trip in an eastern U.S. national park? Better pack tick repellent -- a new study found these parks are home to ticks that carry Lyme disease. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)
Tuesday 17 January 2017
U.S. National Park Service and CDC advise using insect repellents on clothes and skin (Source: WebMD Health)
Tuesday 17 January 2017
U.S. National Park Service and CDC advise using insect repellents on clothes and skin Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Lyme Disease, Tick Bites (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
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Tuesday 17 January 2017
Dr Paul Auwaerter discusses a scientist's proposal to rid areas prone to Lyme disease by making the mice immune to infection with Borrelia burgdorferi, thus breaking the transmission cycle.Medscape Infectious Diseases (Source: Medscape Infectious Diseases Headlines)
Tuesday 17 January 2017
TUESDAY, Jan. 17, 2017 -- Planning a hiking trip in an eastern U.S. national park? Better pack tick repellent -- a new study found these parks are home to ticks that carry Lyme disease. Blacklegged ticks -- also known as deer ticks -- carrying Lyme... (Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews)
Monday 16 January 2017
Publication date: Available online 16 January 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Danielle Wroblewski, Linda Gebhardt, Melissa A. Prusinski, Lisa J. Meehan, Tanya A. Halse, Kimberlee A. Musser Borrelia miyamotoi (Bm) is a recently emerging bacterial agent transmitted by several species of ixodid ticks. Diagnosis of Bm infection can be challenging, as the organism is not easily cultivable. We have developed and validated a multiplex real-time PCR to simultaneously identify Bm infection and the agents causing human granulocytic anaplasmosis and human monocytic ehrlichiosis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis, respectively. The assay is 100% specific; highly sensitive, detecting 11 gene copies of Bm DNA in both whole blood and cerebral spinal fluid; and prov...
Friday 13 January 2017
(Reuters Health) – It may one day be possible to spot illness the same way many of us already track our exercise habits and sleep patterns: with wearable sensors, researchers say. In a new study, 60 people wore devices that collected more than 250,000 measurements a day on things like heart rate, oxygen in the blood, activity levels, calories expended, sleep patterns and skin temperature. After researchers got a baseline idea of normal readings for each person in the study, they looked for deviations from these typical patterns to see whether changes might be tied to new environmental conditions, illness, or other factors that can impact health. The goal is a health dashboard that does for people what dashboards already do for cars, said senior study author Dr. Michael Snyder, direct...
Thursday 12 January 2017
Can your smart watch detect when you are becoming sick? A new study indicates that this is possible. By following 60 people through their everyday lives, researchers found that smart watches and other personal biosensor devices can help flag when people have colds and even signal the onset of complex conditions like Lyme disease and diabetes. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
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Thursday 12 January 2017
After sensors alerted a researcher to Lyme disease symptoms he was unaware he had, his team have shown that smartwatches can tell if a wearer is getting ill (Source: New Scientist - Health)
Thursday 12 January 2017
When it's hot and not too muggy, Lyme disease-bearing black-legged ticks avoid desiccation by hiding out where people don't tread. Scientists say that's why the illness is rare in the South, and may eventually fade out along the Mason-Dixon line. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Thursday 12 January 2017
(PLOS) Can your smart watch detect when you are becoming sick? A new study from Stanford, publishing Jan. 12, 2017, in PLOS Biology, indicates that this is possible. By following 60 people through their everyday lives, Stanford researchers found that smart watches and other personal biosensor devices can help flag when people have colds and even signal the onset of complex conditions like Lyme disease and diabetes. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Wednesday 11 January 2017
Local knowledge of when humans are at elevated risk for exposure to tick vectors of human disease agents is required both for the effective use of personal protection measures to avoid tick bites and for implementation of control measures to suppress host-seeking ticks. Here, we used previously published data on the seasonal density of host-seeking Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls nymphs, the primary vectors of Lyme disease spirochetes in the far western USA, collected across a broad habitat and climate gradient in northwestern California to identify predictors of periods of time within the year when questing nymphal density is elevated. Models based on calendar week alone performed similarly to models based on calendar week and woodland type, or meteorological variables. The most suitabl...
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Wednesday 11 January 2017
by Xiao Li, Jessilyn Dunn, Denis Salins, Gao Zhou, Wenyu Zhou, Sophia Miryam Sch üssler-Fiorenza Rose, Dalia Perelman, Elizabeth Colbert, Ryan Runge, Shannon Rego, Ria Sonecha, Somalee Datta, Tracey McLaughlin, Michael P. Snyder A new wave of portable biosensors allows frequent measurement of health-related physiology. We investigated the use of these devices to monitor human physiological changes during various activities and their role in managing health and diagnosing and analyzing disease. By recording over 250,000 da ily measurements for up to 43 individuals, we found personalized circadian differences in physiological parameters, replicating previous physiological findings. Interestingly, we found striking changes in particular environments, such as airline flights (decreased perip...
Wednesday 11 January 2017
The objective of our study was to identify patterns of Lyme disease reporting after multistate inclusion to mitigate potential border effects. County-level human Lyme disease surveillance data were obtained from Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia state health departments. Rate smoothing and Local Moran's I was performed to identify clusters of reporting activity and identify spatial outliers. A logistic generalized estimating equation was performed to identify significant associations in disease clustering over time. Resulting analyses identified statistically significant (P=0.05) clusters of high reporting activity and trends over time. High reporting activity aggregated near border counties in high incidence states, while low reporting aggregated near sha...
Wednesday 11 January 2017
Borrelia mayonii, a recently recognized species within the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, has been detected in host-seeking Ixodes scapularis Say ticks and found to be associated with Lyme disease in the Upper Midwest. This spirochete has, to date, not been documented from the Northeast, but we previously demonstrated that I. scapularis ticks originating from Connecticut are capable of serving as a vector of B. mayonii. In this follow-up study, we compared the vector efficiency for B. mayonii (strain MN14-1420) of I. scapularis ticks originating from Minnesota in the Upper Midwest and Connecticut in the Northeast. CD-1 outbred white mice previously infected with B. mayonii via tick bite were exposed to simultaneous feeding by Minnesota and Connecticut larvae contained within sepa...
Wednesday 11 January 2017
This study corroborates the presence of B. turdi and B. valaisiana in ticks from birds in the north of Spain. The presence of these bacteria in larval specimens could suggest the role of birds as their reservoirs, or the occurrence of the cofeeding phenomenon. In addition, the detection of B. turdi and B. valaisiana in H. punctata and I. frontalis ticks, respectively, is reported for the first time. (Source: Journal of Medical Entomology)
Wednesday 11 January 2017
In endemic areas, the bite of an Ixodes tick confers a risk of transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Bedside identification of the Ixodes species is a clinically relevant exercise that subsequently requires further testing and/or treatment for Lyme disease. Herein we describe a highly specific bedside exam with the use of dermoscopy that allows for identification of the Ixodes species. (Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology)
Wednesday 11 January 2017
(US Geological Survey) When it's hot and not too muggy, Lyme disease-bearing black-legged ticks avoid desiccation by hiding out where people don't tread. Scientists say that's why the illness is rare in the South, and may eventually fade out along the Mason-Dixon line. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Tuesday 10 January 2017
Conclusions: During active infection, microRNA expression in SF reflected an immune response associated with bacterial killing, whereas in post‐infectious LA, microRNA expression in SF and synovial tissue reflected chronic inflammation, synovial proliferation, and breakdown of wound repair processes, showing that the nature of the arthritis was altered after spirochetal killing. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism)
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Tuesday 10 January 2017
Publication date: Available online 10 January 2017 Source:Microbes and Infection Author(s): Wei Zhou, Dustin Brisson Many parasites have evolved antigenic variation systems that alter surface proteins in order to evade recognition by presently expressed antibodies and subsequent death. Although the amino acid positions in antigens to which antibodies most commonly target are expected to be the most variable, this assumption has not been investigated. Using the vls antigenic variation system of Borrelia burgdorferi as a model, we first investigated this assumption computationally and then developed a sensitive immunoassay to experimentally validate the computational results. There was a strong correlation between variability at an amino acid position and each of the computational metrics a...
Tuesday 10 January 2017
Authors: Butler T Abstract Within 24 hours after antibiotic treatment of the spirochetal infections syphilis, Lyme disease, leptospirosis, and relapsing fever (RF), patients experience shaking chills, a rise in temperature, and intensification of skin rashes known as the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) with symptoms resolving a few hours later. Case reports indicate that the JHR can also include uterine contractions in pregnancy, worsening liver and renal function, acute respiratory distress syndrome, myocardial injury, hypotension, meningitis, alterations in consciousness, seizures, and strokes. Experimental evidence indicates it is caused by nonendotoxin pyrogen and spirochetal lipoproteins. Mediation of the JHR in RF by the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF...
Monday 9 January 2017
ConclusionsThe functional changes of the visual system in neurologically asymptomatic virally suppressed HIV patients displayed higher motion-onset VEP sensitivity than in standard pattern-reversal VEP examinations. This promising marker, however, has no significant association with clinical conditions. Further exploration is warranted. (Source: Documenta Ophthalmologica)
Sunday 8 January 2017
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Sunday 8 January 2017
Publication date: January 2017 Source:Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, Volume 61 Author(s): Alan G. Barbour The widely-distributed North American species Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus of cricetine rodents are, between them, important natural reservoirs for several zoonotic diseases of humans: Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, babesiosis, erhlichiosis, hard tickborne relapsing fever, Powassan virus encephalitis, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and plague. While these infections are frequently disabling and sometimes fatal for humans, the peromyscines display little pathology and apparently suffer few consequences, even when prevalence of persistent infection in a population is high. While these Peromyscus spp. are unable to clear some of the infections...
Sunday 8 January 2017
We report a case of a 66-year-old male, with a subacute extensive transverse myelitis, secondary to Borrelia burgdorferi infection. The patient underwent antibiotic therapy filed for neuroborreliosis with a good clinical outcome. The rareness in clinical symptoms and imaging presentation, based on a treatable infectious disease, highlights the importance of the inclusion of neuroborreliosis in the differential diagnosis of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. PMID: 28060695 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Acta Medica Portuguesa)
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Thursday 5 January 2017
Tick-borne diseases, particularly Lyme disease, are emerging across the northern hemisphere. In order to manage emerging diseases and predict where emergence will likely occur, it is necessary to understand th... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Wednesday 4 January 2017
Purpose of review: Lyme disease is a multistage and multisystem disease. Neurological manifestations [termed Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB)] occur in about 10% of patients with Lyme disease. Diagnostics and treatment of early and late LNB are widely established. However, the management of persistent symptoms is still fraught with controversies, and therefore is the focus of this review. Recent findings: The incidence of Lyme disease seems to be much higher than previously assumed. Laboratory methods (namely serological tests) are essential for diagnosing LNB, but only when performed according to the guidelines of scientific medical societies. Most patients treated for LNB have good outcomes. However, some patients remain with nonspecific symptoms despite conventional therapy, a syndrome call...
Tuesday 3 January 2017
. (Source: Infectious Diseases)
Tuesday 3 January 2017
Lyme disease has been spreading across the United States over the past several decades, and a new study has confirmed that ticks carrying the disease are present in eastern national parks. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Tuesday 3 January 2017
Annapolis, MD; January 3, 2017 —Lyme disease has been spreading across the United States over the past several decades, and a new study has confirmed that ticks carrying the disease are present in eastern national parks. (Source: ESA News)
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Tuesday 3 January 2017
(Entomological Society of America) Lyme disease has been spreading across the United States over the past several decades, and a new study has confirmed that ticks carrying the disease are present in eastern national parks. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
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Monday 2 January 2017
Authors: Alam MZ, Alam Q, Kamal MA, Jiman-Fatani AA, Azhar EI, Khan MA, Haque A Abstract Recent studies have shown that bacterial and viral infections are risk factors for various neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Lyme disease (LD). However, it is still controversial how the infections play a role in neurological diseases progression. Infections in central nervous system may lead multiple damages in infected and neighboring cells. The infection leads to the activation of inflammatory processes and host immune responses, which acts as defense mechanism and also causes damage to the host neuronal functions and viability. Several bacterial and viral pathogens have been reported for neurodegene...
Saturday 31 December 2016
Authors: Roaldsnes E, Eikeland R, Berild D PMID: 28127071 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening)
Saturday 31 December 2016
Authors: Mygland Å PMID: 28127063 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening)
Saturday 31 December 2016
CONCLUSION: The results confirm that there is a risk of exposure to different pathogens in the forested areas in eastern Poland and that hunters are highly vulnerable to infection with the examined zoonotic agents. A significant proportion of co-occurring antibodies against different pathogens was noticed. Thus, hunters have to take special care of their health status evaluation and mitigate the exposure risk by using adequate prophylaxis measures. PMID: 28035113 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Journal of Vector Borne Diseases)
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Saturday 31 December 2016
CONCLUSION: Foresters and farmers are exposed to B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum coinfection in the study area. Therefore, it is probable that these pathogens may severely interfere with the clinical course of Lyme borreliosis. PMID: 28035112 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Journal of Vector Borne Diseases)
Friday 30 December 2016
Publication date: Available online 30 December 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Alex Wagemakers, Seta Jahfari, Bob de Wever, Lodewijk Spanjaard, Markus V Starink, Henry JC de Vries, Hein Sprong, Joppe W. Hovius Ixodes ticks transmit Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis (LB). These tick species also transmit Borrelia miyamotoi, which was recently found to cause infections in humans. We were interested in the prevalence of B. miyamotoi infection in ticks and natural hosts in the Netherlands, and to what extent ticks are co-infected with B. burgdorferi. In addition, erythema migrans has been sporadically described in B. miyamotoi-infected patients, but these skin lesions might as well represent co-infections with B. burgdorferi s...
Wednesday 28 December 2016
The requirements for bacterial chemotaxis and motility range from dispensable to crucial for host colonization. Even though more than 50% of all sequenced prokaryotic genomes possess at least one chemotaxis signaling system, many of those genomes contain multiple copies of a chemotaxis gene. However, the functions of most of those additional genes are unknown. Most motile bacteria possess at least one CheY response regulator that is typically dedicated to the control of motility and which is usually essential for virulence. Borrelia burgdorferi appears to be notably different, in that it has three cheY genes, and our current studies on cheY2 suggests that it has varied effects on different aspects of the natural infection cycle. Mutants deficient in this protein exhibit normal motility and...
Wednesday 28 December 2016
Lyme disease (LD), the most prevalent tick-borne illness in North America, is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. The long-term survival of B. burgdorferi spirochetes in the mammalian host is achieved though VlsE-mediated antigenic variation. It is mathematically predicted that a highly variable surface antigen prolongs bacterial infection sufficiently to exhaust the immune response directed toward invariant surface antigens. If the prediction is correct, it is expected that the antibody response to B. burgdorferi invariant antigens will become nonprotective as B. burgdorferi infection progresses. To test this assumption, changes in the protective efficacy of the immune response to B. burgdorferi surface antigens were monitored via a superinfection model over the course of 70 days. B. burgdorf...
Tuesday 27 December 2016
ConclusionSystemic autoimmune joint diseases (i.e., RA, PsA, SpA) may follow Lyme disease. Development of polyarthritis after antibiotic‐treated EM, previous psoriasis, or low‐titer B burgdorferi antibodies may provide insight into the correct diagnosis. (Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism)
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Tuesday 27 December 2016
This study shows the utility of long read sequencing for full genome assembly of Bbsl genomes, identifies putative genome regions ofB.mayonii that may be linked to clinical manifestation or tissue tropism, and provides a valuable resource for pathogenicity, diagnostic and vaccine studies. (Source: PLoS One)
Tuesday 27 December 2016
Authors: Jahfari S, Krawczyk A, Coipan EC, Fonville M, Hovius JW, Sprong H, Takumi K Abstract Both early localized and late disseminated forms of Lyme borreliosis are caused by Borrelia burgdorferi senso lato. Differentiating between the spirochetes that only cause localized skin infection from those that cause disseminated infection, and tracing the group of medically-important spirochetes to a specific vertebrate host species, are two critical issues in disease risk assessment and management. Borrelia burgdorferi senso lato isolates from Lyme borreliosis cases with distinct clinical manifestations (erythema migrans, neuroborreliosis, acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, and Lyme arthritis) and isolates from Ixodes ricinus ticks feeding on rodents, birds and hedgehogs were typed t...
Monday 26 December 2016
The first data of Lyme carditis, a relatively rare manifestation of Lyme disease, were published in eighties of the last century. Clinical manifestations include syncope, light-headedness, fainting, shortness of breath, palpitations, and/or chest pain. Atrioventricular (AV) electrical block of varying severity presents the most common conduction disorder in Lyme carditis. Although is usually mild, AV block can fluctuates rapidly and progress from a prolonged P-R interval to a His-Purkinje block within minutes to hours and days. (Source: International Journal of Cardiology)
Monday 26 December 2016
Publication date: Available online 26 December 2016 Source:Epidemics Author(s): S.L. States, C.I. Huang, S. Davis, D.M. Tufts, M.A. Diuk-Wasser Coexistence of multiple tick-borne pathogens or strains is common in natural hosts and can be facilitated by resource partitioning of the host species, within-host localization, or by different transmission pathways. Most vector-borne pathogens are transmitted horizontally via systemic host infection, but transmission may occur in the absence of systemic infection between two vectors feeding in close proximity, enabling pathogens to minimize competition and escape the host immune response. In a laboratory study, we demonstrate this co-feeding transmission can occur for a rapidly-cleared strain of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease agent, betwe...
Monday 26 December 2016
In this study, we established a succinyl-β-CD modified gold biochip for improvement of seroimmunological detection sensitivity of Lyme disease. We found that the CD modified biochip platform presented a stronger affinity property for VlsE protein in conjugation with >0.000475 μg/mL of antigen immobilization concentration, which was sensitive enough for fluorescence based assay. Detection limit for anti-VlsE IgG antibody was 0.39 μg/mL. Specificity of VlsE assay on the succinyl-β-CD modified biochip was successfully confirmed by an immunological block assay. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient (R(2)) between the fluorescence values by the biochip and the OD values by ELISA assay was 0.904, indicating this biochip-based immunological assay might be a potential substitute with t...
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Wednesday 21 December 2016
Publication date: Available online 21 December 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Kayleigh M. Hansford, Manoj Fonville, Emma L. Gillingham, Elena Claudia Coipan, Maaike E. Pietzsch, Aleksandra I. Krawczyk, Alexander G.C. Vaux, Benjamin Cull, Hein Sprong, Jolyon M. Medlock Ticks are becoming increasingly recognised as important vectors of pathogens in urban and peri-urban areas, including green space used for recreational activities. In the UK, the risk posed by ticks in such areas is largely unknown. In order to begin to assess the risk of ticks in urban/peri-urban areas in southern England, questing ticks were collected from five different habitat types (grassland, hedge, park, woodland and woodland edge) in a city during the spring, summer and autumn of 2013/2014 and s...
Tuesday 20 December 2016
An antibiotic gel based on azithromycin, an antibiotic with antibacterial properties, helps to prevent the onset of Lyme borreliosis following a tick bite, finds new research. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Monday 19 December 2016
Authors: Huang Z, Toledo AM, Benach JL, London E Abstract Co-existing disordered and ordered (raft) membrane domains exist in Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. However, although B. burgdorferi contains cholesterol lipids, it lacks sphingolipids-a crucial component of rafts in eukaryotes. To define the principles of ordered lipid domain formation in Borrelia, the domain forming properties of vesicles composed of its three major lipids, acylated cholesteryl galactoside (ACGal), monogalactosyl diacyglycerol (MGalD), and phosphatidylcholine (PC) and/or their mixtures were studied. Anisotropy and fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements were used to assay membrane order and ordered-domain formation. ACGal had the highest potential to form ordered dom...
Sunday 18 December 2016
Authors: Hamšíková Z, Coipan C, Mahríková L, Minichová L, Sprong H, Kazimírová M Abstract Borrelia miyamotoi causes relapsing fever in humans. The occurrence of this spirochete has been reported in Ixodes ricinus and wildlife, but there are still gaps in the knowledge of its eco-epidemiology and public health impact. In the current study, questing I. ricinus (nymphs and adults) and skin biopsies from rodents captured in Slovakia were screened for the presence of B. miyamotoi and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. DNA. The prevalence of B. miyamotoi and B. burgdorferi s.l. in questing ticks was 1.7 and 16.9%, respectively. B. miyamotoi was detected in Apodemus flavicollis (9.3%) and Myodes glareolus (4.4%). In contrast, B. burgdorferi s.l. was identified in 11.9% of rodents, with the...
Sunday 18 December 2016
In areas where Lyme borreliosis is endemic, bites from Ixodes spp ticks are common. For instance, 25 –30% of people from endemic areas of the USA have reported that a member of the household had been bitten by a tick in the preceding year.1 Thus, developing Lyme borreliosis after being bitten by infected ticks is an important concern. One dose of 200 mg doxycycline given orally effectively preven ts development of Lyme borreliosis after tick bites, but this drug may not be used in pregnant women or children younger than 8 years. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Saturday 17 December 2016
(Source: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health)
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Saturday 17 December 2016
Henry Heimlich, the medical maverick who came up with a maneuver credited with saving thousands of choking victims but who damaged his standing as a proponent of the curative powers of malaria, died on Saturday at the age of 96. Heimlich, a doctor who developed a life-saving technique to dislodge airway blockages, died at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati of complications from a massive heart attack he suffered on Monday, his family said in a statement. A thoracic surgeon who often feuded with the established medical community, Heimlich said the maneuver which was named after him saved more than 100,000 lives. He claimed to have used it himself last May on another resident of the Cincinnati retirement home where he lived. “It made me appreciate how wonderful it has been to be able to sav...
Friday 16 December 2016
CONCLUSION: Co-infections with Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Bartonella spp. and Babesia microti had no impact on T-cell percentages in Lyme disease patients. There was a lower baseline percentage of NK cells in patients not responding to antibiotic treatment. PMID: 27007527 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Friday 16 December 2016
Transmission from the vertebrate host to the arthropod vector is a critical step in the life-cycle of any vector-borne pathogen. How the probability of host-to-vector transmission changes over the duration of ... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Wednesday 14 December 2016
Some Australians have become convinced of the existence of locally acquired Lyme disease (LD). The history of LD, since its recognition in the early 1970s, is reviewed as a model for investigative approaches to unknown syndromes. Australian Management Guidelines for LD include the requirement for diagnostic testing by National Association of Testing Authorities‐accredited laboratories using Therapeutic Goods Administration‐licensed tests, which result in the efficient diagnosis of LD in overseas travellers. Despite this, patients who have not left Australia pay many thousands of dollars for non‐specialist consultations and testing at overseas laboratories. Unproven long‐term therapy with multiple antibiotics has resulted in serious complications, including allergies, line sepsis, p...
Wednesday 14 December 2016
by Abdullah Inci, Alparslan Yildirim, Onder Duzlu, Mehmet Doganay, Serap Aksoy The importance of tick-borne diseases is increasing all over the world, including Turkey. Global warming, environmental and ecological changes and the existence of suitable habitats increase the impact of ticks and result in frequent emergence or re-emergence of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) with zoo notic characteristics. In Turkey, almost 19 TBDs have been reported in animals and men, involving four protozoa (babesiosis, theileriosis, cytauxzoonosis, hepatozoonosis), one filarial nematode (acanthocheilonemasis), ten bacterial agents (anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, aegyptianellosis, tick-borne typ hus,Candidatus Rickettsia vini, Lyme borreliosis, tick-borne relapsing fever [TBRF], tularaemia, bartonellosis, and hemo...
Tuesday 13 December 2016
Summary The spirochaete (Borrelia burgdorferi) associated with Lyme disease was detected in questing ticks and rodents during a period of 18 years, 1991–2009, at five locations on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The black‐legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) was collected at varied intervals between 1991 and 2009 and examined for B. burgdorferi. The white‐footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus), house mouse (Mus musculus) marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris), marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) and six‐lined racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus) were live‐trapped, and their tissues cultured to isolate spirochaetes. Borrelia burgdorferi isolates were obtained from questing adult I. scapularis and engorged I. scapularis removed from P. leuc...
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Thursday 8 December 2016
CONCLUSIONS: There is mostly low- to very low-quality clinical evidence from a limited number of mostly small, heterogeneous trials with diverse outcome measures, comparing the relative efficacy of central nervous system-penetrant antibiotics for the treatment of LNB. The few existing randomized studies have limited power and lack consistent and well-defined entry criteria and efficacy endpoints. It is not possible to draw firm conclusions on the relative efficacy of accepted antibiotic drug regimens for the treatment of LNB. The majority of people are reported to have good outcomes, and symptoms resolve by 12 months regardless of the antibiotic used. A minority of participants did not improve sufficiently, and some were retreated. These randomized studies provide some evidence that doxycy...
Thursday 8 December 2016
Authors: Nemeth J, Bernasconi E, Heininger U, Abbas M, Nadal D, Strahm C, Erb S, Zimmerli S, Furrer H, Delaloye J, Kuntzer T, Altpeter E, Sturzenegger M, Weber R, For The Swiss Society For Infectious Diseases And The Swiss Society For Neurology Abstract Lyme borreliosis is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection, which responds well to antibiotic therapy in the overwhelming majority of cases. However, despite adequate antibiotic treatment some patients report persisting symptoms which are commonly summarised as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). In 2005, the Swiss Society of Infectious Diseases published a case definition for PTLDS. We aimed to review the scientific literature with a special emphasis on the last 10 years, questioning whether the definitions f...
Tuesday 6 December 2016
Publication date: Available online 7 December 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Michael Reiter, Christian Knecht, Andreas Müller, Anna-Margarita Schötta, Michael Leschnik, Michiel Wijnveld, Herbert Weissenböck, Hannes Stockinger, Gerold Stanek, Wolfgang Sipos The skin lesion erythema migrans is a characteristic early manifestation of Lyme borreliosis in humans. However, the pathomechanisms leading to development of this erythema are not fully understood. Models that mimic human skin would enhance research in this field. Human and porcine skin structures strongly resemble each other. Therefore, we attempted to induce erythema migrans lesions in experimental Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection in the skin of domestic pigs. The formation of erythema migrans-like l...
Friday 2 December 2016
At the age of 19, Rachel Battersby (pictured) from the Gold Coast was a bright, fun-loving and healthy young woman, but today the girl who had the world at her feet now has her life in tatters. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Thursday 1 December 2016
Publication date: Available online 23 November 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Amber D. Butler, Meredith L. Carlson, Christina A. Nelson Given the high incidence of tick bites and tick-borne diseases in the United States, it is important for primary care providers to recognize common ticks and the pathogens they may transmit. If a patient has removed and saved an attached tick, identifying the tick helps guide clinical management and determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis for Lyme disease is appropriate. To investigate providers’ ability to recognize common ticks and the pathogens they may transmit, we asked 76 primary care providers from Lyme disease endemic areas to identify the common name or genus of preserved ticks found in their area. At baseline, 10.5%, 46....
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Thursday 1 December 2016
This Teachable Moment describes the case of a woman who developed DRESS syndrome after unnecessary treatment for “chronic Lyme disease.” (Source: JAMA Internal Medicine)
Wednesday 30 November 2016
The aim of this study was to determine the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 alleles in two groups of patients in Latvia: patients with Lyme borreliosis and patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis. The study included 216 patients with Lyme borreliosis, 29 patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis and 282 control persons. All surveyed persons were residents of Latvia. The HLA-DR genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction- sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP). The predisposition to the Lyme borreliosis is associated with the HLA-DRB1*07, -DRB1*17(03), -DRB1*04, -DRB1*15(02) alleles. The allele -DRB1*11(05), -DRB1*14(06) and -DRB1*13(06) were significantly more frequent in controls. In-group with Lyme neuroborreliosis differences were found for the -DRB1*07 and -DRB1*04 alleles, but only HLA-...
Wednesday 30 November 2016
Publication date: January 2017 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, Volume 8, Issue 1 Author(s): Knut Eirik Eliassen, Dag Berild, Harald Reiso, Nils Grude, Karen Sofie Christophersen, Cecilie Finckenhagen, Morten Lindbæk The first stage of Lyme borreliosis (LB) is mainly the typical skin lesion, erythema migrans (EM), which is estimated to comprise 80–90% of all LB cases. However, the reporting of, and the actual incidence of LB varies throughout Europe. Studies from Sweden and Holland have found EM incidences varying from 53 to 464 EM/100,000 inhabitants/year. Under-reporting of LB is common and a coefficient of three to reach a realistic estimate is suggested. In Norway, it is mandatory to report only the second and third LB stages to the National Institute of Public Health. To find...
Tuesday 29 November 2016
Authors: Ružić-Sabljić E, Cerar T Abstract INTRODUCTION: Current laboratory testing of Lyme borreliosis mostly relies on serological methods with known limitations. Diagnostic modalities enabling direct detection of pathogen at the onset of the clinical signs could overcome some of the limitations. Molecular methods detecting borrelial DNA seem to be the ideal solution, although there are some aspects that need to be considered. Areas covered: This review represent summary and discussion of the published data obtained from literature searches from PubMed and The National Library of Medicine (USA) together with our own experience on molecular diagnosis of Lyme disease. Expert commentary: Molecular methods are promising and currently serve as supporting diagnostic testing in Lyme ...
Monday 28 November 2016
This article reviews the findings within the field of omics relevant to LB and its prospective utility in developing an array of biomarkers that can be employed in LB diagnosis and detection particularly at the early disease stages. (Source: Infectious Diseases and Therapy)
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Sunday 27 November 2016
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Friday 25 November 2016
Authors: Scott JD, Foley JE, Clark KL, Anderson JF, Durden LA, Manord JM, Smith ML Abstract We document an established population of blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, on Corkscrew Island, Kenora District, Ontario, Canada. Primers of the outer surface protein A (OspA) gene, the flagellin (fla) gene, and the flagellin B (flaB) gene were used in the PCR assays to detect Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), the Lyme disease bacterium. In all, 60 (73%) of 82 adult I. scapularis, were infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. As well, 6 (43%) of 14 unfed I. scapularis nymphs were positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. An I. scapularis larva was also collected from a deer mouse, and several unfed larvae were gathered by flagging leaf litter. Based on DNA sequencing of randomly selected Borrelia ...
Friday 25 November 2016
The incidence of Lyme disease shows high degrees of inter-annual variation in the northeastern United States, but the factors driving this variation are not well understood. Complicating matters, it is also po... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Thursday 24 November 2016
Conclusions ACA is more likely to be diagnosed in older individuals than any other manifestation of Lyme borreliosis. ACA is more likely than EM to be localized anatomically to the extremities. Available data favor the hypothesis that ACA occurs most often on the extremities of older individuals because of predisposing age-related anatomic or physiologic changes, but more data are needed to define the latency period and other aspects of the pathogenesis of this skin condition. (Source: Ticks and Tick borne Diseases)
Thursday 24 November 2016
University of Sydney has discovered 1500 viruses in common insects, spiders, worms. New technology can also answer questions about the controversial Lyme disease. Surprising results released Thursday. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
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Wednesday 23 November 2016
Publication date: Available online 23 November 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Amber D. Butler, Meredith L. Carlson, Christina A. Nelson Given the high incidence of tick bites and tick-borne diseases in the United States, it is important for primary care providers to recognize common ticks and the pathogens they may transmit. If a patient has removed and saved an attached tick, identifying the tick helps guide clinical management and determine whether antibiotic prophylaxis for Lyme disease is appropriate. To investigate providers’ ability to recognize common ticks and the pathogens they may transmit, we asked 76 primary care providers from Lyme disease endemic areas to identify the common name or genus of preserved ticks found in their area. At baseline, 10.5%, 46....
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Tuesday 22 November 2016
In this study, the authors present a 9-year-old girl with linear arrangement of subcutaneous nodules on her left forearm. Microscopic findings from 2 biopsies included lymphocytes at the dermoepidermal junction with mild interface dermatitis, a dense lymphocytic infiltrate that was concentrated around adnexae and subcutaneous fat in concert with thickened collagen bundles and mild widening of fibrous septae surrounding fat lobules. Although the clinical differential diagnosis included panniculitis or a sporotrichoid infection, 1 biopsy showed a dense lymphocytic infiltrate histologically bordered on that of cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia or a late stage of Lyme disease, and a second also demonstrated more prominent sclerodermoid collagen bundles rendering the diagnosis of linear scleroderm...
Tuesday 22 November 2016
In this study, all dogs treated with NexGard(®) 28days prior to challenge with wild caught I. scapularis ticks were protected from B. burgdorferi infection, while nine out of the ten untreated control dogs were infected. PMID: 27865266 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases.)
Tuesday 22 November 2016
Cases of Lyme borreliosis, a vector-borne zoonosis caused by bacteria in the Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) species group, have increased in recent years in Europe. Knowledge of environmental factors associate... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Monday 21 November 2016
Publication date: Available online 21 November 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Małgorzata Adamska, Bogumiła Skotarczak The aim of the present study was to detect Toxoplasma gondii in ticks collected from ponies and field vegetation and to determine the role of Shetland ponies as a potential reservoir host for T. gondii. A total of 1737 feeding Ixodes ricinus collected from 49 horses and 371 questing ticks were tested by PCR and sequencing for the presence and genotyping of T. gondii. All ticks were examined in a previous study to detect and identify pathogenic bacterial species. The aim of this study was also to detect co-infection of ticks with these bacteria and T. gondii. Genotyping of the sequenced B1 gene revealed that detected T. gondii strains represented gen...
Sunday 20 November 2016
. (Source: Infectious Diseases)
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Friday 18 November 2016
(Source: International Journal of General Medicine)
Wednesday 16 November 2016
Alternative and Complementary Therapies , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Alternative and Complementary Therapies)
Wednesday 16 November 2016
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
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Wednesday 16 November 2016
This study confirms the presence of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum in deer keds (Lipoptena cervi) removed from white‐tailed deer using PCR. Detection of these pathogens in deer ked represents a potential novel susceptibility of wildlife and also suggests the risk of transmission of these pathogens to humans and animals alike through the bite of an infected ectoparasite. This study represents the first instance in the U.S. of detection of tick‐borne pathogens in a member of the Hippoboscid family. (Source: Journal of Vector Ecology)
Wednesday 16 November 2016
Lyme disease or Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne disease both in the United States and Europe. Children, in particular, are at high risk of contracting LB. Since child-specific educational t... (Source: BMC Public Health)
Tuesday 15 November 2016
SPECIAL FROM Next Avenue Whether it came on suddenly when you were playing tennis or more gradually over many years, knee pain can keep you from doing even the most basic of activities. At the very least, it can limit your ability to move as easily or quickly, or sit in one place for an extended time. Arthritis is the most common cause of knee pain for older adults, said Dr. Julie Switzer, an orthopedic surgeon at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. Arthritis comes in three main forms, she said: osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis and post-traumatic arthritis. We’ll examine these types, as well as other causes of knee pain, below. The others include Lyme arthritis, torn cartilage or ligament, tendinitis, bursitis, gout and spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee. Then, we&...
Monday 14 November 2016
Authors: Spreer A, Rauer S, Wilking H, Fingerle V Abstract Lyme borreliosis is the most frequent tick-borne infection in Europe. It is a multisystemic disease affecting the skin, joints, heart, in rare cases the eyes and regularly the nervous system. Taking current clinical and microbiological guidelines into account, neuroborreliosis can in general be diagnosed and treated successfully. An appropriate guideline-conform antibiotic treatment is effective and in most cases recovery from acute neuroborreliosis is complete. Nevertheless, the evidence base regarding pharmacological treatment needs reform and improvement. Contrary to this scientifically based medical opinion, divergent opinions presented in the media cause uncertainty and confusion among patients and also some physicians...
Monday 14 November 2016
Howard England from Essex consults our expert about his daughters fatigue, which may be connected to a tick bite she got in 2005. She was told the disease can only be treated in Germany. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Friday 11 November 2016
In older studies, a chronic distal symmetric sensory neuropathy was reported as a relatively common manifestation of late Lyme disease in the United States. However, the original papers describing this entity had notable inconsistencies and certain inexplicable findings, such as reports that this condition developed in patients despite prior antibiotic treatment known to be highly effective for other manifestations of Lyme disease. More recent literature suggests that this entity is seen rarely, if at all. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
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Friday 11 November 2016
The castor bean tick Ixodes ricinus (L.) is the principal vector for a variety of viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens causing a growing public-health issue over the past decades. However, a national density map of I. ricinus is still missing. Here, I. ricinus nymphs in Germany were investigated by compiling a high-resolution map depicting the mean annually accumulated nymphal density, as observed by monthly flagging an area of 100 m2. Input data comprise ticks collected at 69 sampling sites. The model domain covers an area of about 357,000 km2 (regional scale). Two negative binomial regression models were fitted to the data to interpolate the tick densities to unsampled locations using bioclimatic variables and land cover, which were selected according to their significance by the Ak...
Friday 11 November 2016
Conclusions. These findings indicate that circulating CRP and SAA levels are highest when the concentration of spirochetes is greatest in skin and/or blood and that levels decline after the dissemination of the organism to extracutaneous sites in subsequent stages of infection. The data also suggest that antibiotic-refractory Lyme arthritis and post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome are associated with elevated CRP responses that are driven by inflammatory mechanisms distinct from those in active infection. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Thursday 10 November 2016
DETECTION OF BORRELIA GENOMOSPECIES 2 IN IXODES SPINIPALPIS TICKS COLLECTED FROM A RABBIT IN CANADA. J Parasitol. 2016 Nov 11; Authors: Scott JD, Clark KL, Foley JE, Anderson JF, Durden LA, Manord JM, Smith ML Abstract Lyme disease is a serious health problem with many patients requiring in-depth clinical assessment and extended treatment. In the present study, we provide the first records of the western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus, and Ixodes spinipalpis parasitizing eastern cottontails, Sylvilagus floridanus. We also documented a triple co-infestation of 3 tick species (Ixodes angustus, I. pacificus, I. spinipalpis) feeding on an eastern cottontail. Notably, we discovered a unique member of the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) in ...
Wednesday 9 November 2016
AbstractIn recent years, the number of patients suffering from Lyme Disease (LD) has significantly increased. The most dangerous manifestation of LD is neuroborreliosis associated with invasion of the central nervous system byBorrelia burgdorferi. Phospholipids (PL) and their metabolites are involved in inflammation, which plays a dominant, but still unclear, role in the pathogenesis of neuroborreliosis. We analyzed the plasma PL profiles of neuroborreliosis patients (n = 8) and healthy volunteers (n = 8) using a lipidomic approach. Significant increases in the lysophosphatidylcholines LysoPtdCho 16:0 and LysoPtdCho 18:2 were observed. The plasma of neuroborreliosis patients appeared to have an increased relative abundance of sphingomyelin CerPCho d18:1/24:1 and a decrease in CerPCho d...
Tuesday 8 November 2016
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Tuesday 8 November 2016
In this study, the specificity of antibody (Ab) responses to OspC was profiled to define the antigenic determinants during infection and after vaccination. Several OspC variants or ‘types’ were screened with serum from SNAP4Dx C6 positive dogs and with serum from rabbits hyperimmunized with OspC proteins. The OspC type-specific nature of the Ab response revealed that variable domains of OspC are immunodominant during infection and upon vaccination. To assess the potential of OspC to elicit Ab in the context of a bacterin vaccine, OspC production in strains cultivated in vitro was assessed. Immunoblot and indirect immunofluorescent antibody analyses demonstrated that production is low and that only a subset of cells actively produce OspC in vitro, raising questions about the potential o...
Monday 7 November 2016
Journal of Proteome ResearchDOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00386 (Source: Journal of Proteome Research)
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Sunday 6 November 2016
ConclusionThis large case–control study provides evidence for a lack of association between B. burgdorferi antibodies and ALS, and therefore does not support the inclusion of routine testing for these antibodies in the diagnostic work‐up in patients with classical ALS. (Source: European Journal of Neurology)
Sunday 6 November 2016
(Source: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health)
Saturday 5 November 2016
In this study, we demonstrate that an experimental spirochete host, the CD-1 strain outbred white mouse, can maintain active infection with B. mayonii for up to 1year: infected mice consistently yielded ear biopsies containing motile spirochetes from 29–375days after they were first infected via tick bite. Infection rates in resultant nymphal ticks varied greatly both over time for larvae fed on the same individual mouse at different time points after infection (2–42%) and for larvae fed on different mice at a given time point up to 8 months after infection (0–48%). Infection rates were lower in nymphs fed as larvae on mice 10–12 months after infection (2–3% for 5 mice and 9.8% for 1 mouse). In addition to ear biopsies, B. mayonii was detected from bladder, heart, and spinal cord...
Saturday 5 November 2016
Authors: Collignon PJ, Lum GD, Robson JM Abstract There is no convincing evidence that classic Lyme disease occurs in Australia, nor is there evidence that the causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferi, is found in Australian animals or ticks. Lyme disease, however, can be acquired overseas but diagnosed in Australia; most people presenting with laboratory-confirmed Lyme disease in Australia were infected in Europe. Despite the lack of evidence that Lyme disease can be acquired in Australia, growing numbers of patients, their supporters, and some politicians demand diagnoses and treatment according to the protocols of the "chronic Lyme disease" school of thought. Antibiotic therapy for chronic "Lyme disease-like illness" can cause harm to both the individual (eg, cannula-related intrav...
Friday 4 November 2016
People react very differently to an infection with the Borrelia bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Researchers have investigated this varying response, concluding that age, genetic disposition and previous Lyme infections play an important role. However, despite the large differences observed, the Borrelia bacterium has a clear effect on the immune system ’s energy regulation, opening up opportunities for research into better detection of Borrelia infections. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Wednesday 2 November 2016
Carrie E. Lasky, Carmela Louise Pratt, Kinsey A Hilliard, Jacob J Jones, Charles Robert Brown (Source: Frontiers in Immunology)
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Wednesday 2 November 2016
In this study, the existence and prevalence of Borrelia sp. in sika deer from four regions of Jilin Province in China was assessed. Seventy-one blood samples of sika deer were collected and tested by nested-PCRs based on 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), outer surface protein A (OspA), flagenllin (fla), and 5S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer (5S-23S rRNA) genes of B. burgdorferi s.l. Six (8.45%) samples were positive for Borrelia sp. based on sequences of 4 genes. The positive samples were detected 18 for 16S rRNA, 10 for OspA, 16 for fla and 6 for 5S-23S, with the positive rates 25.35 (95% CI=3.8-35.6), 14.08 (95% CI=3.0-21.6), 22.54 (95% CI=4.3-36.9) and 8.45 (95% CI=1.7-22.9), respectively. Sequence analysis of the positive PCR products revealed that the partial 4 genes sequences in this study w...
Wednesday 2 November 2016
Queensland woman Emily Muldoon, 27, has opened up about her long undiagnosed battle with Lyme disease after she endured excruciating pain for a decade. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Tuesday 1 November 2016
Abstract: A wide range of etiologies can cause hemifacial spasm (HFS), including infection. In this case report, a 44-year-old woman developed HFS and was explored surgically 7 years later. No abnormalities were found. Afterward, treatment of a surgical wound infection with an oral cephalosporin resulted in a temporary HFS remission that had never occurred previously. This antibiotic experience prompted further workup for an underlying infection, which ultimately led to diagnosis of Lyme disease. Presentation of HFS due to Lyme disease has not been reported. Because its diagnosis can be occult and antibiotic therapy can be both diagnostic and therapeutic, Lyme disease should be a consideration for cases of HFS. (Source: Clinical Neuropharmacology)
Tuesday 1 November 2016
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 300 000 new cases of Lyme disease occur each year in the United States and that 10% to 20% of these patients will remain symptomatic despite receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy. Many elements of the disease are poorly understood and have generated considerable controversy. This paper discusses the medical controversies related to posttreatment manifestations and their potential impact on infusion nurses. (Source: Journal of Infusion Nursing)
Monday 31 October 2016
Authors: Weiss D, Weiss MF PMID: 27802470 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Internal Medicine)
Monday 31 October 2016
In conclusion, functional genomics approaches reveal the architecture of cytokine production induced by Borrelia infection of human primary leukocytes and suggest a connection between cellular glucose metabolism and Borrelia-induced cytokine production. PMID: 27818078 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Cell Host and Microbe)
Monday 31 October 2016
In this study, we investigated the effect of tick (23 °C), mammalian physiological (37 °C) and standard in vitro culture (33 °C) temperatures with the objective of elucidating the effect of temperature on Borrelia biofilm phenotypes invitro using two B. burgdorferisensu stricto strains (B31 and 297). Our findings show increased biofilm quantity, biofilm size, exopolysaccharide content and enhanced adherence as well as reduced free spirochaetes at 37 °C for both strains, when compared to growth at 23 and 33 °C. There were no significant variations in the biofilm nano-topography and the type of extracellular polymeric substance in Borrelia biofilms formed at all three temperatures. Significant variations in extracellular DNA content were observed in the biofilms of both strain...
Monday 31 October 2016
If you're one of the more than 20 million Americans who suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), your doctor has probably told you there isn't much they can do for you. Mainstream medicine doesn't have a cure for CKD. What they do have is a lot of drugs to treat the symptoms of it. And most of the drugs will leave you worse off than before you started taking them… Like ESAs, which are prescribed to treat anemia caused by chronic kidney disease. These dangerous drugs can cause strokes, heart attacks, blood clots and seizures. And if your kidneys fail, your only options are dialysis or a kidney transplant. It's enough to leave you feeling hopeless… But I'm here to tell you there IS hope. It's called intravenous laser blood therapy, or IV laser treatment. ...
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Friday 7 October 2016
Purpose of review: Tick-borne diseases are increasing in incidence and geographic distribution. Several diseases endemic to the United States have ophthalmic manifestations, including the most common tick-borne disease, Lyme borreliosis. As ocular complaints may lead a patient to seek medical evaluation, it is important to be aware of the systemic and ophthalmic manifestations of tick-borne diseases in order to make the correct diagnosis. Recent findings: Vision-threatening ophthalmic manifestations are relatively common in Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ocular involvement is rare in babesiosis, tick-borne relapsing fever, Powassan encephalitis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and Colorado tick fever. There are clear guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease; how...
Thursday 6 October 2016
(Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Wednesday 5 October 2016
This study reports the evaluation of the technical and clinical validation of the O-DiaBorburg kit (DIA),Borrelia burgdorferi PCR kit, ISEX (GENE), andBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato Real-TM (SAC) for the diagnosis of neuroborreliosis in cerebrospinal fluid based on bothBorrelia DNA and CSF samples from patients with clinical suspicion of neuroborreliosis. This validation study was done by analysing the kits on the Rotorgene Q (RGQ), CFX96, and LightCycler480 (LC480). For all kits, the linear range was larger on RGQ than on CFX96 and LC480. A good reproducibility was obtained for all assays on all instruments. Storage at −20 °C resulted in a decreased reproducibility for SAC. Results of the limit of detection (LOD95) experiments indicated a better sensitivity than described in the kit ...
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Tuesday 4 October 2016
The purpose of this paper is to review information regarding the current guidelines for the clinical laboratory diagnosis of Lyme disease as set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to chiropractic physicians and to discuss the clinical utility of this testing. (Source: Journal of Chiropractic Medicine)
Tuesday 4 October 2016
ConclusionsBased on molecular detection techniques, the probability of infection with a tick-borne pathogen other than Lyme spirochetes after a tick bite is roughly 2.4%, in the Netherlands. Similarly, among patients with erythema migrans, the probability of a co-infection with another tick-borne pathogen is approximately 2.7%. How often these infections cause disease symptoms or to what extend co-infections affect the course of Lyme borreliosis needs further investigations. (Source: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Tuesday 4 October 2016
by William K. Arnold, Christina R. Savage, Catherine A. Brissette, Janakiram Seshu, Jonathan Livny, Brian StevensonBorrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme disease, differentially expresses numerous genes and proteins as it cycles between mammalian hosts and tick vectors. Insights on regulatory mechanisms have been provided by earlier studies that examinedB.burgdorferi gene expression patterns during cultivation. However, prior studies examined bacteria at only a single time point of cultivation, providing only a snapshot of what is likely a dynamic transcriptional program drivingB.burgdorferi adaptations to changes during culture growth phases. To address that concern, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis ofB.burgdorferi cultures at early-exponential, mid-exponential, and early-s...
Tuesday 4 October 2016
In this study, using whole transcriptome microarray chips, we aimed to compare the transcriptional response of normal human dermal fibroblasts stimulated by 3Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato strains belonging to 3 main pathogenic species (B.afzelii,B.garinii andB.burgdorferi sensu stricto) in order to determine whether “species-related” inflammatory pathways could be identified. The threeBorrelia strains tested exhibited similar transcriptional profiles, and no species-specific fingerprint of transcriptional changes in fibroblasts was observed. Conversely, a common core of chemokines/cytokines (CCL2, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL6, CXCL10, IL-6, IL-8) and interferon-related genes was stimulated by all the 3 strains. Dermal fibroblasts appear to play a key role in the cutaneous infection withBorrel...
Sunday 2 October 2016
by Lauren M. K. Mason, Alex Wagemakers, Cornelis van ‘t Veer, Anneke Oei, Wouter J. van der Pot, Kalam Ahmed, Tom van der Poll, Teunis B. H. Geijtenbeek, Joppe W. R. HoviusBorrelia burgdorferi is transmitted into the skin of the host where it encounters and interacts with two dendritic cell (DC) subsets; Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal DCs (DDCs). These cells recognize pathogens via pattern recognition receptors, mature and migrate out of the skin into draining lymph nodes, where they orchestrate adaptive immune responses. In order to investigate the response of skin DCs during the early immunopathogenesis of Lyme borreliosis, we injectedB.burgdorferi intradermally into full-thickness human skin and studied the migration of DCs out of the skin, the activation profile and phenotype of m...
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Saturday 1 October 2016
Authors: Forman E, Rice M, Neylon O PMID: 27685494 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Ir Med J)
Friday 30 September 2016
Abstract Climate change refers to variation in the climate of a specific region or globally over time. A change has been reported in the epidemiology of tick‐ and mosquito‐borne diseases in recent decades. Investigators have postulated that this effect may be associated with climate change. We reviewed the English‐language literature describing changes in the epidemiology of specific tick‐ and mosquito‐borne diseases, including the tick‐borne diseases of Lyme disease, tularemia, Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever, Mediterranean spotted fever, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever and the mosquito‐borne diseases of dengue, malaria, West Nile virus infection, Ross River virus disease, and Barmah Forest virus disease. We postulate that the changing epidemiology of tick‐ and mosquito...
Friday 30 September 2016
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Swimming with sugar: We demonstrate that the flagellar filament proteins of oral bacterium Treponema denticola are modified with a novel glycan (a C7‐acylated pseudaminic acid derivative, m/z 451.2) and that such a modification is essential for flagellar assembly and motility. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Friday 30 September 2016
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Rrp2 acts in concert with BosR to activate σ54‐dependent rpoS transcription in Borrelia burgdorferi. In contrast to canonical bacterial enhancer binding proteins, Rrp2 is essential for the growth of B. burgdorferi. We demonstrate that the Walker A and B motifs constituting ATP binding and hydrolysis activities of Rrp2 are required for borrelial growth, suggesting that the Walker motifs are involved in Rrp2's control over another unknown RpoS‐independent gene product(s) associated with cell replication. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Thursday 29 September 2016
We read with great interest the review of Borie et al. [1] on pulmonary lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). We agree with the hypothesis that chronic antigen stimulation of microbial origin may lead to the development of pulmonary MALT lymphoma. Indeed, MALT lymphoma has been associated with various chronic infections in extrapulmonary localisations. This link has previously been demonstrated between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric MALT lymphoma, and suggested with Campylobacter jejuni, Chlamydia psittaci and Borrelia burgdorferi with small intestine lymphoma, ocular annexa lymphoma and cutaneous lymphoma, respectively. Similarly a link has recently been suggested between infection with Achromobacter xylosoxidans and pulmonary MALT lymphoma [2]. (Source: Eur...
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Thursday 29 September 2016
Conclusions: Bilateral facial palsy is a rare medical condition, and treatment often requires a multidisciplinary approach. The authors outline diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms of a tertiary care center to provide clinicians with a systematic approach to managing these complicated patients. (Source: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery)
Thursday 29 September 2016
Many aspects of pharmacological treatment of Lyme neuroborreliosis in children, such as choice of drug, dosage, and duration are subject to intense debates, leading to uncertainties in patients ’ parents and he... (Source: BMC Neurology)
Wednesday 28 September 2016
In this study, all dogs treated with NexGard® 28days prior to challenge with wild caught I. scapularis ticks were protected from B. burgdorferi infection, while nine out of the ten untreated control dogs were infected. (Source: Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases)
Tuesday 27 September 2016
Peter Kraiczy (Source: Frontiers in Immunology)
Monday 26 September 2016
(MedPage Today) -- Persistent joint symptoms may represent a new-onset autoimmune disease (Source: MedPage Today Geriatrics)
Saturday 24 September 2016
Publication date: Available online 24 September 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Katherine Sayler, Jessica Rowland, Carisa Boyce, Emma Weeks Tick-borne diseases are an emerging public health threat in the United States. In Florida, there has been public attention directed towards the possibility of locally acquired Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the causative agent of Lyme disease, in association with the lone star tick. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ticks and the pathogens they carry and potentially transmit, such as B. burgdorferi, in a highly utilized teaching and research forest in North Central Florida. Ticks were collected by dragging and flagging methods over a four month period in early 2014, identified, and tested by PCR for mul...
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Friday 23 September 2016
Today, 1989 may be most associated with Taylor Swift: It is the album that won her a second Grammy for Album of the Year. Not only that, it happens to be the year Swift was born--such a long, long time ago! People under 35 have no personal memory of 1980s pop culture, which is ironic since Swift's album in part pays homage to it. In the real 1989 (no offense to Swift and the 10 co-producers who made the album), all sorts of revolutions took place: Mr. Gorbachev tore down that pesky wall, for example. America's greatest antagonist, the Soviet Union, collapsed in 1989. Brazil conducted its first democratic presidential election since 1960. And so on. Today, it's hard to say whether America's greatest existential threat may be Vladimir Putin or his Number-One American Fan, Donald Trump...
Friday 23 September 2016
The bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) (BBG) complex constitute a group of tick-transmitted pathogens that are linked to many vertebrate and tick species. The ecological relationships between the pathoge... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Thursday 22 September 2016
Canon U.S.A. (NYSE:CAJ) said today it made a $40 million dollar equity investment into diagnostic developer T2 Biosystems Inc. (NSDQ:TTOO), giving Canon a 19.9% stake. Canon said it purchased approximately $40 million of T2’s stock at $6.56 per share through a private placement. The investment isn’t the 1st pairing for Canon and T2, as both companies have been collaborating to develop a diagnostic test panel for rapidly detecting Lyme disease since February 2015. “We recognize that both T2 Biosystems and Canon U.S.A. are aligned in working towards the same goal and as such, we are pleased to strengthen our relationship and look forward to bringing future innovative diagnostic products to market that can improve patient health. Investments to companies like T2 is anot...
Wednesday 21 September 2016
This study sets the stage for future research to examine the prospective tissue targets identified in order to resolve the physiological roles of this family of peptides in Ixodid ticks. (Source: Peptides)
Monday 19 September 2016
We evaluated the diagnostic performance of two assays, one bead‐based assay and one enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for the determination of CXCL13 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with suspected Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). Patients investigated for LNB were retrospectively included (n = 132): 35 with definite LNB, 8 with possible LNB with CSF pleocytosis but normal antibody index (AI), 6 with possible LNB with elevated AI but no CSF pleocytosis and 83 non‐LNB patients. CSF samples had been drawn before antibiotic treatment and were analysed for CXCL13 by Quantikine ELISA (R&D Systems) and recomBead (Mikrogen). Receiver operating characteristic analyses based on the definite LNB and non‐LNB groups revealed a best performance cut‐off of 56 pg/mL fo...
Monday 19 September 2016
Authors: Vieira TS, Vieira RF, Krawczak FS, Soares HS, Guimarães AM, Barros-Filho IR, Marcondes M, Labruna MB, Biondo AW, Vidotto O Abstract Although well established in dogs, Ehrlichia sp. infection has been scarcely reported in horses. The aim was to perform a comprehensive serological and molecular survey for the detection of Ehrlichia spp. in carthorses from Southern Brazil. Blood samples from 190 carthorses from Paraná State were sampled. Horses were also tested for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Anti-Ehrlichia sp. antibodies were detected by a commercial rapid ELISA, and immunofluorescence antibody assays (IFA) with E. chaffeensis and E. canis as crude antigens. The molecular and phylogenetic analysis of Ehrlichia sp. was based on 16S rRNA and dsb genes...
Saturday 17 September 2016
Publication date: Available online 13 September 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Salima Gasmi, Nicholas H. Ogden, Patrick A. Leighton, L. Robbin Lindsay, Karine Thivierge Ixodes scapularis, the main vector of Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, is expanding its range in southern Canada and bringing risk to the public from Lyme disease. The aims of this study were to (i) describe how risk of Lyme disease in Quebec, Canada, has changed from 2008 to 2014 by analysis of the number of tick submissions, the geographic scope of ticks submitted and the prevalence of B. burgdorferi in ticks removed from people and submitted through the Quebec passive tick surveillance program and (ii) explore whether exposure to ticks is influenced by age and sex. Ticks...
Saturday 17 September 2016
Publication date: Available online 18 September 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Cécile Aenishaenslin, Catherine Bouchard, Jules K. Koffi, Yann Pelcat, Nicholas H. Ogden Lyme disease (LD) is emerging in Canada. A key preventive strategy is promoting the adoption by the general public of personal preventive behaviors regarding tick bites. The aim of this study was to measure the changes in public awareness toward ticks and LD before and after the launch of a national communication campaign in Canada using data from two surveys conducted in March and December 2014. The results show a significant increase in awareness of LD after compared to before the campaign, but also suggest that the importance of this increase is not equal amongst Canadian regions. Moreover, respond...
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Thursday 15 September 2016
Conclusion: Systemic autoimmune joint diseases, RA, PsA/SpA, may follow Lyme disease. Development of polyarthritis after antibiotic‐treated erythema migrans, previous psoriasis, or low‐titer B. burgdorferi antibodies are clues to the correct diagnosis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism)
Thursday 15 September 2016
CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that rodents have a high prevalence of B. burgdorferi s.l. infection, and both species of rodents, M. musculus and R. rattus, might be playing an important role in the maintenance of this bacterium in rural communities of Yucatán, México. PMID: 27622631 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Biomedica : Revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud)
Thursday 15 September 2016
DR SARA KAYAT has given a second opinion to a caller concerned she could be suffering with Lyme disease. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Wednesday 14 September 2016
Authors: Levy M, Abi-Warde MT, Rameau AC, Fafi-Kremer S, Hansmann Y, Fischbach M, Higel L Abstract Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is an arbovirus induced by tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) transmitted by tick bite. The disease is rare in France (two to three cases per year) but endemic zones extend from Western Europe to the east coast of Asia (10,000-15,000 cases per year). An 8-year-old boy was admitted to our pediatric ward in Strasbourg (France) for febrile headache with diplopia. Four days after a tick bite, he declared a febrile headache together with maculopapular rash on the elbows, knees, and cheeks. Fourteen days after the outbreak of symptoms, he showed confusion, drowsiness, and binocular diplopia. Brain MRI was normal and the electroencephalogram found diffuse slow...
Wednesday 14 September 2016
Hey, Sugar, pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Today, the Journal of the American Medical Association dropped an alleged bombshell when it disclosed that the sugar industry lobby influenced research on coronary heart disease by effectively bribing Harvard researchers to promote the theory that dietary fat, and not sugar, causes heart disease. The story is trending on Facebook at this very moment, and the JAMA Facebook post states that "Policymaking committees should consider giving less weight to food industry-funded studies, and include mechanistic and animal studies as well as studies appraising the effect of added sugars on multiple CHD biomarkers and disease development." All of this is well and good (actually, no, not really), but I've got to ask you--are you really s...
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Tuesday 13 September 2016
Publication date: Available online 13 September 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Salima Gasmi, Nicholas H. Ogden, Patrick A. Leighton, L. Robbin Lindsay, Karine Thivierge Ixodes scapularis, the main vector of Borrelia burgdorferi, the spirochetal agent of Lyme disease, is expanding its range in southern Canada and bringing risk to the public from Lyme disease. The aims of this study were to i) describe how risk of Lyme disease in Quebec, Canada, has changed from 2008 to 2014 by analysis of the number of tick submissions, the geographic scope of ticks submitted and the prevalence of B. burgdorferi in ticks removed from people and submitted through the Quebec passive tick surveillance program and ii) explore whether exposure to ticks is influenced by age and sex. Ticks w...
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Tuesday 13 September 2016
(Source: Infection and Drug Resistance)
Sunday 11 September 2016
Conclusions. For children and adolescents undergoing evaluation for Lyme disease, the C6 EIA could guide initial clinical decision making, although a supplemental immunoblot should still be performed. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Sunday 11 September 2016
Conclusions. BL is a rare manifestation of early localized LB. Fourteen-day antibiotic treatment, as used for erythema migrans, is effective. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Saturday 10 September 2016
Zoonoses and Public Health,Volume 65, Issue 2, Page 238-246, March 2018. (Source: Zoonoses and Public Health)
Friday 9 September 2016
This morning, I awoke to find that I had been copied on dozens of Twitter message exchanges among several people who were discussing the pathology of Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, among human beings and mice. My first thought was "Seriously?! It's too early for this!" My second thought was "well, David, your Twitter sure has evolved from your pre-Lyme days when you used it mostly to promote vapid celebrity interviews." As I began my morning caffeine ritual and read through each of the messages, I gained a new appreciation for some of the real complexities of "invisible" illnesses. If you are connected with anyone on social media who lives with a chronic ailment, you've probably seen memes such as the ones peppered throughout this post. People who suf...
Thursday 8 September 2016
With more than 300,000 new infections of Lyme disease each year, a vaccine is warranted, argues researcher. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Wednesday 7 September 2016
Authors: Hansmann Y, Chirouze C, Tattevin P, Alfandari S, Caumes E, Christmann D, Salomon J, Michelet C, Rabaud C, Roblot F, Société de pathologie infectieuse de langue française PMID: 27592140 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Medecine et Maladies Infectieuses)
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Wednesday 7 September 2016
Travis J. Bourret, Kevin A. Lawrence, Jeff A. Shaw, Tao Lin, Steven J. Norris, Frank C. Gherardini (Source: Frontiers in Microbiology)
Tuesday 6 September 2016
Researchers have found that patients who were prescribed corticosteroids as part of treatment for Lyme disease-associated facial paralysis had worse long-term outcomes of regaining facial function than those who were prescribed antibiotic therapy alone. Based on these findings the researchers urge caution in prescribing corticosteroids to patients with acute Lyme disease-associated facial paralysis. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Tuesday 6 September 2016
New England Journal of Medicine,Volume 375, Issue 10, Page 911-913, September 2016. (Source: New England Journal of Medicine)
Tuesday 6 September 2016
AbstractThe similarity of Lyme borreliosis to other diseases and its complex pathogenesis present diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. The changes that occur at the cellular and molecular levels after aBorrelia sp. infection still remain poorly understood. Therefore, the present study focused on the expression ofTLR andTLR-signaling genes in human dermal fibroblasts in the differentiation of an infection withBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes. Normal human dermal fibroblasts were cultured with the spirochetes ofBorrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto,Borrelia afzelii andBorrelia garinii. Total RNA was extracted from the cells using TRIzol reagent. The analysis of the expression profiles ofTLRs andTLR-related genes was performed using commercially available oligonucleotide microarra...
Tuesday 6 September 2016
New England Journal of Medicine,Volume 375, Issue 10, Page 997-998, September 2016. (Source: New England Journal of Medicine)
Tuesday 6 September 2016
The following Q&A is a continuation of an interview with Tara Moriarty, proprietor of the Moriarty Lab, an infectious diseases research lab that studies primarily Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Moriarty is the principal investigator of a new academic paper from the University of Toronto that details the mechanism by which Bb "crawl" through the body -- a scholarly article that turned out to be unexpectedly popular. Tara Moriarty (Photo by Jeff Comber) How do you think your findings about the biomechanics of Lyme disease bacteria may affect treatment of the disease? Your research shows that Bb uses specialized adhesive bonds to "crawl" along the insides of blood vessels. Tara Moriarty: Absolutely, targeting this adhesion mechanism could be very i...
Tuesday 6 September 2016
(Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary) Researchers from Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School have found that patients who were prescribed corticosteroids as part of treatment for Lyme disease-associated facial paralysis had worse long-term outcomes of regaining facial function than those who were prescribed antibiotic therapy alone. Based on these findings, which were published online today in Laryngoscope, the researchers urge caution in prescribing corticosteroids to patients with acute Lyme disease-associated facial paralysis. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
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Monday 5 September 2016
Lyme disease is the number one arthropod-transmitted disease in the U.S., and one of the diagnostic criteria for the illness is development of an erythematous bull ’s eye rash around a tick bite which may expand over time, hence the term erythema migrans. However, there are other erythema migrans-like rashes such as those from a condition known as southern tick-associated rash illness. This paper describes a patient with an erythema migrans-like lesion simil ar to that associated with Lyme disease, resulting from a bite by a nymphal stage lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
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Friday 2 September 2016
The nymphal stage of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, is considered the primary vector to humans in the eastern United States of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. The abundance of infected host-seeking nymphs is commonly used to estimate the fundamental risk of human exposure to B. burgdorferi, for the purpose of environmental risk assessment and as an outcome measure when evaluating environmentally based tick or pathogen control methods. However, as this tick-based risk measure does not consider the likelihoods of either human encounters with infected ticks or tick bites resulting in pathogen transmission, its linkage to the occurrence of Lyme disease cases is worth evaluating. In this Forum article, we describe different tick-based risk measures,...
Friday 2 September 2016
In the 1980s, the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, and rodents were recognized as the principal vector and reservoir hosts of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi in the eastern United States, and deer were incriminated as principal hosts for I. scapularis adults. These realizations led to pioneering studies aiming to reduce the risk for transmission of B. burgdorferi to humans by attacking host-seeking ticks with acaricides, interrupting the enzootic transmission cycle by killing immatures infesting rodent reservoirs by means of acaricide-treated nesting material, or reducing deer abundance to suppress tick numbers. We review the progress over the past three decades in the fields of: 1) prevention of human–tick contact with repellents and permethrin-treated cloth...
Friday 2 September 2016
In addition to serving as vectors of several other human pathogens, the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, and western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls, are the primary vectors of the spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi) that causes Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Over the past two decades, the geographic range of I. pacificus has changed modestly while, in contrast, the I. scapularis range has expanded substantially, which likely contributes to the concurrent expansion in the distribution of human Lyme disease cases in the Northeastern, North-Central and Mid-Atlantic states. Identifying counties that contain suitable habitat for these ticks that have not yet reported established vector populations can aid in targeting limite...
Friday 2 September 2016
"Who knew there would be so much interest in a biomechanics paper??!!" Those are the words--and the multiple exclamation points--of Tara Moriarty, proprietor of the Moriarty Lab, an infectious diseases research lab that studies primarily Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Moriarty is the principal investigator of a new academic paper from the University of Toronto that details the mechanism by which Bb "crawl" through the body. Scientific American is among the many mainstream outlets that discussed the findings, which may represent a major step in making the ever-gray world of Lyme disease science more black and white. Understanding the movement of an infectious disease agent may seem unnecessarily technical to many people, but Lyme disease patients a...
Thursday 1 September 2016
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Borrelia burgdorferi encodes a TamB‐like protein. TamB proteins from Proteobacteria interact with TamA to form the translocation and assemble module (TAM). Spirochetes and many other organisms, however, do not contain a TamA protein, although they encode TamB homologs. Here, we show that the TamB homolog from B. burgdorferi interacts with the BamA protein of the β‐barrel assembly machine (BAM) and suggest this may be a common interaction in organisms that lack TamA and a TAM. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Thursday 1 September 2016
The Question: When does a bug bite require serious medical attention? The Answer: Sometimes that pesky mosquito bite just needs a little hydrocortisone cream and time to heal. But occasionally, it’s not so simple. While most bug bites and stings are harmless, some can be dangerous if not treated properly — especially if you have an undiagnosed allergy to a particular bug venom or if that bug is a disease carrier. The summer months seem to be stocked with extra critters crawling and buzzing around us, upping the chances that you, a friend or a family member might need a dermatologist’s expertise. Here’s how the experts determine the difference between a nuisance and a health concern that requires attention. One of the first steps to differentiating between a ...
Wednesday 31 August 2016
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Wednesday 31 August 2016
This study examines the pathogen prevalence rate of Borrelia in adult Ixodes scapularis (Ixodida: Ixodidae), the black‐legged tick, collected from white‐tailed deer and compares it with pathogen prevalence rates in adult ticks gathered by dragging vegetation in two contiguous counties west of the Hudson Valley in upstate New York. In both Broome and Chenango Counties, attached and unattached ticks harvested from white‐tailed deer had significantly lower prevalences of B. burgdorferi than those collected from vegetation. No attached ticks on deer (n = 148) in either county, and only 2.4 and 7.3% of unattached ticks (n = 389) in Broome and Chenango Counties, respectively, were harbouring the pathogen. This contrasts with the finding that 40.8% of ticks in Broome County and 46...
Wednesday 31 August 2016
This study assessed the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in New Brunswick dogs. Testing of 699 serum samples from dogs across the province revealed a 6% province-wide seropositivity, more than 6 times higher than that found in 2008. The rapid increase in seropositivity indicates increased Lyme disease risk to both canine and human health. PMID: 27587892 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The Canadian Veterinary Journal)
Wednesday 31 August 2016
Arpit Arora: I Have No Relevant Financial Relationships To Disclose (Source: PM and R)
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Wednesday 31 August 2016
Publication date: Available online 31 August 2016 Source:Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology Author(s): Deborah A. Grosenbaugh, Daniel R. Rissi, Paula M. Krimer Lyme disease in dogs can be effectively prevented by vaccination against antigens expressed by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi during transmission by the tick vector Ixodes sp. Lyme vaccine efficacy has traditionally been based on indicators of infection following wild-caught tick challenge whereas most other types of vaccine are required to demonstrate protection from clinical signs of disease. In this vaccination-challenge study we sought to demonstrate the ability of a nonadjuvanted, outer surface protein A (OspA) vaccine to protect from infection and to prevent synovial lesions consistent with Borreliosis. Thirty, pu...
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Wednesday 31 August 2016
ConclusionAn association between corticosteroid use in acute LDFP and worse long‐term facial function outcomes has been demonstrated. Care should be taken in differentiating viral or idiopathic facial palsy (e.g., Bell palsy) from LDFP. Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 2016 (Source: The Laryngoscope)
Wednesday 31 August 2016
Summary Despite the mandatory nature of Lyme disease (LD) reporting in New York State (NYS), it is believed that only a fraction of the LD cases diagnosed annually are reported to public health authorities. Lack of complete LD case reporting generally stems from (i) lack of report of provider‐diagnosed cases where supportive laboratory testing is not ordered or results are negative (i.e. provider underreporting) and (ii) incomplete case information (clinical laboratory reporting only with no accompanying clinical information) such that cases are considered ‘suspect’ and not included in national and statewide case counts (i.e. case misclassification). In an attempt to better understand LD underreporting in NYS, a two‐part study was conducted in 2011 using surveillance data from thre...
Monday 29 August 2016
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Thursday 25 August 2016
Publication date: Available online 25 August 2016 Source:Cell Reports Author(s): Rhodaba Ebady, Alexandra F. Niddam, Anna E. Boczula, Yae Ram Kim, Nupur Gupta, Tian Tian Tang, Tanya Odisho, Hui Zhi, Craig A. Simmons, Jon T. Skare, Tara J. Moriarty Systemic dissemination of microbes is critical for progression of many infectious diseases and is associated with most mortality due to bacterial infection. The physical mechanisms mediating a key dissemination step, bacterial association with vascular endothelia in blood vessels, remain unknown. Here, we show that endothelial interactions of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi under physiological shear stress mechanistically resemble selectin-dependent leukocyte rolling. Specifically, these interactions are mediated by tra...
Thursday 25 August 2016
Researchers have developed a live-cell-imaging-based system that provides insights into how Lyme disease bacteria latch onto and move along the inside surface of blood vessels to reach key destinations in the body where they may be able to persist longer and avoid treatment. Ironically, the same strategies that these bacteria use to spread through the body are also used by immune cells to protect against infectious disease. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Thursday 25 August 2016
The sneaky germ uses a mechanism like that of white blood cells to reach vulnerable tissues and hide from antibiotics -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com (Source: Scientific American)
Thursday 25 August 2016
Among bacteria, the spirochetes are characterized by their spiral shape and remarkable length — as much 50 times longer than most other bacteria. This can make cell elongation and division a laborious process. One of those spirochetes, Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme Disease, has evolved an unusual way of doing this process: Borrelia cells mark the location where their daughters wi ll divide before dividing themselves. (Source: Yale Science and Health News)
Thursday 25 August 2016
(Cell Press) Researchers have developed a live-cell-imaging-based system that provides insights into how Lyme disease bacteria latch onto and move along the inside surface of blood vessels to reach key destinations in the body where they may be able to persist longer and avoid treatment. Ironically, the same strategies that these bacteria use to spread through the body are also used by immune cells to protect against infectious disease. The study appears Aug. 25 in Cell Reports. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
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Wednesday 24 August 2016
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The drought conditions that have gripped much of the Northeastern U.S. this summer appear to have a silver lining — fewer ticks. From Maine to Rhode Island, researchers say they expect tick numbers to be down from previous years especially for the blacklegged ticks, known as deer ticks, which transmit Lyme disease. It’s too early to say, however, whether fewer ticks could mean a decline in Lyme disease cases. About 30,000 confirmed cases are reported each year across the country and those numbers have steadily risen. Scientists and state health agencies say they won’t be able to provide an accurate assessment until later this year. “I’m confident that ticks took it on the chin this summer,” said University of Rhode Island’s Thoma...
Wednesday 24 August 2016
Conclusion: In this small case series of eyes with macular edema secondary to infectious uveitis, treatment with dexamethasone intravitreal implants was not associated with reactivation of the infectious ocular disease. Furthermore, significant improvements in visual acuity and macular thickness were observed in our patients. (Source: RETINA)
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Tuesday 23 August 2016
Conclusions Lyme disease patients showing articular manifestations should be included in the diagnosis of articular affections in areas of high risk of hard tick bite, in order to establish a suitable and early treatment and to avoid sequels. (Source: Reumatologia Clinica)
Tuesday 23 August 2016
A previously unreported sign and related symptoms overshadowed the revelatory clue in a patient with early infection. A 25-year-old man from New England awoke with posterior neck pain that progressively worsened over the next 3 days. He sought treatment at a general medicine clinic where he had an unremarkable physical examination and reported no significant medical history. Results from a complete blood count with differential, a complete metabolic panel, and a cervical spine x-ray were normal. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Tuesday 23 August 2016
Authors: Pritt BS, Respicio-Kingry LB, Sloan LM, Schriefer ME, Replogle AJ, Bjork J, Liu G, Kingry LC, Mead PS, Neitzel DF, Schiffman E, Hoang Johnson DK, Davis JP, Paskewitz SM, Boxrud D, Deedon A, Lee X, Miller TK, Feist MA, Steward CR, Theel ES, Patel R, Irish CL, Petersen JM Abstract Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a multisystem disease caused by spirochetes in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) genospecies complex. We previously described a novel Borrelia species (type strain MN14-1420T) that causes LB among patients with exposures to ticks in the upper midwestern United States. Patients infected with the novel species demonstrated high levels of spirochetemia and differing clinical symptoms as compared to other Bbsl genospecies. The organism was detected from human specimens...
Tuesday 23 August 2016
Mepron, a thick liquid antimicrobial drug used to treat Babesia and malaria, as well as a fungal infection called Pneumocystitis carinii. In 2011, the United Kingdom stopped requiring that dogs brought into the country be inspected for ticks. Earlier this year, several dogs tested positive for babesia, a malaria-like disease transmitted to ticks that previously had only been found in foreign. These dogs had never left the U.K. While babesiosis is a new worry to U.K. dog owners, it's been a threat to human beings for years -- it just hasn't become a health-scare-of-the-week like Zika, West Nile, avian and swine flu. Most people have never heard of it. Babesia microti, the protozoan that causes babesiosis, occurs throughout continental Europe and Asia, as well as throughout New England a...
Saturday 20 August 2016
Infections have surged, and an out-of-whack ecosystem may be to blame. (Source: NYT Health)
Thursday 18 August 2016
Borrelia burgdorferi survives in nature through a complex tick-mammalian life cycle. During its transit between ticks and mammalian hosts, B. burgdorferi must dramatically alter its outer surface profile in order to interact with and adapt to these two diverse niches. It has been established that the regulator BosR (BB0647) in B. burgdorferi plays important roles in modulating borrelial host adaptation. However, to date, how bosR expression itself is controlled in B. burgdorferi remains largely unknown. Previously, it has been shown that DNA sequences upstream of BosR harbor multiple sites for the binding of recombinant BosR, suggesting that BosR may influence its own expression in B. burgdorferi. However, direct experimental evidence supporting this putative autoregulation of BosR has bee...
Tuesday 16 August 2016
Serological antibody detection tests are standard diagnostic procedure for Lyme disease. Indirect detection of pathogens is performed by ELISA and Immunoblot technique. A new flow cytometric method was developed, which detects human antibodies in serum and provides quantitative results. Our goal was to test out this method and to compare the results with those of the established methods. 101 sera from patients, who presented at the Department of Dermatology and Allergy Biederstein with a clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease were analysed for Borrelia antibodies using both the Immunoblot method (Borrelia ViraStripe ® IgG, IgM Test) and the flow cytometric method (SERION Multianalyt™ Borrelia burgdorferi IgG, IgM test). (Source: Journal of Investigative Dermatology)
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Tuesday 16 August 2016
This study evaluated antibiotic vs placebo. The study was terminated early due to the determined likelihood that a beneficial effect would not be found. When this was critically analyzed with biostatistical methods, an article was published which I believe demonstrates that Klempner's study was so poorly designed and analyzed that in order for a treatment effect to have been observed, the antibiotic treated patients would have had to improve to a level of health which was a full standard deviation better than the average health of the general population. It's a reasonable hope for antibiotics to return a patient to a somewhat normal life; it's not a reasonable hope that they would improve that patient's health status to better than average. The second study was by Krupp. It showed a reduc...
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Monday 15 August 2016
Agents that cause Lyme disease, relapsing fever, leptospirosis, and syphilis belong to the phylum Spirochaetae—a unique lineage of bacteria most known for their long, spiral morphology. Despite the relevance to human health, little is known about the most fundamental aspects of spirochete growth. Here, using quantitative microscopy to track peptidoglycan... (Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)
Thursday 11 August 2016
Publication date: Available online 12 August 2016 Source:Molecular and Cellular Probes Author(s): Sally J. Cutler, Eva Ruzic-Sabljic, Aleksandar Potkonjak Lyme borreliosis (or Lyme disease) has become a virtual household term to the exclusion of other forgotten, emerging or re-emerging borreliae. We review current knowledge regarding these other borreliae, exploring their ecology, epidemiology and pathological potential, for example, for the newly described B. mayonii. These bacteria range from tick-borne, relapsing fever-inducing strains detected in some soft ticks, such as B. mvumii, to those from bat ticks resembling B. turicatae. Some of these emerging pathogens remain unnamed, such as the borrelial strains found in South African penguins and some African cattle ticks. Others, such as...
Thursday 11 August 2016
Authors: Correa-Selm LM, Bronsnick T, Rao BK, Kirkorian AY, Marcus A, Cha J Abstract A 70-year-old man was referred by his rheumatologist to our dermatology clinic for evaluation of dermatitis on his right arm that appeared 3 months earlier. The skin lesion was asymptomatic and the patient denied current systemic symptoms, including fever, chills, and joint pain; however, 10 months prior to this presentation he experienced arthritis in the left knee. At that time, Borrelia serology revealed positive IgG (6.07; <0.8 negative, 0.8 to 0.99 borderline, ≥1 positive) and negative IgM titers. The patient had not received treatment for Lyme disease in the past. He was referred to rheumatology for evaluation of possible Lyme disease but did not follow up until 10 months later. The arth...
Monday 8 August 2016
Summary Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, is a highly motile spirochete, and motility, which is provided by its periplasmic flagella, is critical for every part of the spirochete's enzootic life cycle. Unlike externally flagellated bacteria, spirochetes possess a unique periplasmic flagellar structure called the collar. This spirochete‐specific novel component is linked to the flagellar basal body; however, nothing is known about the proteins encoding the collar or their function in any spirochete. To identify a collar protein and determine its function, we employed a comprehensive strategy that included genetic, biochemical, and microscopic analyses. We found that BB0286 (FlbB) is a novel flagellar motor protein, which is located around the flagellar basal body....
Monday 8 August 2016
The lp28-1 plasmid is required for persistent infection by the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Mutational studies on this plasmid have shown that the vls locus is important for antigenic variation ... (Source: BMC Microbiology)
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Thursday 4 August 2016
Authors: Kern A, Zhou CW, Jia F, Xu Q, Hu LT Abstract The incidence of Lyme disease has continued to rise despite attempts to control its spread. Vaccination of zoonotic reservoirs of human pathogens has been successfully used to decrease the incidence of rabies in raccoons and foxes. We have previously reported on the efficacy of a vaccinia virus vectored vaccine to reduce carriage of Borrelia burgdorferi in reservoir mice and ticks. One potential drawback to vaccinia virus vectored vaccines is the risk of accidental infection of humans. To reduce this risk, we developed a process to encapsulate vaccinia virus with a pH-sensitive polymer that inactivates the virus until it is ingested and dissolved by stomach acids. We demonstrate that the vaccine is inactive both in vitro and in ...
Thursday 4 August 2016
Summary Many disease surveillance programs, including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Minnesota Department of Health, are challenged by marked increases in Lyme disease (LD) reports. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyse LD reports from 2005 through 2012 to determine whether key epidemiologic characteristics were statistically indistinguishable when an estimation procedure based on sampling was utilized. Estimates of the number of LD cases were produced by taking random 20% and 50% samples of laboratory‐only reports, multiplying by 5 or 2, respectively, and adding the number of provider‐reported confirmed cases. Estimated LD case counts were compared to observed, confirmed cases each year. In addition, the proportions of cases that were male, we...
Tuesday 2 August 2016
It was a story with a bit of irony, as well as ominous health warnings. Crystal Hefner, the 30-year-old wife of Playboy magazine mogul Hugh Hefner, announced in a story in People magazine last month that she'd had her breast implants removed because they were making her sick. Hefner posted a photo of her post-surgery self on Instagram with the caption, "Using 2016 to reclaim my health and embrace and love myself for the real me." The former model, now a DJ, was diagnosed a few months back with Lyme disease. Her symptoms included intolerance to foods and beverages as well as back, neck, and shoulder pain. Hefner also suffered from cognitive dysfunction (brain fog, memory loss), stunted hair growth, fatigue, burning bladder pain, low immunity, and recurring infections and problems with h...
Sunday 31 July 2016
A 60-year-old man presented with an ataxic and spastic gait with paraparesis, having reported a tick bite. Brain MRI depicted bilateral corticospinal tract hyperintensities (figure). He had a mild lymphocytic meningitis (12 leukocytes/mm3, proteinorachia 1.48 g/L). ELISA was positive for Lyme disease in serum (immunoglobulin G [IgG] 176 UI and immunoglobulin M <4 UI) and CSF (IgG 300 UI) with an intrathecal synthesis (index of CSF/serum-specific antibodies equal to 16 using ELISA [normal value <1.5]). Western blot was positive for Lyme-specific antibodies in serum (18, 22, 32, 41, 60, and 75 kDa) and CSF (41 and 60 kDa). Syphilis serology was negative. After treatment (IV ceftriaxone 2 g daily for 4 weeks), gait improved and brain MRI was normal. This MRI pattern has been previously ...
Sunday 31 July 2016
ABSTRACT Outer surface protein C of Borrelia stimulates remarkable immune responses during early infection and is currently considered as a leading diagnostic and vaccine candidate. Sensitivity and specificity of serological test based on whole protein OspC is still an issue in the diagnosis of Lyme disease. The minimal B‐cell epitopes are key in the development of reliable immunodiagnostic tool. Using OspC fragments displayed on phage particles (phage library) and anti‐OspC antibodies isolated from sera of naturally infected patients we identified six OspC epitopes capable of distinguishing between LD patient and healthy control sera. Three epitopes are located at N‐terminus (OspC E1 aa19‐27, OspC E2 aa38‐53, OspC E3 aa62‐66) and three at C‐terminal end (OspC E4 aa155‐163,...
Sunday 31 July 2016
Publication date: October 2016 Source:Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Volume 48 Author(s): Thállitha S. Vieira, Rafael F. Vieira, Felipe S. Krawczak, Herbert S. Soares, Ana M. Guimarães, Ivan R. Barros-Filho, Mary Marcondes, Marcelo B. Labruna, Alexander W. Biondo, Odilon Vidotto Although well established in dogs, Ehrlichia sp. infection has been scarcely reported in horses. The aim was to perform a comprehensive serological and molecular survey for the detection of Ehrlichia spp. in carthorses from Southern Brazil. Blood samples from 190 carthorses from Paraná State were sampled. Horses were also tested for Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Anti-Ehrlichia sp. antibodies were detected by a commercial rapid ELISA, and immunofluorescence an...
Sunday 31 July 2016
Authors: Ebani VV, Rocchigiani G, Bertelloni F, Nardoni S, Leoni A, Nicoloso S, Mancianti F Abstract To estimate the prevalence of some zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in red deer (Cervus elaphus) living in Italian areas with high risk of arthropod exposure, blood samples from 60 red deer were tested by PCR for A. phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, and piroplasms. Thirty-four (56.67%) animals resulted positive for one or more pathogens. In particular, 24 (40%) red deer were positive for A. phagocytophilum, 16 (26.67%) for Babesia divergens, 6 (10%) for C. burnetii, 2 (3.33%) for B. burgdorferi s.l. No positive reaction was observed for F. tularensis. Thirteen (21.67%) animals resulted co-infected by two or three pathogens. Red deer ...
Sunday 31 July 2016
Publication date: August 2016 Source:Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Volume 47 Author(s): Valentina Virginia Ebani, Guido Rocchigiani, Fabrizio Bertelloni, Simona Nardoni, Alessandro Leoni, Sandro Nicoloso, Francesca Mancianti To estimate the prevalence of some zoonotic tick-borne pathogens in red deer (Cervus elaphus) living in Italian areas with high risk of arthropod exposure, blood samples from 60 red deer were tested by PCR for A. phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis, and piroplasms. Thirty-four (56.67%) animals resulted positive for one or more pathogens. In particular, 24 (40%) red deer were positive for A. phagocytophilum, 16 (26.67%) for Babesia divergens, 6 (10%) for C. burnetii, 2 (3.33%) for B. burg...
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Friday 29 July 2016
Summary Lyme disease (LD) is the most common vector‐borne disease in Maryland and the United States. Surveillance for LD is valuable for understanding the burden of the disease, particularly to assess whether the disease is spreading and to appreciate who is affected. However, not all cases of LD in Maryland are reported, and surveillance practices vary across each of Maryland's 24 local health departments (LHDs). To better understand this variability and to systematically characterize the surveillance process, we surveyed Maryland's LHDs regarding LD surveillance. The Maryland Local Health Department Lyme Disease Surveillance Survey has been administered annually since 2011. Questions asked each year included whether all LD reports are investigated or only a subset, and how many reports...
Friday 29 July 2016
The C6 Lyme enzyme immunoassay is an effective diagnostic tool for children who are being tested for Lyme disease, according to Susan C. Lipsett, MD, and her associates. Of the 944 samples collected... (Source: Clinical Neurology News)
Friday 29 July 2016
Zoonoses and Public Health,Volume 65, Issue 2, Page 247-253, March 2018. (Source: Zoonoses and Public Health)
Friday 29 July 2016
Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBD) have become a major concern for canine and human public health. The aim of the study described here is to add epidemiological data regarding four pathogens responsible for C... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
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Tuesday 26 July 2016
Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with Lyme disease. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Sunday 24 July 2016
Conclusion Three recombinant antigens, OspC B.g, OspC B.a, and VlsE B.a, were useful for ELISAs of LB. Additionally, the interaction between OspC B.a and Fla B.g should be examined in future research. (Source: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences)
Friday 22 July 2016
Growing up a musically-obsessed child in the 80's, Daryl Hall was one of my biggest inspirations. A masterful, inventive songwriter with an ocean of soul, he set me on the path to being an artist, to never waste a word, and to sing because I mean it. With six number ones and five additional top ten hits throughout the 70's and 80's Daryl Hall and John Oates are the number one duo in music history. Still at the top of his game at 69 years old, Daryl has won legions of new fans with his hit MTV Live show Live From Daryl's House. In February of 2015, at my very sickest from chronic Lyme and Bartonella, after it was missed by eleven NYC doctors, I was homebound and in heart failure. On one of those terrifying, bleary days I caught the last half of a Dan Rather interview with Daryl. Near the...
Friday 22 July 2016
Undetected cases of Lyme disease can leave patients with a mysterious and debilitating array of symptoms years later < div class="feedflare" > < a href="http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth?a=FrWRfhEp_T4:KFYundsh-w0:w--LzT5DBIM" > < img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth?i=FrWRfhEp_T4:KFYundsh-w0:w--LzT5DBIM" border="0" > < /img > < /a > < a href="http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth?a=FrWRfhEp_T4:KFYundsh-w0:yIl2AUoC8zA" > < img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0" > < /img > < /a > < a href="http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth?a=FrWRfhEp_T4:KFYundsh-w0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" > < img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/CBSNewsHealth?i=FrWRfhEp_T4:KFYundsh-w0:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0" > < /img > < /a > < a href="http://feeds.c...
Thursday 21 July 2016
Imaging findings for the various typical bacteria infecting the CNS are nonspecific and require correlation with laboratory tests to establish a definitive diagnosis. Mycobacterial and spirochetal infections have a clinical presentation and imaging appearance different from those of typical bacteria. Therefore, the following sections first discuss the various stages of pyogenic infections that occur with the majority of bacteria, followed by a description of mycobacterial (tuberculosis) and spirochetal (Lyme disease) infections (Source: Seminars in Roentgenology)
Thursday 21 July 2016
The last decades the disease Lyme borreliosis that is spread by ticks has been increasing, but this increase cannot be explained by the increasing deer population only, say researchers. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
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Wednesday 20 July 2016
High-temperature requirement protease A (HtrA) represents a family of serine proteases that play important roles in microbial biology. Unlike the genomes of most organisms, that of Borrelia burgdorferi notably encodes a single HtrA gene product, termed BbHtrA. Previous studies identified a few substrates of BbHtrA; however, their physiological relevance could not be ascertained, as targeted deletion of the gene has not been successful. Here we show that BbhtrA transcripts are induced during spirochete growth either in the stationary phase or at elevated temperature. Successful generation of a BbhtrA deletion mutant and restoration by genetic complementation suggest a nonessential role for this protease in microbial viability; however, its remarkable growth, morphological, and structural de...
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Publication date: July 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, Volume 7, Issue 5 Author(s): Didrik F. Vestrheim, Richard A. White, Ingeborg S. Aaberge, Audun Aase Detection of specific antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a useful aid for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis. However, antibodies are present in the general population. The seroprevalence increase with age, and varies according to the prevalence of infected ticks. We performed a seroprevalence study of IgM and IgG antibody reactivity against B. burgdorferi sensu lato in Norway by age-groups and geography, in order to provide a reference set of seroprevalence to inform the interpretation of positive test results. We used two commercially available enzyme immuno assays (EIA) and a multiplexed bead assay t...
Wednesday 20 July 2016
In this report, the feasibility of creating a microsieve-based immunoassay platform was explored. Microsieves containing 5μm pores were coupled with poly-acrylic acid chains, and then mounted into a plastic holder to enable rapid reagent exchanges via a wicking mechanism. The mounted microsieves were coated with infectious disease-related antigens at [2.5 and 25μg/mL], [20 and 50μg/mL], and [20 and 100μg/mL] to facilitate detection of serum-derived human antibodies against Rubella (3-day measles), B. burgdorferi (Lyme disease), or T. pallidum (syphilis), respectively. The prototype microsieve-based immunoassay platform was able to distinguish positive control sera containing antibodies against Rubella, T. pallidum, and B. burgdorferi from negative control sera with similar qualitative ...
Wednesday 20 July 2016
The actor/songwriter struggled with memory issues thought to be dementia, but it turned out to be caused by tick-borne illness (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Scientists have tested all sorts of strategies to keep Lyme disease ticks from biting us. One is to make it less likely you'll cross paths with the critters in your yard. Sawdust mulch, anyone? (Source: NPR Health and Science)
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Learn about the transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease and its complications in this overview. < br / > < i > U.S. Pharmacist < /i > (Source: Medscape Pathology Headlines)
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Decades of scientific literature on the effectiveness of various methods of preventing bites and controlling ticks that transmit Lyme disease has been reviewed by a research team, and outlined in a new report. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Wednesday 20 July 2016
Learn about the transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease and its complications in this overview. U.S. Pharmacist (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
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Wednesday 20 July 2016
(Entomological Society of America) Dr. Lars Eisen and Marc Dolan of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reviewed decades of scientific literature on the effectiveness of various methods of preventing bites and controlling ticks that transmit Lyme disease. Their findings are published in the Journal of Medical Entomology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Tuesday 19 July 2016
Military uniforms and mosquito nets are treated with permethrin, a repellent and insecticide used for personal protection against biting flies, mosquitoes, and other disease-carrying insects. Vector-borne diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis (a parasitic infection spread by sandflies), Zika virus, West Nile virus, Lyme disease, and more can be diminished if treated nets or clothing containing the proper amount of permethrin are utilized. Washing and wear depletes the insecticide on the material, eventually rendering it ineffective. Currently, there are no commercially available colorimetric (color-changing) tests available to gauge the amount of permethrin left in fabrics after use and repeated washes. CDC researchers developed a rapid and simple technique using a reagent to quantify th...
Monday 18 July 2016
Authors: Meyerhoff J PMID: 27429317 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Internal Medicine)
Monday 18 July 2016
Publication date: Available online 18 July 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Christine B. Graham, Mark A. Pilgard, Sarah E. Maes, Andrias Hojgaard, Rebecca J. Eisen Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging, tick-borne human pathogen. In North America, it is primarily associated with Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus, two species known to bite humans. Here we describe the development and evaluation of a pair of real-time TaqMan PCR assays designed to detect B. miyamotoi in North American ticks. We sought to achieve sensitivity to B. miyamotoi strains associated with ticks throughout North America, the full genetic diversity of which is unknown, by targeting sequences that are largely conserved between B. miyamotoi strains from the eastern United States and geneticall...
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Monday 18 July 2016
T2 Biosystems (NSDQ:TTOO) said today that it inked a deal with Bayer (ETR:BAYN) for research on blood coagulation disorders. The deal calls for T2 to provide its T2MR magnetic resonance-based diagnostic device to Bayer for a research program for drug and biomarker discovery in hemostasis. “We are very enthusiastic about our collaboration with Bayer and the important validation it represents for our T2MR technology in the field of hemostasis,” T2 CEO John McDonough said in prepared remarks. “Together with Bayer, we look forward to continuing the exploration of the clinical potential of our platform to provide improved patient care in this area of significant unmet need.” The companies have been working together for the last year and recently extended the collabo...
Thursday 14 July 2016
Conclusions. Our patients had fewer pretreatment neurological complications (PFP, pareses) than reported for Bannwarth syndrome decades ago, probably as the result of earlier recognition and prompt antibiotic treatment. Unfavorable outcome was rare and was predicted by the continued presence of symptoms 14 days after commencement of treatment. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Thursday 14 July 2016
This study provides the first insight into the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA in ruminants in Tunisia, and demonstrates that host species such as goats and sheep may play an important role in natural Lyme disease cycles in this country. PMID: 27660865 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Thursday 14 July 2016
Summary Borrelia burgdorferi maintains a complex life cycle between tick and vertebrate hosts. Although some genes have been identified as contributing to bacterial adaptation in the different hosts, the list is incomplete. In this manuscript, we report the first use of transposon mutagenesis combined with high‐throughput sequencing (Tn‐seq) in B. burgdorferi. We utilize the technique to investigate mechanisms of carbohydrate utilization in B. burgdorferi and the role of carbohydrate metabolism during mouse infection. We performed genetic fitness analyses to identify genes encoding factors contributing to growth on glucose, maltose, mannose, trehalose and N‐acetyl‐glucosamine. We obtained insight into the potential functions of proteins predicted to be involved in carbohydrate util...
Thursday 14 July 2016
CONCLUSION: Differences in preferences between the two nations appeared in many areas, e.g. the Czechs felt more threatened by all kind of risks and suffered from Lyme disease more frequently. Gaps can still be found in both the knowledge and behaviour among the respondents. It can be expected that the general public knowledge of this issue is rather limited in comparison with the students participating in the study, who are systematically educated in the field. PMID: 27660864 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
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Tuesday 12 July 2016
Late last month, FOX5NY broadcast "Lyme and Reason," a precedent-setting news special dedicated to the Lyme disease epidemic. The show was a success by many measures, including--most importantly by TV production standards--ratings wise. The strong viewership reflects a strong interest in learning more about Lyme disease. More and more, people are discovering that they know someone whose life has been profoundly affected by Lyme. More and more, people are discovering that they themselves have been living with undiagnosed Lyme for years. Now the FOX5NY team is calling on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention to answer questions following up on a conversation between FOX5NY anchor Teresa Priolo and CDC Chief of Epidemiology and Surveillance Activity of The Bacterial Diseases Br...
Monday 11 July 2016
Authors: Bailey J PMID: 27402647 [PubMed - in process] (Source: cmaj)
Monday 11 July 2016
The chief medical officer of Canada's Public Health Agency says cases of Lyme disease could be much higher than reported. @NightshiftMD talks about the symptoms of Lyme and what could be causing the increase in infections. (Source: CBC | Health)
Monday 11 July 2016
It’s the height of summer — and if you’ve been spending more time outdoors lately, chances are you’ve got a few (or more) bug bites to show for your time in the sun. And while bites from pests are an inevitable part of summer, it’s important to reduce your risk of bug bites from mosquitoes and ticks. That’s because several species of these insects can carry dangerous disease, including Lyme disease and West Nile virus. “The most effective way to avoid West Nile virus disease is to prevent mosquito bites,” wrote the CDC in their summer health guidelines. “Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and some oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide longer-lasting protection.” The consumer advocacy org...
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Sunday 10 July 2016
LIFE and business coach Janice Haddon describes how a debilitating disease has turned her life upside down. (Source: Daily Express - Health)
Friday 8 July 2016
The prolonged feeding process of ixodid ticks, in combination with bacterial transmission, should lead to a robust inflammatory response at the blood-feeding site. Yet, factors present in tick saliva may down-... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Friday 8 July 2016
Zoonoses and Public Health,Volume 65, Issue 2, Page 230-237, March 2018. (Source: Zoonoses and Public Health)
Thursday 7 July 2016
Summary Lyme disease (LD), anaplasmosis, babesiosis and other tick‐borne diseases (TBDs) attributed to Ixodes ticks are thought to be widely underreported in the United States. To identify TBD cases diagnosed in 2009, but not reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), diagnostic and procedural billing codes suggestive of tick‐borne diseases were used to select medical charts for retrospective review in medical facilities serving residents of a highly endemic county in Minnesota. Of 444 illness events, 352 (79%) were not reported. Of these, 102 (29%) met confirmed or probable surveillance case criteria, including 91 (26%) confirmed LD cases with physician‐diagnosed erythema migrans (EM). For each confirmed and probable LD, probable anaplasmosis and confirmed babesiosis case...
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Thursday 7 July 2016
Summary Lyme disease (LD), anaplasmosis, babesiosis and other tick‐borne diseases (TBDs) attributed to Ixodes ticks are thought to be widely underreported in the United States. To identify TBD cases diagnosed in 2009, but not reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), diagnostic and procedural billing codes suggestive of tick‐borne diseases were used to select medical charts for retrospective review in medical facilities serving residents of a highly endemic county in Minnesota. Of 444 illness events, 352 (79%) were not reported. Of these, 102 (29%) met confirmed or probable surveillance case criteria, including 91 (26%) confirmed LD cases with physician‐diagnosed erythema migrans (EM). For each confirmed and probable LD, probable anaplasmosis and confirmed babesiosis case...
Wednesday 6 July 2016
Publication date: Available online 30 June 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Knut Eirik Eliassen, Dag Berild, Harald Reiso, Nils Grude, Karen Sofie Christophersen, Cecilie Finckenhagen, Morten Lindbæk The first stage of Lyme borreliosis (LB) is mainly the typical skin lesion, erythema migrans (EM), which is estimated to comprise 80–90% of all LB cases. However, the reporting of and actual incidence of LB varies throughout Europe. Studies from Sweden and Holland found EM incidences varied from 53–464 EM/100,000 inhabitants/year. Under-reporting of LB is common and a coefficient of three to reach a realistic estimate is suggested. In Norway, it is mandatory to report only the second and third LB stages to the National Institute of Public Health. To find the N...
Wednesday 6 July 2016
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Wednesday 6 July 2016
Authors: Maximov GK, Maximov KG, Chokoeva AA, Lotti T, Wollina U, Patterson JW, Guarneri C, Tana C, Fioranelli M, Roccia MG, Kanazawa N, Tchernev G Abstract Lyme boreliosis is caused by the spirochete Borrelia burdorferi, which is transmitted by ticks. A 59 year-old woman developed pyrexia, strong headaches, ataxia, dysarthria and tremor of the limbs after a tick bite. She was unable to work and eat on her own. She was hospitalized three times and diagnosed with cerebellar intention tremor, cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, bilateral horizontal gaze paralysis and a central lesion of the left facial nerve. There were no pyramidal, sensory or psychiatric disturbances. The brain MRI showed multifocal leucoencephalopathy with many hyperintense areas in both hemispheres, as well as in the ...
Tuesday 5 July 2016
To the Editor Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), caused by the rickettsia Anaplasma phagocytophilum, is vectored by the same Ixodes spp ticks that transmit Lyme disease. HGA is associated with fever, headache, cytopenia, and rarely mortality (if the infection occurs in elderly or immunocompromised hosts). HGA is not spread person-to-person by mucocutaneous exposure to the blood of infected patients; does not typically, or perhaps ever, cause bleeding from multiple body sites; is not usually associated with diarrhea; and has never been associated with relative bradycardia. Convalescent phase antibody titers to the etiologic agent reach 640 or greater in more than 90% of culture-confirmed cases in the United States, and morulae are detected on blood smears in more than 70% of such cases....
Sunday 3 July 2016
Lyme disease is endemic in several areas in the United States, including the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, upper mid-West, and the West Coast. It is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by ticks of the Ixodes species. The question of how to manage patients who have experienced a tick bite arises frequently in clinical practice and includes whether or not to recommend antibiotics either as a single dose or longer course in an effort to prevent development of acute Lyme disease characterized by systemic symptoms and the rash of erythema migrans. (Source: The American Journal of Medicine)
Friday 1 July 2016
CONCLUSION: Seropositivity rates were not found to be higher than the expected rates. Further, studies are needed to evaluate the threat of vector borne zoonoses and associated risk factors in the study area. PMID: 27353580 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Journal of Vector Borne Diseases)
Friday 1 July 2016
Abstract: A previously healthy adolescent girl presented to the emergency department with new onset chest and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Laboratory studies and imaging were consistent with myocarditis. She developed heart block after admission and required stabilization in the cardiac intensive care unit. Lyme serology returned positive, and her condition was diagnosed as Lyme disease-associated myocarditis. (Source: Pediatric Emergency Care)
Thursday 30 June 2016
Abstract Lyme disease is caused by the spirochetal bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by ticks in the genus Ixodes. The key reservoirs for the spirochete include rodents and birds, and the primary hosts for ticks include rodents, birds, and lizards for immature stages and large mammal for the adults. Since its recognition in the USA in the 1970s, it has continued to emerge, increasing both in case numbers and geographic distribution. In the last two decades, a number of new findings have been observed, including a vast increase in disease distribution, additional Borrelia species causing disease in humans, and newly recognized clinical presentations of the disease. Areas of greatest need include (1) new diagnostic tests, including tests that detect Borrelia DNA, antigen...
Thursday 30 June 2016
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Thursday 30 June 2016
(Source: Acta Neurologica Belgica)
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Thursday 30 June 2016
A new microscopy technique (LM-method) developed to detect Lyme disease is unable to distinguish infected patients from healthy controls, yielding false-positive results that could lead doctors to over-diagnose a patient, according to new research. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Wednesday 29 June 2016
Amblyomma americanum (L.), the lone star tick, is an aggressive tick that is expanding its geographic range within the United States. This tick is the vector for the human and veterinary pathogens Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii and is associated with other microbes of unspecified pathogenicity including Rickettsia amblyommii, Panola Mountain Ehrlichia, and Borrelia lonestari. In Florida, there has been sparse contemporary data on the prevalence of these organisms in host-seeking lone star ticks. To determine the prevalence of this tick and associated microbes in North Central Florida state parks, ~1,500 lone star tick specimens were collected between 2010 and 2012 analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing. Additionally, 393 white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianu...
Wednesday 29 June 2016
The most common tick-borne sickness in the U.S. is Lyme disease, but there are other lesser-known illnesses that also can be transmitted by a tick bite. And, although they are sometimes overlooked, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says these tick-borne diseases pose an increasing threat to public health. That's why researchers routinely head into the woods to learn more about ticks. Knowing [...] (Source: News from Mayo Clinic)
Wednesday 29 June 2016
Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae) is the most important vector of human disease in the United States. Recent efforts by public health officials to determine its presence on a county-by-county basis have been undertaken to assist in Lyme disease risk assessment. Recent modeling efforts show that South Dakota can potentially support populations of I. scapularis based on favorable climatic conditions and presence of suitable hosts to support tick populations within the state. We provide the first documentation of an established population of I. scapularis in Clay County, SD, providing only the third record of the presence of this tick species within the state. (Source: Journal of Medical Entomology)
Tuesday 28 June 2016
This study was conducted to detect Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection in ixodid ticks from the Patagonia region in the south of Argentina. Therefore, ticks were collected on rodents in the provinces of Chubut, Río Negro and Santa Cruz. These ticks were identified as nymphs of Ixodes neuquenensis and Ixodes sigelos. The B. burgdorferi s.l. infection was tested by a battery of PCR methods targeting the gene flagellin (fla) and the rrfA-rrlB intergenic spacer region (IGS). Three pools of I. sigelos nymphs from Chubut and Santa Cruz provinces as well as one pool of I. neuquenensis nymphs from Río Negro province were tested positive in the fla-PCR. The samples of I. sigelos were also positive for the IGS-PCR. Phylogenetically, the haplotypes found in the positive ticks belong to the B....
Tuesday 28 June 2016
The objective of this study is to investigate associations between PTLDS and immune mediator levels during acute illness and at several time points following treatment. Seventy-six participants with physician-documented erythema migrans and 26 healthy controls with no history of Lyme disease were enrolled. Sixty-four cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory markers were measured at each visit for a total of 6 visits over 1 year. An operationalized definition of PTLDS incorporating symptoms and functional impact was applied at 6 months and 1 year following treatment completion, and clinical outcome groups were defined as Return to Health, Symptoms Only, and PTLDS. Significance analysis of microarrays identified 7 of the 64 immune mediators as differentially regulated by group. Generalized lo...
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Tuesday 28 June 2016
Authors: Smith AA, Navasa N, Yang X, Wilder CN, Buyuktanir O, Marques A, Anguita J, Pal U Abstract Evolution of hematophagy in blood-sucking parasites likely involves communication with their hosts. We find that Ixodes ticks are responsive to IFNγ acquired in a blood meal from mice infected with the Lyme disease-causing bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, leading to induction of antimicrobial responses. Ixodes ticks parasitizing B. burgdorferi-infected mice upregulated an I. scapularis Rho-like GTPase (IGTPase). IGTPase knockdown enhanced B. burgdorferi levels in post-fed ticks, suggesting this protein controls spirochete survival. Notably, IGTPase was only induced during pathogen acquisition from mice and not upon transmission to naive hosts. Microinjection of ticks with IFNγ indu...
Friday 24 June 2016
Species of the genus Borrelia are causative agents of Lyme disease and relapsing fever. Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the northern hemisphere. However, in some parts of the wo... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Friday 24 June 2016
Nancy Shadick, MD, MPH, director of the Lyme Disease Prevention Center in the Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, recently received an Award of Recognition in the area of Lyme disease prevention and education at MIT’s Lyme Innovation Ha (Source: BWH News)
Thursday 23 June 2016
Authors: Nelson VA, Clarke BL, Crossland JP, Bemis LT Abstract A method applying high-resolution melt (HRM) analysis to PCR products copied and amplified from extracellular RNA (exRNA) has been developed to distinguish two morphologically similar Peromyscus species: P. leucopus and P. maniculatus. P. leucopus is considered the primary reservoir host of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent for Lyme disease in North America. In northern Minnesota the habitat ranges of P. leucopus overlaps with that of P. maniculatus. Serum samples from live mice of both species were collected from cheek bleeds, total extracellular RNA (exRNA) was extracted, copied using reverse transcription and amplified by PCR followed by HRM analysis. A circulating ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was identified which di...
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Thursday 23 June 2016
ConclusionWe identified restriction and clonotypic expansions in the JIA Treg cell repertoire with sharing of Treg cell clonotypes across patients. These findings suggest that abnormalities in the Treg cell repertoire, possibly engendered by shared antigenic triggers, may contribute to disease pathogenesis in JIA. (Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism)
Thursday 23 June 2016
ConclusionWe identified restriction and clonotypic expansions in the JIA Treg cell repertoire with sharing of Treg cell clonotypes across patients. These findings suggest that abnormalities in the Treg cell repertoire, possibly engendered by shared antigenic triggers, may contribute to disease pathogenesis in JIA. (Source: Arthritis and Rheumatism)
Wednesday 22 June 2016
Conclusions. Used as recommended, acaricide barrier sprays do not significantly reduce the household risk of tick exposure or incidence of tick-borne disease. Measures for preventing tick-borne diseases should be evaluated against human outcomes to confirm effectiveness. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Wednesday 22 June 2016
Conclusions. Our study indicates that OspA-specific HuMabs can prevent the transmission of Borrelia and that administration of these antibodies could be employed as preexposure prophylaxis for Lyme disease. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Tuesday 21 June 2016
10.1080/23744235.2016.1193790Yohan N’Guyen (Source: Infectious Diseases)
Tuesday 21 June 2016
Authors: Hahn BL, Padmore LJ, Ristow LC, Curtis MW, Coburn J Abstract Borrelia burgdorferi, B. garinii and B. afzelii are all agents of Lyme disease in different geographic locations. If left untreated, Lyme disease can cause significant and long-term morbidity, which may continue after appropriate antibiotic therapy has been administered and live bacteria are no longer detectable. The increasing incidence and geographic spread of Lyme disease is renewing interest in vaccination of at-risk populations. We took the approach of vaccinating mice with two targeted mutant strains of B. burgdorferi that, unlike the parental strain, are avirulent in mice. Mice vaccinated with both strains were protected against challenge by the parental strain and a heterologous B. burgdorferi strain by e...
Tuesday 21 June 2016
Study in elderly identifies predictors of remission of depression Meta‐analysis finds omega‐3s effective as adjunctive treatment for depression Citalopram shows effectiveness for range of Alzheimer's disease symptoms Metoclopramide controls hypersalivation associated with clozapine treatment Augmentation therapy with memantine improves symptoms of schizophrenia Cognitive symptoms in Lyme disease fail to respond to antibiotics Psychoactive drug use adds dimension to Islamic terrorist activity (Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update)
Tuesday 21 June 2016
We describe a patient from the United States with PCR- and serology-confirmed Borrelia miyamotoi infection who recovered without antibiotics. Our findings suggest that B. miyamotoi infection may cause relapsing fever, blood monocytosis and antibody reactivity to the C6 peptide. Further studies are required to better define the spectrum of clinical and laboratory findings for this emerging tick-transmitted infection. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
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Tuesday 21 June 2016
We describe a patient from the United States with PCR- and serology-confirmed Borrelia miyamotoi infection who recovered without antibiotics. Our findings suggest that B. miyamotoi infection may cause relapsing fever, blood monocytosis and antibody reactivity to the C6 peptide. Further studies are required to better define the spectrum of clinical and laboratory findings for this emerging tick-transmitted infection. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Tuesday 21 June 2016
1. Are you sure your patient has Lyme disease? What are the typical findings for this disease? The most common manifestation is the rash, termed erythema migrans (early localized Lyme... (Source: Pediatric News)
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Sunday 19 June 2016
This study aimed to describe the association of Borrelia burgdorferi s.s. with ixodid tick cell lines by flow cytometry and fluorescence and confocal microscopy. Spirochetes were stained with a fluorescent membrane marker (PKH67 or PKH26), inoculated into 8 different tick cell lines and incubated at 30°C for 24 h. PKH efficiently stained B. burgdorferi without affecting bacterial viability or motility. Among the tick cell lines tested, the Rhipicephalus appendiculatus cell line RA243 achieved the highest percentage of association/internalization, with both high (90%) and low (10%) concentrations of BSK-H medium in tick cell culture medium. Treatment with cytochalasin D dramatically reduced the average percentage of cells with internalized spirochetes, which passed through a dramatic morph...
Saturday 18 June 2016
We report here that ResT promotes single-strand annealing of both free DNA strands and ssDNA complexed with single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB). The annealing of complementary strands bound by SSB requires a ResT–SSB interaction that is mediated by the conserved amphipathic C-terminal tail of SSB. These properties of ResT are similar to those demonstrated for the recombination mediator protein, RecO, of the RecF pathway. Borrelia burgdorferi is unusual in lacking identifiable homologs of the RecFOR proteins. We propose that ResT may provide missing RecFOR functions. (Source: Nucleic Acids Research)
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Friday 17 June 2016
By the Editors Here's the most clicked-on item we featured from NEJM Group … (Source: Physician's First Watch current issue)
Thursday 16 June 2016
UPMC will cut the ribbon Thursday on its $3 million Center for Care of Infectious Diseases, which houses several existing services in a shared, renovated space. The center includes 12 exam rooms and the tools to evaluate patients with potentially contagious airborne diseases. Health care specialists will work with patients on a range of infectious diseases, including HIV and AIDS, bloodstream infections, Lyme disease and even Zika, according to a representative for UPMC. UPMC invested $4.1 million… (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines)
Wednesday 15 June 2016
Conclusion This paper reviews the literature pertaining to the importance of the phrenic nerve in Lyme disease. (Source: Polish Annals of Medicine)
Wednesday 15 June 2016
Date: July 4, 2016 Issue #: 1498 Summary: Use of insect repellents is strongly recommended by the CDC and the EPA to prevent Zika virus infection and other mosquito- and tickborne diseases. Mosquitoes can transmit chikungunya, dengue, West Nile, and yellow fever viruses, and malaria. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease and rickettsial diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Wednesday 15 June 2016
A. Moore et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Tuesday 14 June 2016
This Medical Letter review summarizes antibiotic regimens to treat the dermatological, neurological, cardiac, and rheumatological manifestations of Lyme disease. (Source: JAMA)
Sunday 12 June 2016
Authors: Drenckhahn A, Spors B, Knierim E Abstract Lyme neuroborreliosis is a frequent cause of facial nerve palsy in children, isolated oculomotor nerve palsy due to Borrelia-associated nervous system infection however is rarely seen. Here we report a case of isolated oculomotor nerve palsy due to a nervous system infection with Borrelia burgdorferi in childhood and restitutio in integrum after intravenous antibiotic therapy. PMID: 27323659 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Paediatric Neurology)
Sunday 12 June 2016
Publication date: Available online 13 June 2016 Source:International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife Author(s): Shakirat A. Adetunji, Rosina C. Krecek, Gabrielle Castellanos, John C. Morrill, Alice Blue-McLendon, Walt E. Cook, Maria D. Esteve-Gassent Lyme Disease is caused by the bacterial pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, and is transmitted by the tick-vector Ixodes scapularis. It is the most prevalent arthropod-borne disease in the United States. To determine the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi antibodies in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from Texas, we analyzed serum samples (n = 1493) collected during the 2001–2015 hunting seasons, using indirect ELISA. Samples with higher sero-reactivity (0.803 and above) than the negative control group (0.662) ...
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Sunday 12 June 2016
By the Editors Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and André Sofair, MD, MPH Here's what's happening on the NEJM Journal Watch blogs right now: Clinical Conversations: What's wrong with … (Source: Physician's First Watch current issue)
Friday 10 June 2016
Lyme disease (LD) has become the most common vector borne illness in the Northern hemisphere. Prevention relies predominantly on fostering protective behaviors (e.g., avoiding tick areas, using protective clot... (Source: BMC Public Health)
Thursday 9 June 2016
(NaturalNews) More than 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease in the United States - each year. Sadly, many more suffer from this disease but get misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome or any number of the so-called 'psychiatric' conditions... (Source: NaturalNews.com)
Wednesday 8 June 2016
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Abbreviated Summary This work establishes Tn‐seq as a new tool for performing high‐throughput genetic fitness analyses in Borrelia burgdorferi. We used the technique to perform an in vitro screen exploring mechanisms of mannose, maltose, trehalose, and N‐acetyl‐glucosamine metabolism in B. burgdorferi as well as a complementing in vivo screen in mice. In doing so we obtained insight into the potential functions of genes annotated as encoding carbohydrate transporters and an additional function of the response regulator Rrp1. (Source: Molecular Microbiology)
Tuesday 7 June 2016
Residents there heard a proposal Monday from a M.I.T. scientist to use genetically engineered mice to stop the spread of the tick-borne disease. (Source: NYT Health)
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Monday 6 June 2016
(Source: Acta Neurologica Belgica)
Monday 6 June 2016
A novel combination therapy cures an emerging infectious disease, babesiosis, which is transmitted by the same ticks that transmit the agents of Lyme disease, report researchers. This 'radical' therapy not only clears the infection but also prevents the recurrence that often occurs with existing treatments. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Friday 3 June 2016
The Institute for Systems Biology’s Lyme disease project has received $3 million to continue its work on the chronic disease. On top of the funding received when the project was initiated last year, ISB now has a total of $6.1 million from Jeff and Liesl Wilke, Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos, the Bay Area Lyme Foundation and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation. Lyme disease is caused by bacteria transmitted to humans through a tick bite and is often misdiagnosed because people don’t know they… (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)
Thursday 2 June 2016
What is wrong with a lively 67-year-old gardener who develops a daily fever and shaking chills along with chest pain and a dry cough? (Source: NYT)
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Thursday 2 June 2016
Authors: Schned ES, Williams DN PMID: 27237181 [PubMed] (Source: Postgraduate Medicine)
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Wednesday 1 June 2016
Authors: Jabłońska J, Żarnowska-Prymek H, Stańczak J, Kozłowska J, Wiercińska-Drapało A Abstract The report presents a well-documented case of symptomatic co-infection of Babesia microti and Borrelia burgdorferi in a Polish immunocompetent patient after travelling to Canada and the USA. PMID: 27294655 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Wednesday 1 June 2016
CONCLUSIONS: IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22 are synthesized simultaneously by PBMC stimulated with B. burgdorferi. There is no antagonism between Th17 response and IL-10 expression. The role of Th17 cytokines seems to differ depending on the clinical stage of Lyme borreliosis and on the B. burgdorferi species. PMID: 27294626 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Wednesday 1 June 2016
CONCLUSIONS: Clinical diagnosis of PNGD is difficult, and is based mainly on the histopathological picture. Systemic therapy is incorporated mainly due to the systemic disease. The patient requires further observation in the direction of associated systemic disorders. PMID: 27294654 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine : AAEM)
Wednesday 1 June 2016
Date: June 20, 2016 Issue #: 1497 Summary: A reader commenting on our Treatment of Lyme Disease article (Med Lett Drugs Ther 2016; 58:57) objected to a footnote in the table advising against use of doxycycline in children <8 years old. This warning has been included in the labeling of all tetracyclines since 1970 when it was recognized, after decades of use, that these drugs caused permanent staining and enamel hypoplasia of developing teeth. The CDC recently stated that short courses of doxycycline, which was first marketed in the US in 1967 and has less affnity for calcium than other tetracyclines, have not been shown to cause tooth staining.1 That statement was pr...
Wednesday 1 June 2016
(Institute for Systems Biology) The Institute for Systems Biology has received a transformational, multi-year pledge from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation to support the Wilke Cohen Lyme Disease Project. In addition to an initial $3.1 million in funding from Jeff and Liesl Wilke, Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos, and the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, the commitments total $6.1 million in pledges and cash. ISB researchers have discovered potential biomarkers, including a set of proteins in the blood known to be important for bone marrow regeneration and stability. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Tuesday 31 May 2016
Authors: Chaaya G, Jaller-Char JJ, Ali SK Abstract A rash occurs in 80% of Lyme disease cases, but only about a third of the rashes develop into a classic bull's-eye lesion. Here's what to look for and how best to treat. PMID: 27474818 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The Journal of Family Practice)
Tuesday 31 May 2016
Modelling the spatial spread of vector-borne zoonotic pathogens maintained in enzootic transmission cycles remains a major challenge. The best available spatio-temporal data on pathogen spread often take the form of human disease surveillance data. By applying a classic ecological approach—occupancy modelling—to an epidemiological question of disease spread, we used surveillance data to examine the latent ecological invasion of tick-borne pathogens. Over the last half-century, previously undescribed tick-borne pathogens including the agents of Lyme disease and human babesiosis have rapidly spread across the northeast United States. Despite their epidemiological importance, the mechanisms of tick-borne pathogen invasion and drivers underlying the distinct invasion trajectories o...
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Tuesday 31 May 2016
Abstract A 6‐year‐old, male castrated, mixed‐breed dog was referred to the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Colorado State University for bicavitary effusion. On examination, the dog was tachycardic and tachypneic with bilaterally decreased lung sounds. Thoracic and abdominal ultrasonic examination revealed pleural and peritoneal effusions, which were aspirated and submitted for fluid analysis and cytology. Both cavity fluids were classified as exudates with a large population of vacuolated mononuclear cells. Multiplex immunocytochemistry (ICC) for cytokeratin and vimentin demonstrated exclusively cytokeratin expression, indicating these cells were of epithelial origin. A full diagnostic evaluation was performed, including CBC, clinical chemistry, a pet‐side test for h...
Tuesday 31 May 2016
Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases)
Tuesday 31 May 2016
(Source: Journal of Inflammation Research)
Tuesday 31 May 2016
(Source: Journal of Inflammation Research)
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Monday 30 May 2016
The study evaluates the clinical significance of CXCL13 (leukocyte chemoattractant synthesized in CSF ) in Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) and other aseptic CNS infections.244 patients with symptoms of neuroinfection and/or LNB were divided into groups: A - patients with LNB-positive antibodies in serum and CSF (96) or CSF only (14); B - patients with aseptic non-borrelial neuroinfections (82); C-negative controls (52). Group A was divided into A1-A4 according to pleocytosis in CSF and AIIgG positivity. (Source: Journal of the Neurological Sciences)
Monday 30 May 2016
Canadian Journal of Zoology, e-First Articles. Occurrence of Lyme disease has increased rapidly in Canada in the past 5 years. The emergence of Lyme disease coincides with the range expansion of the primary host, the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus (Rafinesque, 1818)), in the region. We evaluated the effects of stress level, parasite load, and forest-patch characteristics on P. leucopus movement pattern. We found negative relations between on the one hand the adrenal gland size, a proxy for stress level, and population density, and on the other hand, home-range area and movement rate of mouse individuals, suggesting that stressed mice cannot maintain a large home range. Population density was also related with excursion (outside the forest patch) and exploration (outside the home r...
Monday 30 May 2016
This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. (Source: Science - The Huffington Post)
Sunday 29 May 2016
Conclusions. Comorbid conditions can play a role in the reporting of long-term symptoms and overall QOL of Lyme disease patients and should be considered in the evaluation of these patients. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT00028080. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Saturday 28 May 2016
(MedPage Today) -- Symptoms started 10 months after joint arthroplasty (Source: MedPage Today Geriatrics)
Friday 27 May 2016
Ecosystem tipping points and climate change warning signs are making headlines. Yesterday I read record breaking heat is melting roads in some of India's busiest cities. Scientists predicted a rise in temperature would lead to an increase in the number of insects worldwide, ushering dire consequences to the farming community. Warnings unheeded to our own detriment as now one of Africa's staple crops, cassava, is reeling from super bug infestation. In short climate change has already altered earth's ecological footprint with unstable fluctuating seasons. A longer season means insects have a higher metabolic rate, quicker gestation and more frequent reproduction. According to an EPA report titled Lyme Disease - Climate Change Indicators In the US stated "Between 1991 and 2013 lyme dise...
Friday 27 May 2016
“You would think it would be things like wildlife, raging rivers and stuff like that,” an official says. But you should worry about little things like ticks. (Source: NYT Health)
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Friday 27 May 2016
This study explores the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. in blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis, collected at Dundas, Ontario (a locality within the region of Hamilton-Wentworth). Using passive surveillance, veterinarians and pet groomers were asked to collect blacklegged ticks from dogs and cats with no history of travel. Additionally, I. scapularis specimens were submitted from local residents and collected by flagging. Overall, 12 (41%) of 29 blacklegged ticks were infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing, two borrelial amplicons were characterized as B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.), a genospecies pathogenic to humans and certain domestic animals. Notably, three different vertebrate hosts each had two engorged I. scapularis females r...
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Thursday 26 May 2016
ABSTRACT Two different genetic loci, flaB and ospC, were employed to assign genospecies and OspC phylogenetic type to 18 strains isolated from ticks collected in Pisárky, a suburban park in the city of Brno, Czech Republic. The RFLP analysis revealed three different genospecies (B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. valaisiana). Three samples from the collection contained more than one genospecies. In the other 15 strains, nucleotide sequences of flaB and ospC were determined. The following phylogenetic analysis assigned 12 isolates to genospecies B. garinii and three to B. afzelii. These isolates were further subdivided into seven distinct ospC groups. The most related OspC types were G2, G4, and G5 (B. garinii) and A3 and A8 (B. afzelii). (Source: Journal of Vector Ecology)
Thursday 26 May 2016
ABSTRACT Two different genetic loci, flaB and ospC, were employed to assign genospecies and OspC phylogenetic type to 18 strains isolated from ticks collected in Pisárky, a suburban park in the city of Brno, Czech Republic. The RFLP analysis revealed three different genospecies (B. afzelii, B. garinii, and B. valaisiana). Three samples from the collection contained more than one genospecies. In the other 15 strains, nucleotide sequences of flaB and ospC were determined. The following phylogenetic analysis assigned 12 isolates to genospecies B. garinii and three to B. afzelii. These isolates were further subdivided into seven distinct ospC groups. The most related OspC types were G2, G4, and G5 (B. garinii) and A3 and A8 (B. afzelii). (Source: Journal of Vector Ecology)
Thursday 26 May 2016
Researchers were fishing for a new weapon against antibiotic resistance and found one floating in a Connecticut pond. A virus called a bacteriophage, found in Dodge Pond in East Lyme, attacks a common multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogen called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can lethally infect people with compromised immune systems. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Tuesday 24 May 2016
Authors: Nataliia Rudenko, Maryna Golovchenko, Kerry Clark, James H Oliver & Libor Grubhoffer (Source: Emerging Microbes and Infections)
Tuesday 24 May 2016
New Hampshire continues to have one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in the nation. The state's Division of Public Health Services provides advice on diagnosis and treatment. State Health Alerts (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Tuesday 24 May 2016
Bobbi Pritt and colleagues1 reveal that Borrelia mayonii is a new member of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, and show that this spirochete is pathogenic to human beings. However, the authors err on several key points. They state B burgdorferi sensu stricto was previously the only cause of Lyme borreliosis in the USA. With the discovery of B mayonii, they take credit for describing the first non-B burgdorferi sensu stricto in patients in the USA; this assumption is not true. Girard and colleagues2 reported B bissettii in patients in California and Clark and colleagues3 documented B americana and B andersonii in human blood from residents in the southeastern USA. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Tuesday 24 May 2016
We thank John Scott for his comments regarding our recent Article1 describing the identification of a novel genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Borrelia mayonii) as a new cause of Lyme borreliosis among patients in the upper midwestern USA. We agree with Scott that multiple B burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies can infect human beings. Our wording “nearly all human infections are caused by three B burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies” reflects this, and does not exclude other B burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
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Tuesday 24 May 2016
Jie Feng, Wanliang Shi, Shuo Zhang, David Sullivan, Paul G. Auwaerter, Ying Zhang (Source: Frontiers in Microbiology)
Monday 23 May 2016
Borrelia burgdorferi possesses a sophisticated chemotaxis signaling system; however, the roles of the majority of the chemotaxis proteins in the infectious life cycle have not yet been demonstrated. Specifically, the role of CheD during host colonization has not been demonstrated in any bacterium. Here, we systematically characterized the B. burgdorferi CheD homolog using genetics and biochemical and mouse-tick-mouse infection cycle studies. Bacillus subtilis CheD plays an important role in chemotaxis by deamidation of methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein receptors (MCPs) and by increasing the receptor kinase activity or enhancing CheC phosphatase activity, thereby regulating the levels of the CheY response regulator. Our biochemical analysis indicates that B. burgdorferi CheD significantly...
Monday 23 May 2016
Don't become the next meal for a disease-carrying parasite Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Lyme Disease, Tick Bites (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Monday 23 May 2016
Nationwide surveys have shown a threefold increase in general practitioner (GP) consultations for tick bites and early Lyme borreliosis from 1994 to 2009 in the Netherlands. We now report an update on 2014, wi... (Source: BMC Public Health)
Sunday 22 May 2016
ConclusionsHorses seropositive to B. burgdorferi are common in Virginia, and older horses are more likely to have a positive test result for OspF than younger horses. Follow‐up testing indicated that the majority of horses that were positive on initial testing did not have a different test result 5–17 months later. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine)
Saturday 21 May 2016
Summary Borrelia burgdorferi possesses a sophisticated and complex chemotaxis system but how the organism utilizes this system in its natural enzootic life cycle is poorly understood. Of the three CheY chemotaxis response regulators in B. burgdorferi, we found that only deletion of cheY3 resulted in an altered motility and significantly reduced chemotaxis phenotype. Though ΔcheY3 maintained normal densities in unfed ticks, their numbers were significantly reduced in fed ticks compared to the parental or cheY3‐complemented spirochetes. Importantly, mice fed upon by the ΔcheY3‐infected ticks did not develop a persistent infection. Intravital confocal microscopy analyses discovered that the ΔcheY3 spirochetes were motile, but appeared unable to reverse direction and perform the charact...
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Saturday 21 May 2016
Abstract: CD4+ small/medium pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma is a relatively rare subtype of cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorder with an indolent clinical behavior. The place of this condition among lymphomas is debatable. The authors describe a rare case of the direct association of CD4 small/medium pleomorphic T-cell lymphoma–like solitary nodule with Borrelia burgdorferi infection in a 5-year-old boy, discuss the reactive nature of this condition, and emphasize the importance of clinicopathological correlation. (Source: The American Journal of Dermatopathology)
Saturday 21 May 2016
Graduate student Temple Douglas was just a high school intern when she began work on an experimental test that could be a "game-changer" (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
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Saturday 21 May 2016
The young scientist who helped develop the test came up with the idea during her high school internship at a university lab (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Thursday 19 May 2016
Ixodes scapularis Say, the black-legged tick, is the primary vector in the eastern United States of several pathogens causing human diseases including Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. Over the past two decades, I. scapularis-borne diseases have increased in incidence as well as geographic distribution. Lyme disease exists in two major foci in the United States, one encompassing northeastern states and the other in the Upper Midwest. Minnesota represents a state with an appreciable increase in counties reporting I. scapularis-borne illnesses, suggesting geographic expansion of vector populations in recent years. Recent tick distribution records support this assumption. Here, we used those records to create a fine resolution, subcounty-level distribution model for I. scapularis us...
Thursday 19 May 2016
Publication date: Available online 20 May 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Beata Wodecka, Jerzy Michalik, Robert S. Lane, Magdalena Nowak-Chmura, Anna Wierzbicka European badgers and raccoon dogs and their associated ticks and lice were assayed for the presence of Lyme borreliosis and relapsing fever-group spirochete DNA in western Poland. Analyses of blood, ear-biopsy and liver samples revealed that 25% of 28 raccoon dogs and 12% of 34 badgers were PCR positive for borreliae. Borrelia garinii was the dominant species in raccoon dogs (62.5%), followed by B. afzelii (25%) and B. valaisiana (12.5%). PCR-positive badgers were infected only with B. afzelii. A total of 351 attached ticks was recovered from 23 (82%) of the raccoon dogs and 13 (38%) of the badgers. Usin...
Thursday 19 May 2016
After three years and 300 patients, researchers have proof that their early-detection urine test for Lyme disease works. In the case of Lyme disease, some patients may still have active cases but traditional tests don't register it, and these patients may not be receiving the additional round of treatment they need, authors say. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Thursday 19 May 2016
CONCLUSION: In this article, we report pediatric LNB patients, B. burgdorferi should also be considered in patients with atypical or severe neurologic involvement or a history of tick bite; it is known that the prognosis is good with appropriate and early treatment. PMID: 27179572 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Neuroendocrinology Letters)
Wednesday 18 May 2016
Publication date: Available online 19 May 2016 Source:Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology Author(s): Pallavi Bhattaram, Unnikrishnan Chandrasekharan The synovium constitutes the envelope of articular joints and is a critical provider of synovial fluid components and articular cartilage nutrients. Its inflammation is a predominant feature and cause of joint degeneration in diseases as diverse as rheumatoid, psoriatic, juvenile and idiopathic arthritis, and lupus, gout and lyme disease. These inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) are due to a wide variety of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors that trigger, promote, and perpetuate joint destabilization. In spite of this variety of causes, IJDs share main pathological features, namely inflammation of the joint synovium...
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Wednesday 18 May 2016
This randomised trial has been highlighted by DynaMed as a practice changing update. It concludes that longer-term antibiotics for patients with persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease may not improve quality of life. (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Wednesday 18 May 2016
(George Mason University) After three years and 300 patients, George Mason University researchers have proof that their early-detection urine test for Lyme disease works. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Tuesday 17 May 2016
Publication date: Available online 17 May 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Jeremy S. Gray, Olaf Kahl, Robert S. Lane, Michael L. Levin, Jean I. Tsao Four members of the Ixodes ricinus species complex, I. pacificus, I. persulcatus, I. ricinus and I. scapularis, have, between them, a worldwide distribution within the northern hemisphere. They are responsible for the transmission of several animal and human pathogens, including the causal agents of Lyme borreliosis, tick-borne encephalitis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis and human babesiosis. Despite the importance of these ticks as vectors, the knowledge and understanding of the role that diapause plays in their complex life cycles are confused and incomplete. In view of the continuing geographic spread of these t...
Tuesday 17 May 2016
Publication date: August 2016 Source:Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Volume 101 Author(s): Giovanna Carpi, Andrew Kitchen, Hie Lim Kim, Aakrosh Ratan, Daniela I. Drautz-Moses, John J. McGraw, Maria Kazimirova, Annapaola Rizzoli, Stephan C. Schuster In Europe, the Ixodes ricinus tick is the most important vector of the etiological agents of Lyme borreliosis and several other emerging tick-borne diseases. Because tick-borne pathogens are dependent on their vectors for transmission, understanding the vector population structure is crucial to inform public health research of pathogen dynamics and spread. However, the population structure and dynamics of this important vector species are not well understood as most genetic studies utilize short mitochondrial and nuclear sequen...
Tuesday 17 May 2016
It's believed Canada has seen more confirmed cases of Lyme disease because of a combination of greater awareness, increased reporting and climate change. (Source: CBC | Health)
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Tuesday 17 May 2016
An increase in Lyme disease cases is a concern for Canada's chief public health officer. (Source: CBC | Health)
Monday 16 May 2016
Publication date: Available online 30 April 2016 Source:Microbes and Infection Author(s): Leena Meriläinen, Heini Brander, Anni Herranen, Armin Schwarzbach, Leona Gilbert Borrelia burgdorferi is the causative agent of tick-borne Lyme disease. As a response to environmental stress B. burgdorferi can change its morphology to a round body form. The role of B. burgdorferi pleomorphic forms in Lyme disease pathogenesis has long been debated and unclear. Here, we demonstrated that round bodies were processed differently in differentiated macrophages, consequently inducing distinct immune responses compared to spirochetes in vitro. Colocalization analysis indicated that the F-actin participates in internalization of both forms. However, round bodies end up less in macrophage lysosomes th...
Sunday 15 May 2016
Canadians living with Lyme disease say they hope a national conference in Ottawa helps fix the many issues they see with the way Canada diagnoses and treats the disease. (Source: CBC | Health)
Saturday 14 May 2016
A group of Manitobans has challenged Canada's prime minister to post a video of himself sucking on a lime — all in the name of charity. (Source: CBC | Health)
Thursday 12 May 2016
Septic or infectious arthritis of the knee and Lyme disease have similar symptoms in children but require different immediate treatment to ensure optimal recovery. A new study identifies four symptoms that are predictive of septic arthritis when the condition presents itself in a child's knee -- an important distinction in areas where Lyme disease is prevalent. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Wednesday 11 May 2016
The most common manifestation of Lyme carditis is a varying degree of atrioventricular (AV) conduction block. This case describes a 45-year-old male with third-degree AV block due to Lyme carditis. Treatment with intravenous antibiotics resulted in complete normalization of AV conduction, thereby averting permanent pacemaker implantation. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Wednesday 11 May 2016
The most common manifestation of Lyme carditis is a varying degree of atrioventricular (AV) conduction block. This case describes a 45-year-old male with third degree AV block due to Lyme carditis. Treatment with intravenous antibiotics resulted in complete normalization of AV conduction, thereby averting permanent pacemaker implantation. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Wednesday 11 May 2016
. (Source: Acta Clinica Belgica)
Wednesday 11 May 2016
10.1080/17843286.2016.1180829 < br/ > M. De Wilde (Source: Acta Clinica Belgica)
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Tuesday 10 May 2016
Medication that is normally used to lower cholesterol could stop the spread of Lyme disease, according to a new study. Statins can reduce the burden in mice and can therefore be exploited to reduce the number of Lyme disease bacteria acquired by the feeding ticks. These investigators believe that this could be one of the many strategies to lower the incidence of Lyme disease by restricting bacterial survival at its source. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Tuesday 10 May 2016
Annapolis, MD; May 10, 2016 – Tick-borne diseases such as Heartland virus, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are serious public-health threats. In order to address these threats, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Entomological Society of America, the IPM Institute of North America, and the North Central IPM Center will hold the "Integrated Tick Management Symposium: Solving America’s Tick-Borne Disease Problem" in Washington, DC, May 16-17, 2016. read more (Source: ESA News)
Tuesday 10 May 2016
(University of Texas at San Antonio) Medication that is normally used to lower cholesterol could stop the spread of Lyme disease, according to a new study co-authored by Janakiram Seshu, associate professor of biology at The University of Texas at San Antonio. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Monday 9 May 2016
Spring has arrived, which means fun in the sun, but it also brings seasonal health concerns for kids. Do you have questions about allergies, ticks and Lyme disease, sun protection or other springtime health concerns? Click on the images below for handy tips to keep your family safe and healthy this spring. var metaslider_29947 = function($) { $('#metaslider_29947').nivoSlider({ boxCols:7, boxRows:5, pauseTime:4000, effect:"fade", controlNav:true, directionNav:true, pauseOnHover:true, animSpeed:600, prevText:"<", nextText:">", slices:15, manualAdvance:false }); }; var ti...
Sunday 8 May 2016
THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Hand-washing: Do's and don'ts Done properly, hand-washing is a simple way to avoid getting sick. Find out when to wash and whether hand sanitizers can work in a pinch. Lyme disease Grassy and heavily wooded areas can be home to ticks, which can carry Lyme disease. Get tips on how to [...] (Source: News from Mayo Clinic)
Saturday 7 May 2016
Publication date: Available online 28 April 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Christina A. Nelson, Catherine M. Hayes, Molly A. Markowitz, Jacqueline J. Flynn, Alan C. Graham, Mark J. Delorey, Paul S. Mead, Marc C. Dolan Reducing exposure to ticks can help prevent Lyme disease and other tickborne diseases. Although it is currently recommended to dry clothes on high heat for one hour to kill ticks on clothing after spending time outdoors, this recommendation is based on a single published study of tick survival under various washing conditions and a predetermined one-hour drying time. We conducted a series of tests to investigate the effects of temperature, humidity, and drying time on killing nymphal and adult blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis). Muslin bags ...
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Saturday 7 May 2016
This study focused on the molecular identification of tick-borne pathogens in blood samples of 153 autochthonous asymptomatic dogs in Maio Island, Cape Verde archipelago. Eighty-four (54.9%) dogs were positive for one or more pathogens. Fifty-five (35.9%) dogs were infected with Hepatozoon canis, 53 (34.6%) with Anaplasma platys, five (3.3%) with Ehrlichia canis and Rickettsia monacensis, an emerging human pathogen, was also identified in a single dog (0.7%). The former three pathogens cause important canine tick-borne diseases that are transmitted or potentially transmitted by Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l., the only hard tick identified in Cape Verde. Furthermore, Wolbachia spp. was amplified from the blood of one dog. None of the dogs were positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia...
Friday 6 May 2016
Although I have a background in writing about health and mental illness, I had never done so from a personal point of view until last fall when I began to discuss Lyme disease here. Within hours of the first article's publication, I had received a dozen emails, tweets and Facebook messages from Lyme patients, researchers, advocates and others. Within a couple of days, at least a hundred people had contacted me. I never expected such a reaction--but the reason I decided to write about Lyme is that when I was in diagnostic hell, I had no idea where to look for information, or even what to look for. (Yes, I ended a sentence with a preposition. Birthday privilege.) Today is my 38th birthday. While I've felt since about age 21 that birthdays aren't such a big deal for adults, I am celebrating...
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Thursday 5 May 2016
Ben Baddeley, 11, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, has learned to walk for the first time thanks to £2,000-a-month physiotherapy. He is begging David Cameron for NHS funding for the treatment. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Thursday 5 May 2016
Ben Baddeley, 11, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, has learned to walk for the first time thanks to £2,000-a-month physiotherapy. He is begging David Cameron for NHS funding for the treatment. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Thursday 5 May 2016
No abstract available (Source: Neurology Today)
Thursday 5 May 2016
Summary Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease (along with closely related genospecies), is in the deeply branching spirochete phylum. The bacterium is maintained in nature in an enzootic cycle that involves transmission from a tick vector to a vertebrate host and acquisition from a vertebrate host to a tick vector. During its arthropod sojourn, B. burgdorferi faces a variety of stresses, including nutrient deprivation. Here, we review some of the spirochetal factors that promote persistence, maintenance, and dissemination of B. burgdorferi in the tick, and then focus on the utilization of available carbohydrates as well as the exquisite regulatory systems invoked to adapt to the austere environment between blood meals and to signal species transitions as the bacteria tr...
Thursday 5 May 2016
The blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis transmits Borrelia burgdorferi (sensu stricto) in eastern North America; however, the agent of Lyme disease is not the sole pathogen harbored by the blacklegged tick. The bl... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Tuesday 3 May 2016
We report a patient with features of atypical dementia and normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), who improved dramatically after a single 3-week course of ceftriaxone. (Source: Journal of the Neurological Sciences)
Tuesday 3 May 2016
(Source: JBJS)
Tuesday 3 May 2016
Conclusions: Although septic arthritis of the knee and Lyme monoarthritis share common features that can make them difficult to distinguish clinically, the presence of pain with short arc motion, C-reactive protein of >4.0 mg/L, patient-reported history of fever, and age younger than 2 years were independent predictive factors of septic arthritis in pediatric patients. The more factors that are present, the higher the risk of having septic arthritis. Level of Evidence: Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. (Source: JBJS)
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Tuesday 3 May 2016
Borrelia burgdorferi harbors a limited set of transmembrane surface proteins, most of which constitute key targets of humoral immune responses. Here we show that BB0405, a conserved membrane-spanning protein of unknown function, fails to evoke detectable antibody responses despite its extracellular exposure. bb0405 is a member of an operon and ubiquitously expressed throughout the rodent-tick infection cycle. The gene product serves an essential function in vivo, as bb0405-deletion mutants are unable to transmit from ticks and establish infection in mammalian hosts. Despite the lack of BB0405-specific immunoglobulin M or immunoglobulin G antibodies during natural infection, mice immunized with a recombinant version of the protein elicited high-titer and remarkably long-lasting antibody res...
Tuesday 3 May 2016
Purpose of review: We review the current evidence concerning the diagnosis of Lyme disease in children for application in the acute care setting. Recent findings: Recent studies suggest that Lyme disease incidence is substantially higher than previously described. Although efforts are ongoing to identify alternative testing strategies, two-tiered serologic testing remains the diagnostic standard in children with compatible clinical syndromes. Published clinical prediction rules can assist clinicians caring for children with potential Lyme disease. Summary: Two-tiered serologic testing remains the mainstay of the diagnosis of Lyme disease. To minimize the risk of a false positive test, serologic testing should be limited to those children with symptoms compatible with Lyme disease with po...
Monday 2 May 2016
We present the case of a 35-year-old ranger who had no history of acute or chronic infectious disease or any previous neuropsychiatric symptoms. He arrived at the Psychiatry Clinic and was admitted as an emergency case, displaying bizarre behavior, hallucinations, paranoid ideation, and delusional faults. These symptoms had first appeared 7 days earlier. An objective examination revealed abnormalities of behavior, anxiety, visual hallucinations, choreiform, and tic-like facial movements. After the administration of neuroleptic and antidepressant treatment, he showed an initial improvement, but on day 10 entered into a severe catatonic state with signs of meningeal irritation and was transferred to the intensive care unit. An electroencephalogram showed diffuse irritative changes,...
Monday 2 May 2016
Discussion Benefits and harms of pharmacological treatment in erythema migrans have not yet been adequately assessed. This systematic review will evaluate and summarise available evidence addressing benefits and harms of different pharmacological treatments. In addition, this summary of clinical evidence will inform decision-making between clinicians and patients and will play an important part in patient care. Systematic review registration PROSPERO: CRD42016037932 (Source: Systematic Reviews)
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Monday 2 May 2016
Authors: Hu LT Abstract This issue provides a clinical overview of Lyme disease, focusing on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and practice improvement. The content of In the Clinic is drawn from the clinical information and education resources of the American College of Physicians (ACP), including MKSAP (Medical Knowledge and Self-Assessment Program). Annals of Internal Medicine editors develop In the Clinic in collaboration with the ACP's Medical Education and Publishing divisions and with the assistance of additional science writers and physician writers. PMID: 27136224 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Annals of Internal Medicine)
Monday 2 May 2016
In our cross-sectional sample of 7289 serologic tests for Lyme disease, we identified 167 instances of a positive IgM immunoblot but a negative IgG immunoblot test result. Considering that only 71% (95% CI 64%-78%) of patients had Lyme disease, a positive IgM immunoblot alone should be interpreted with caution to avoid over-diagnosis of Lyme disease. (Source: The Journal of Pediatrics)
Saturday 30 April 2016
CONCLUSION: Three recombinant antigens, OspC B.g, OspC B.a, and VlsE B.a, were useful for ELISAs of LB. Additionally, the interaction between OspC B.a and Fla B.g should be examined in future research. PMID: 27353706 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences : BES)
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Saturday 30 April 2016
Conclusion and Clinical ImportanceDiagnosis of equine NB is challenging due to variable clinical presentation and lack of sensitive and specific diagnostic tests. Negative serology and normal CSF analysis do not exclude the diagnosis of NB. (Source: Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine)
Saturday 30 April 2016
A wide array of infectious diseases can occur in pregnancy. Their acquisition, clinical presentation, and course during gestation may be altered due to an impairment of the maternal cellular immunity. Some infectious diseases can lead to serious consequences for the mother or the offspring, including congenital malformations. This review describes in detail the clinical presentation, course, management, and associated maternal and fetal risks of selected viral (varicella-zoster virus infections, condylomata acuminata), fungal (candida vulvovaginitis), bacterial (Lyme borreliosis), and parasitic (scabies) infections. (Source: Clinics in Dermatology)
Friday 29 April 2016
(Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Thursday 28 April 2016
Dr Hany Elsheikha, associate professor of parasitology at the University of Nottingham, says Lyme disease is one of the fastest-growing diseases in the Western world. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Wednesday 27 April 2016
You may have seen singer Avril Lavigne’s recent media appearances discussing her experience with Lyme disease. What is this mysterious illness, and how can you tell if you have it? -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com (Source: Scientific American)
Tuesday 26 April 2016
This narrative review summarizes published evidence about the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Lyme disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. (Source: JAMA)
Tuesday 26 April 2016
A 10-year-old girl’s 2.0-cm annular lesion on the neck persists following 10 days of antifungal therapy, and she undergoes serologic testing for Lyme disease, which shows equivocal enzyme immunoassay results and negative immunoblots. How do you interpret results? (Source: JAMA)
Monday 25 April 2016
Conclusions. Our findings suggest that measurement of IFN- after incubating blood with Borrelia antigens could be useful in the laboratory diagnosis of early Lyme disease. Also, after antibiotic treatment, this response appears to be short lived. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
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Monday 25 April 2016
As part of the EU "ID Lyme" project, an infection immunology team is working on developing of a new test for early detection of Lyme disease (borreliosis). This will improve the ability to detect an active infection more easily than before so that healthy people with Lyme disease antibodies in their blood do not receive unnecessary antibiotic treatment and so that appropriate treatments can be initiated at an early stage. The antibody tests that are currently available only provide a reliable result 3 – 4 weeks after infection has occurred. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)
Monday 25 April 2016
(Bentham Science Publishers) This review summarizes the literature on scleratrophic skin lesions as a manifestation of a Borrelia infection. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
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Sunday 24 April 2016
Lyme disease prevails as the most commonly transmitted tick-borne infection in the United States, and serologic evaluation for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi remains the recommended modality for diagnosis. This review presents a brief historical perspective on the evolution of serologic assays for Lyme disease and provides a summary of the performance characteristics for the currently recommended two-tiered testing algorithm (TTTA). Additionally, a recently proposed alternative to the traditional TTTA is discussed, and novel methodologies, including immuno-PCR and metabolic profiling for Lyme disease, are outlined. (Source: Journal of Clinical Microbiology)
Sunday 24 April 2016
In this study we used typing based on the eight multilocus sequence typing scheme housekeeping genes (MLST) and 5S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer (IGS) to explore the population structure of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates from patients with Lyme borreliosis (LB) and to test the association between the B. burgdorferi s.l. sequence types (ST) and the clinical manifestations they cause in humans. Isolates of B. burgdorferi from 183 LB cases across Europe, with distinct clinical manifestations, and 257 Ixodes ricinus lysates from The Netherlands, were analyzed for this study alone. For completeness, we incorporated in our analysis also 335 European B. burgdorferi s.l. MLST profiles retrieved from literature. Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia bavariensis were associated with human cases of LB...
Sunday 24 April 2016
(Source: Journal of Clinical Microbiology)
Sunday 24 April 2016
Authors: Ständer S, Ständer M, Thomas P, Prinz JC, Wolf R Abstract Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the epidermis, which can be induced by systemic factors, such as streptococci infections or drugs. In addition, psoriasis can be caused by a local cutaneus trauma, known as Koebner phenomenon. Here, we describe a woman with psoriasis in remission, who developed a new psoriatic lesion due to a cutaneous infection with Borrelia burgdorferi. After causal therapy with doxycycline, the erythema migrans and psoriasis lesions disappeared. PMID: 27106503 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Der Hautarzt: Zeitschrift fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und verwandte Gebiete)
Friday 22 April 2016
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne infection in the United States with 300,000 estimated cases per year. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
Friday 22 April 2016
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne infection in the United States with 300,000 estimated cases per year. (Source: Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease)
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Friday 22 April 2016
Springtime temperatures and warmer, sun-filled days are synonymous with outdoor play. Kids of all ages shed their winter jackets; break out their tricycles, bicycles and more, and head outside for playtime. But outdoor activities are also synonymous with tick exposure. So how can you prepare your family for the tick season? The Boston Children’s Hospital’s Director of Infectious Disease Outpatient Practice, Dr. Catherine Lachenauer offers tips on how to avoid tick exposure and steps to take if your child gets a tick bite. “First and foremost, prevention is key,” says Lachenauer. “Avoid areas at the edge of the woods with long grasses. Also, wearing long, light-colored clothing helps keep ticks from getting on the skin and makes it easier to recognize one on your body.” Tic...
Thursday 21 April 2016
Pritt BS, Mead PS, Hoang Johnson DK, et al. Identification of a novel pathogenic Borrelia species causing Lyme borreliosis with unusually high spirochaetaemia. Lancet Infect Dis 2016; 16: 556–64—In figure 4 of this Article, there were several spelling mistakes. B bisseti DN127 should have read B bissettii DN127, B kurenbachii IL96-255 should have read B kurtenbachii IL96-255, B balaisiana VS116 should have read B valaisiana VS116, B varariensis PZwi should have read B bavariensis PZwi, and B californiensis SCW-22 should have read B carolinensis SCW-22. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Thursday 21 April 2016
Small rodents serve as reservoir hosts for tick-borne pathogens, such as the spirochetes causing Lyme disease. Whether natural coinfections with other macroparasites alter the success of tick feeding, antitick immunity, and the host's reservoir competence for tick-borne pathogens remains to be determined. In a parasitological survey of wild mice in Berlin, Germany, approximately 40% of Ixodes ricinus-infested animals simultaneously harbored a nematode of the genus Heligmosomoides. We therefore aimed to analyze the immunological impact of the nematode/tick coinfection as well as its effect on the tick-borne pathogen Borrelia afzelii. Hosts experimentally coinfected with Heligmosomoides polygyrus and larval/nymphal I. ricinus ticks developed substantially stronger systemic type 2 T helper ce...
Thursday 21 April 2016
Borrelia burgdorferi, a Lyme disease agent, makes different major outer surface lipoproteins at different stages of its mouse–tick infectious cycle. Outer surface protein A (OspA) coats the spirochetes from the time they enter ticks until they are transmitted to a mammal. OspA is required for normal tick colonization and has been shown to bind a tick midgut protein, indicating that OspA may serve as a tick midgut adhesin. Tick colonization by spirochetes lacking OspA is increased when the infecting blood meal is derived from mice that do not produce antibody, indicating that OspA may protect the spirochetes from host antibody, which will not recognize tick-specific proteins such as OspA. To further study the importance of OspA during tick colonization, we constructed a form of B. bur...
Wednesday 20 April 2016
Authors: Buffen K, Oosting M, Li Y, Kanneganti TD, Netea MG, Joosten LA Abstract We have previously demonstrated that inhibition of autophagy increased the ITALIC! Borrelia burgdorferiinduced innate cytokine production in vitro, but little is known regarding the effect of autophagy on in vivo models of ITALIC! Borreliainfection. Here, we showed that ATG7-deficient mice that were intra-articular injected with ITALIC! Borreliaspirochetes displayed increased joint swelling, cell influx, and enhanced interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 production by inflamed synovial tissue. Because both interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 are linked to the development of adaptive immune responses, we examine the function of autophagy on ITALIC! Borreliainduced adaptive immunity. Human peripheral blood mon...
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Wednesday 20 April 2016
No abstract available (Source: Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology)
Wednesday 20 April 2016
Date: May 9, 2016 Issue #: 1494 Summary: Most cases of Lyme disease in the US occur between May and September in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic, and North Central states. (Source: The Medical Letter)
Wednesday 20 April 2016
GENETIC AND IMMUNOLOGICAL EVIDENCES OF BORRELIA BURGDORFERI IN DOG IN THAILAND. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2016 Jan;47(1):71-7 Authors: Sthitmatee N, Jinawan W, Jaisan N, Tangjitjaroen W, Chailangkarn S, Sodarat C, Ekgatat M, Padungtod P Abstract Lyme disease is a tick-borne zoonotic disease caused by spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted from animals to humans by the bite of infected ticks of the genus Ixodes. Although Lyme disease has been reported in China and Japan, the disease has never been reported in Thailand. Blood samples and ticks were collected from 402 dogs from 7 and 3 animal clinics in Chiang Mai and Phuket Provinces, Thailand, respectively. Blood samples were tested for antibodies against B. burgdorferi, Anaplasma spp, Ehrlic...
Tuesday 19 April 2016
Publication date: Available online 19 April 2016 Source:Veterinary Parasitology Author(s): Lindsay A. Starkey, Kassie Newton, Jill Brunker, Kelly Crowdis, Emile Jean Pierre Edourad, Pedro Meneus, Susan E. Little Canine vector-borne pathogens are common on some Caribbean islands, but survey data in Haiti are lacking. To determine the prevalence of selected vector-borne pathogens in dogs from Haiti, we tested blood samples collected from 210 owned dogs, 28 (13.3%) of which were infested with Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks at the time of blood collection. No other tick species were identified on these dogs. A commercially available ELISA identified antibodies to Ehrlichia spp. in 69 (32.9%), antibodies to Anaplasma spp. in 37 (17.6%), and antigen of Dirofilaria immitis in 55 (26.2%);...
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Tuesday 19 April 2016
Conclusions. The proteoglycan biglycan is a receptor molecule for flow-resistant adhesion of the bacterial pathogen B. garinii on human endothelial cells. (Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Monday 18 April 2016
Publication date: Available online 2 March 2016 Source:EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing Author(s): Friedrich Molsberger, C. Raak, M. Teuber The case study reports on the effect of pharmacological, complementary, and alternative medicine including YNSA, Applied Kinesiology, and respiratory exercises in a 9-year-old boy with facial paralysis. The boy suffered from borreliosis and one-sided facial paralysis that occurred 3.5 weeks after being bitten by a tick and persisted despite 4 weeks of medication with antibiotics. In the first treatment, muscle function as assessed by the coachman׳s test was normalized, and improvement in the facial paralysis was observed. Within 8 additional treatments over a period of 2 months, the boy showed complete recovery. The case shows a multim...
Wednesday 13 April 2016
This article was produced in partnership with Northeastern University and was originally published on Footnote, a website that brings academic research and ideas to a broader audience. A year ago, a group of scientists led by Dr. Kim Lewis, Director of the Antimicrobial Discovery Center at Northeastern University, announced a major breakthrough. They had identified a new antibiotic, teixobactin, capable of destroying several kinds of bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains of tuberculosis and staph (i.e. MRSA).1 Antibiotics are so familiar to us that the discovery of a new one may not seem particularly groundbreaking. Yet in reality, most antibiotics were identified over a half-century ago and new discoveries are quite rare. Teixobactin is actually "the first new antibiotic to be ...
Tuesday 12 April 2016
(Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies) The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation has awarded a $5 million leadership grant to the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies to support a scientific study, being done in partnership with Bard College, that seeks to reduce Lyme disease in neighborhoods. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Sunday 10 April 2016
To determine whether routine serologic screening for Borrelia burgdorferi and subsequent aqueous or vitreous humor analysis is useful in patients with uveitis. (Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology)
Sunday 10 April 2016
To determine whether routine serological screening for Borrelia burgdorferi and subsequent aqueous or vitreous humour analysis is useful in patient with uveitis. (Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology)
Friday 8 April 2016
Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States. It is a complex disease which may affect the skin, joints, heart, eyes, and central nervous system. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is curative in most instances. However, a significant percentage of patients experience ongoing symptoms after treatment. Currently, there is much controversy regarding the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of Lyme disease. Pathogen persistence despite treatment lies at the heart of this debate. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
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Friday 8 April 2016
Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), is the most common vector-borne illness in the United States. It is a complex disease which may affect the skin, joints, heart, eyes, and central nervous system. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is curative in most instances. However, a significant percentage of patients experience ongoing symptoms after treatment. Currently, there is much controversy regarding the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of Lyme disease. Pathogen persistence despite treatment lies at the heart of this debate. (Source: Medical Hypotheses)
Friday 8 April 2016
This study is a useful contribution to ongoing investigations of how to treat ongoing Lyme disease symptoms among patients who have received the standard 28-day course of doxycycline and continue to experience severe symptoms commonly associated with Lyme disease. This study is also significant because, unlike the majority of Lyme disease-related studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals, it made international headlines in mainstream news outlets. Some publications that specialize in medical and health-related stories covered the story appropriately, such as Medscape, whose headline reads, "Post-Treatment Lyme Disease: Longer Antibiotics May Not Help." Others, perhaps most notably Forbes, created their own exaggerated version of the findings. Forbes contributor Steven Salzberg an...
Friday 8 April 2016
Cases of Lyme disease appear to be rising but there are still many unanswered questions about the condition, its diagnosis and the available treatment options. (Source: The Pharmaceutical Journal)
Thursday 7 April 2016
Conclusion: Off label treatment by biologic disease modifying antirheumatic drugs can be considered in selected patients with severe antibiotic-resistant Lyme arthritis.C. (Source: North American Journal of Medical Sciences)
Thursday 7 April 2016
Title: Lyme DiseaseCategory: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 4/7/2016 12:00:00 AM (Source: MedicineNet Arthritis General)
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Tuesday 5 April 2016
The arrival of spring means we need to start being careful outside—in more places than ever -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com (Source: Scientific American)
Monday 4 April 2016
Chronic Lyme Disease is a myth, yet thousands of patients are treated with long-term antibiotics, lasting months or years, by "Lyme literate" doctors who insist that their patients have the disease. A new study examined the question of whether lengthy antibiotic treatments provides any benefit over a simple two-week course, and found no difference. Scientific studies going back to 2001 have found the same thing, but "Lyme literate" docs have banded together to form societies that insist they are right, and that continue to recruit patients, solicit donations, and prescribe antibiotic treatments that last for years. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
Sunday 3 April 2016
We describe an HIV seroconversion syndrome presenting with facial diplegia and aseptic meningitis. DESCRIPTION: Patient is a 44 year old male with known uncontrolled hypertension. Three weeks prior to presentation he suffered a transient febrile illness while vacationing and was treated presumptively for malaria in Côte d’Ivoire. One week later, he experienced a migrainous headache with pronounced bucco-labial dysarthria, meningismus and dysguesia. Examination revealed hypertensive urgency, bilateral lower motor neuron (LMN) facial paralysis, and mild meningeal irritation. Initial investigations revealed renal impairment (acute on chronic) and left ventricular hypertrophy, both ascribed to presumed chronic hypertension. Gradient echo sequence of brain MRI revealed microhemorrha...
Sunday 3 April 2016
Conclusions: Unlike unilateral facial nerve palsy, Bilateral Facial Nerve Palsy is a rarely idiopathic. It has diverse etiologies and includes life threatening conditions. We reinforce the fact that it needs thorough work up and inpatient admission.Disclosure: Dr. Singh has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
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Sunday 3 April 2016
Conclusions: Treatment with intravenous steroids, immunoglobulin and surgical interventions prior to diagnosis of ALS is associated with a significantly prolonged mean ODI.Disclosure: Dr. Kannan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Glass has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Sunday 3 April 2016
We present the interesting case of a 71 year old gentleman, previously diagnosed with metastic prostate cancer, presenting with confusion and Abdominal pain. During his hospital admission he developed Renal Impairment and Spastic paraparesis with a sensory level up to T10 dermatome. Results of Investigations: A wide panel of investigations was performed. The most significant were: Creatinine 329umol/L, Hb 8.4g/dl, platelets 51,000, LDH 395,000. Blood film pointed towards a haemolytic state. MRI spine showed showed abnormal intramedullary T2 signal in the distal cord extends from T8/T9 disk space to the conus likely cord infarct or transverse myelitis. In addition he had stable bony me; MRI brain showed small vessel ischemic changes. CSF was normal. Blood tests were sent for vitamin B12 &am...
Sunday 3 April 2016
Conclusion: Hypoglossal vertebral entrapment syndrome from a structural vascular anomaly or anomalous vascular course is an extremely rare cause of isolated hypoglossal nerve palsy. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature. Imaging studies and careful exclusion of other potential etiologies is essential to establish the diagnosis.Disclosure: Dr. Roy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bakradze has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ollenschleger has nothing to disclose. Dr. Felice has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Sunday 3 April 2016
CONCLUSIONS Viral infection can be the triggering mechanism for the development of NMO disease.Disclosure: Dr. Rothstein has nothing to disclose. Dr. Majidi has nothing to disclose. (Source: Neurology)
Sunday 3 April 2016
Conclusions: We report a case of autoimmune encephalitis due to antibodies against DPPX, which featured a fluctuating course and prominent abnormal movements, which persisted during sleep. Diarrhea, previously associated with DPPX associated encephalitis, was absent. This case highlights the clinical heterogeneity of autoimmune encephalitis and the diagnostic challenges that can lead to treatment delays.Disclosure: Dr. Gusdon has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kaunzner has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sekar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Jamieson has received personal compensation for activities with Bayer and Boehringer-Ingelheim as a consultant and a speaker. (Source: Neurology)
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Sunday 3 April 2016
Conclusions: We bring to your attention a novel case series of chronic, inflammatory immunoresponsive myeloneuropathy with very unique clinical syndrome.Disclosure: Dr. Mitrabhakdi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Goodman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Laothamatas has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lewis has received personal compensation for activities with CSL Behring, Pharnext, Novartis, and Axelacare. (Source: Neurology)
Saturday 2 April 2016
(MedPage Today) -- This weeks topics include home care and survival, timing of HRT, Lyme disease and long-term antibiotics, and cardiac procedures before surgery (Source: MedPage Today Cardiovascular)
Thursday 31 March 2016
(Source: Acta Neurologica Belgica)
Thursday 31 March 2016
This patient's clinical presentation, with peripheral noninfectious, stromal keratitis, is highly suggestive of and most often associated with an underlying systemic immune-mediated disease, although other etiologies such as neoplasia can masquerade in a similar manner. The contiguous pattern involving several clock hours of the peripheral cornea while maintaining relatively good vision and little inflammation throughout the uninvolved stroma further supports a nonmicrobial cause. Uncommon exceptions to this include ocular tuberculosis, syphilis, leprosy, and Lyme disease, which can all mimic peripheral noninfectious keratitis. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)
Thursday 31 March 2016
Longer courses of antibiotics do not improve health-related quality of life in patients with post-Lyme-disease syndrome, according to a new study. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Allergy Headlines)
Thursday 31 March 2016
Steven Reinberg and HealthDay News People with persistent symptoms associated with Lyme disease are unlikely to find relief from longer-term antibiotic therapy, according to a new Dutch study. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)
Thursday 31 March 2016
How long to treat patients with Lyme remains an issue of controversy. With traditional antibiotic therapy, lasting 2-4 weeks, 10-20% of patients will have ongoing symptoms including fatigue, joint pain, insomnia, and complaints of “brain fog.” Indefinite long-term treatment is advocated by ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society), based on a patient’s symptoms. In contrast, IDSA (Infectious Disease Society of America ) only recommends 2-4 weeks treatment. The two groups are bitter adversaries. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)
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Wednesday 30 March 2016
Dutch trial is latest to show no benefit from extended treatment, but finding unlikely to end the controversy (Source: WebMD Health)
Wednesday 30 March 2016
By Larry M. Baddour, MD Dr. Baddour is editor-in-chief of NEJM Journal Watch Infectious Diseases, from which this story was adapted. Full coverage is available to subscribers at the link below.Longer-term therapy does not improve quality of life … (Source: Physician's First Watch current issue)
Wednesday 30 March 2016
(Reuters Health) - Twelve weeks of antibiotic therapy proved ineffective at combating the long-term symptoms seen in some people who have had Lyme disease, a new test of 280 sufferers found. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Wednesday 30 March 2016
Long-term is no better than standard antibiotic therapy for persistent symptoms of Lyme disease, according to a report published online March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Randomized... (Source: Clinical Neurology News)
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Wednesday 30 March 2016
Long-term is no better than standard antibiotic therapy for persistent symptoms of Lyme disease, according to a report published online March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Randomized... (Source: Family Practice News)
Wednesday 30 March 2016
(MedPage Today) -- Focus on Lyme and antibiotics for persistent symptoms called unhelpful (Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease)
Wednesday 30 March 2016
Dutch trial is latest to show no benefit from extended treatment, but finding unlikely to end the controversy Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Antibiotics, Lyme Disease (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Wednesday 30 March 2016
Dutch trial is latest to show no benefit from extended treatment, but finding unlikely to end the controversy (Source: U.S. News - Health)
Wednesday 30 March 2016
Long-term is no better than standard antibiotic therapy for persistent symptoms of Lyme disease, according to a report published online March 30 in the New England Journal of Medicine. Randomized... (Source: Rheumatology News)
Tuesday 29 March 2016
The beginning of spring often brings warm weather and hours of outdoor fun, and many common winter infections recede. Unfortunately, spring weather can bring its own health challenges. As soon as the trees and flowers bloom, flowers bud and the grass grows, susceptible children will start to display symptoms of seasonal allergies. Seasonal allergies cause sneezing, runny nose and itchy red eyes and can trigger flares of asthma and eczema. As children spend more time outdoors, parents also need to watch for exposure to ticks, poison ivy and excess sun. Read on for the parents’ guide to spring health. Seasonal allergies: symptoms to look for Allergic rhinitis About one in five children develops seasonal allergy symptoms. In New England, tree pollen begins affecting susceptible individuals...
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Tuesday 29 March 2016
Background: Our studies undertaken between 2006-2015 have shown that the most frequent species of ticks in Romania is Ixodes ricinus. It was found that I. ricinus is the main vector in Romania for the Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and for the TBEv, but no data were available for Francisella tularensis and CCHFv infectious agents occurrence into I.ricinus and Hyalomma sp. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Tuesday 29 March 2016
(Northeastern University) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease in the US each year. University Distinguished Professor Kim Lewis, who leads the Lyme disease research team, is now expanding that therapeutic reach with the help of a $1.5 million grant from the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Monday 28 March 2016
Today, the Boston Globe editorial board spoke out against a bill "that would require insurers in Massachusetts to cover Lyme disease treatments for as long as a doctor says they're needed." The Globe writes: Lawmakers may have good intentions, but they don't possess the expertise to decide whether it's beneficial, cost-efficient, or safe, to keep using strong medicines to treat a condition the medical establishment doubts is real. Such questions should be resolved by a consensus of doctors and researchers -- and buttressed by convincing clinical date [sic] -- not determined by legislative mandate. Who among the Boston Globe editorial board possesses the medical expertise to make this call is not disclosed, but this information would be useful given that the Globe's stance presumes absolute...
Friday 25 March 2016
This study investigates the four separate outcomes of susceptibility, likelihood to be diagnosed, worry, and fear for contracting Lyme disease. University students (n=713) were surveyed about demographics, perceived health, Lyme disease knowledge, Lyme disease preventive behaviors, Lyme disease history, and Lyme disease miscellaneous variables. We found that women were associated with increased susceptibility and fear. (Source: Journal of Infection and Public Health)
Friday 25 March 2016
I just had a flashback. When I was diagnosed with Lyme, I knew little about it. I went to the first infectious disease doctor with my bullseye still present, asking lots of questions. Among them, are you sure this three weeks of doxycycline is enough. He smiled, and with his eyes fixed on his computer, he said, "Yes, it's more than enough. In fact, I could just tell you to take ten days but then you'd come back later if anything went haywire and ask why I didn't give you twenty-one." He looked up, "Call me if anything goes crazy." A month later, I called. I woke up with a very sore throat and fever two days before my brother's wedding and a gland in my neck that felt like a pulsating grape. It was movable but scarily large. He said if it didn't go down in a few weeks, to let him know. It d...
Friday 25 March 2016
Science is just beginning to understand how important your mitochondria are to warding off the diseases of aging. And, as usual, mainstream medicine is lagging way behind. Along with your telomeres, the cellular time keepers at the ends of your chromosomes, your mitochondria are another key component of the anti-aging equation. You see, these tiny organelles in your cells are the power plants that turn fuel into energy for your body. Healthy mitochondria keep you young and energetic. Research shows that damaged mitochondria can lead to: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease; Epilepsy, migraines, and nerve pain; Loss of muscle control and balance; Strokes, heart disease, and coronary artery disease; Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia;...
Friday 25 March 2016
Interpretation of serological assays in Lyme borreliosis requires an understanding of the clinical indications and the limitations of the currently available tests. We therefore systematically reviewed the acc... (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)
Tuesday 22 March 2016
Clinical introduction An 89-year-old man with a history of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction presented with worsening dyspnoea, reduced exercise capacity and peripheral oedema. His medical history was significant for hypertension, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and Lyme disease (1983). Admission cardiovascular medications included aspirin 75 mg once a day, perindopril 6 mg once a day, furosemide 40 mg two times a day, flecainide 100 mg two times a day and simvastatin 40 mg one a night. On examination, he was normothermic and clinically in heart failure with raised jugular venous pressure, bibasal pulmonary crepitations and oedema up to abdomen. Cardiac markers were negative. Other laboratory tests demonstrate...
Tuesday 22 March 2016
Conclusion The obtained results showed that B. burgdorferi s.l. N. caninum, T. gondii, A. phagocytophilum and Leishmania sp circulate in wild brown hares in Central Italy, suggesting a possible role of L. europaeus as reservoir of these pathogens. The obtained results showed that autochthonous wild brown hares living in Central Italy have been exposed to several pathogens circulating in this area, suggesting a possible role of L. europaeus as reservoir. (Source: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine)
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Tuesday 22 March 2016
T. Cerar et al. (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Tuesday 22 March 2016
Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes persulcatus are the main vectors of Lyme borreliosis spirochetes and several other zoonotic bacteria in northern Europe and Russia. However, few studies scree... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Monday 21 March 2016
We present a case of HLH triggered by severe infection with Ehrlichia chaffeensis in a patient taking methotrexate for seronegative spondyloarthropathy. A 45-year-old man with a history of ankylosing spondylitis taking methotrexate presented to a community hospital with acute onset of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Physical examination revealed a febrile patient with diffuse abdominal tenderness with splenomegaly and diffuse maculopapular rash involving the trunk and all extremities. Labs showed leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Clinical course was complicated by development of acute renal failure, altered mental status and hypoxic respiratory failure requiring endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Plasmapheresis was initiated due to concern for thrombotic thrombocytopenic pur...
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Monday 21 March 2016
Discussion Humans are opportunistic hosts to Babesia when bitten by nymph or adult ticks; the most known ticks are Ixodes. Babesiosis should be considered in patients who have a malaria-like illness in areas endemic for Babesia infection. The symptoms usually begin 2–4 weeks after a tick bite. The presentation includes constitutional symptoms, abdominal pain and dark urine. Labs finding include hemolytic anemia and elevated liver enzymes. Urinalysis reveals hemoglobinuria without red blood cells. The diagnosis of Babesiosis is usually established by microscopic examination of Giems or Wright-stained blood smears, indirect immunofluorescent antibody tests and PCR. In healthy individuals with intact spleens, the symptoms resolve spontaneously without treatment. For mild to moderate bab...
Monday 21 March 2016
A journal article says herpes virus and Lyme disease bacteria are behind the mind-robbing illness, but not all researchers are convinced -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com (Source: Scientific American)
Sunday 20 March 2016
Authors: Siński E, Welc-Falęciak R, Zajkowska J Abstract Borrelia miyamotoi is a tick-borne bacterium which has only recently been identified in Europe as a human pathogen causing relapsing fever and little is known about its local impact on human health. There are three types of B. miyamotoi: Asian (Siberian), European, and American. B. miyamotoi is transmitted by the same Ixodes ricinus-persulcatus species complex, which also transmits B. burgdorferi s.l., the Lyme borreliosis group. Both Borrelia groups are mostly maintained in natural rodent populations. The aim of this review is to summarize the available literature on B. miyamotoi, with the focus of attention falling on Europe, as well as to describe its presence in ticks, reservoir hosts, and humans and discuss its potenti...
Sunday 20 March 2016
Publication date: Available online 21 March 2016 Source:Advances in Medical Sciences Author(s): Edward Siński, Renata Welc-Falęciak, Joanna Zajkowska Borrelia miyamotoi is a tick-borne bacterium which has only recently been identified in Europe as a human pathogen causing relapsing fever and little is known about its local impact on human health. There are three types of B. miyamotoi: Asian (Siberian), European, and American. B. miyamotoi is transmitted by the same Ixodes ricinus-persulcatus species complex, which also transmits B. burgdorferi s.l., the Lyme borreliosis group. Both Borrelia groups are mostly maintained in natural rodent populations. The aim of this review is to summarize the available literature on B. miyamotoi, with the focus of attention falling on Europe, as well...
Friday 18 March 2016
[Guardian] At present, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is monitoring a couple of infectious diseases, including: Ebola, Lassa fever, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Haemorrhagic fever, West Nile Virus, and Lyme disease. The rate of re-emergence of infectious disease has been on the increase. Diseases such as cholera, tuberculosis, Influenza (flu), hepatitis and staphylococcus infections thought to have been controlled are re-emerging. A majority of the agents (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
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Wednesday 16 March 2016
Publication date: Available online 16 March 2016 Source:Microbes and Infection Author(s): Tricia A. Van Laar, Camaron Hole, S.L. Rajasekhar Karna, Christine L. Miller, Robert Reddick, Floyd L. Wormley, J. Seshu Lyme disease (LD) is a systemic disorder caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Lyme spirochetes encode for a functional 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR EC 1.1.1.88) serving as a rate limiting enzyme of the mevalonate pathway that contribute to components critical for cell wall biogenesis. Statins have been shown to inhibit B. burgdorferi in vitro. Using a mouse model of Lyme disease, we found that statins contribute to reducing bacterial burden and altering the murine immune response to favor clearance of spirochetes. (Source: Microbes and Infection)
Wednesday 16 March 2016
Authors: Krzyzak L, Seitz C, Urbat A, Hutzler S, Ostalecki C, Gläsner J, Hiergeist A, Gessner A, Winkler TH, Steinkasserer A, Nitschke L Abstract CD83 is a maturation marker for dendritic cells. In the B cell lineage, CD83 is expressed especially on activated B cells and on light zone B cells during the germinal center (GC) reaction. The function of CD83 during GC responses is unclear. CD83(-/-) mice have a strong reduction of CD4(+) T cells, which makes it difficult to analyze a functional role of CD83 on B cells during GC responses. Therefore, in the present study we generated a B cell-specific CD83 conditional knockout (CD83 B-cKO) model. CD83 B-cKO B cells show defective upregulation of MHC class II and CD86 expression and impaired proliferation after different stimuli. Analys...
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Tuesday 15 March 2016
Authors: Bonet Alavés E, Guerrero Espejo A, Cuenca Torres M, Gimeno Vilarrasa F PMID: 26971976 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Medicina Clinica)
Tuesday 15 March 2016
Ticks carrying the bacteria ‘Borrelia’ causing Lyme disease are endemic throughout the UK, and reports of Lyme disease have been steadily increasing with the infection acquired in woodlands, moorlands and parks Hide related content: Show related content read more (Source: Nursing in Practice)
Friday 11 March 2016
Authors: Talley P, Holzbauer S, Smith K, Pomputius W Abstract On April 20, 2015, a female aged 15 years sought care at her pediatrician's office after 5 days of fever, myalgia, left parietal headache, and photophobia. A rapid influenza assay was negative, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and total white blood cell count were normal. She improved with symptomatic care at home, but returned to her pediatrician's office on April 28, reporting recurrence of her headache and photophobia and new onset of a stiff neck. She was admitted to the hospital, where she was febrile to 102.9°F (39.4°C) and had meningismus. Computed tomography scan of her head was normal, and a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis showed a markedly elevated white blood cell count with 68% lymphocytes, low glucose...
Friday 11 March 2016
This study was designed to update the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. species in ticks from several districts of mainland Portugal, where Ixodes ricinus had been previously described. Ticks (a total of 2915 specimens) were collected in seven districts throughout the country, and analyzed using molecular methods. Three nested-PCR protocols, targeting the flagellin gene (flaB), the intergenic spacer region (IGS) located between 5S and 23S rRNA, and the glpQ gene, and a conventional PCR targeting the 16S rRNA, were used for Borrelia DNA detection. Borrelia DNA was detected in 3% of the ticks from Braga, Vila Real, Lisboa, Setúbal, Évora and Faro districts. The obtained amplicons were sequenced and analyzed by BLASTn, and 15/63 (24%) matched with homologous sequences from Borrelia lusitaniae...
Thursday 10 March 2016
Authors: Lee SH, Yun SH, Choi E, Park YS, Lee SE, Cho GJ, Kwon OD, Kwak D Abstract Lyme disease is a tick-borne zoonotic infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. The present study assessed the infection status of B. burgdorferi among horses reared in Korea using ELISA and PCR. Between 2009 and 2013, blood samples were collected from 727 horses throughout Korea. Data for each animal including age, gender, breed, and region of sample collection were used for epidemiological analysis. Overall, 38 (5.2%; true prevalence: 5.5%) of 727 horses were seropositive by ELISA. There were statistically significant differences according to breed and region (P<0.001) whose differences might be attributed to the ecology of vector ticks and climate conditions. Using 2 nested PCR, none o...
Thursday 10 March 2016
Ren Gill, 25, from Brighton, was first diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder, then chronic fatigue syndrome but was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease at a clinic in Brussels. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Tuesday 8 March 2016
The blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis Say, is the primary vector to humans in the eastern United States of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, as well as causative agents of anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Its close relative in the far western United States, the western blacklegged tick Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls, is the primary vector to humans in that region of the Lyme disease and anaplasmosis agents. Since 1991, when standardized surveillance and reporting began, Lyme disease case counts have increased steadily in number and in geographical distribution in the eastern United States. Similar trends have been observed for anaplasmosis and babesiosis. To better understand the changing landscape of risk of human exposure to disease agents transmitted by I. scapularis an...
Tuesday 8 March 2016
This study presents evidence of I. affinis parasitizing five new host passerine species. During 2012–2014, 1,888 birds were captured and examined for ticks, and 18 immature I. affinis were collected from 12 birds—six Carolina Wrens (Thyrothorus ludovicianus); two Brown Thrashers (Toxostoma rufum); and one American Robin (Turdus migratorius), Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus), Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), and White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). Of 15 larvae and 3 nymphs collected, one nymph tested positive for B. burgdorferi DNA. I. affinis was found co-feeding on birds with immature Amblyomma americanum (L.), Ixodes brunneus Koch, Ixodes dentatus Marx, Ixodes scapularis Say, and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris Packard. The results of this resear...
Tuesday 8 March 2016
Authors: Muehlenbachs A, Bollweg BC, Schulz TJ, Forrester JD, DeLeon Carnes M, Molins C, Ray GS, Cummings PM, Ritter JM, Blau DM, Andrew TA, Prial M, Ng DL, Prahlow JA, Sanders JH, Shieh WJ, Paddock CD, Schriefer ME, Mead P, Zaki SR Abstract Fatal Lyme carditis caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi rarely is identified. Here, we describe the pathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings of five case patients. These sudden cardiac deaths associated with Lyme carditis occurred from late summer to fall, ages ranged from young adult to late 40s, and four patients were men. Autopsy tissue samples were evaluated by light microscopy, Warthin-Starry stain, immunohistochemistry, and PCR for B. burgdorferi, and immunohistochemistry for complement components C4d and C9, CD3,...
Tuesday 8 March 2016
Fatal Lyme carditis caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi rarely is identified. Here, we describe the pathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings of five case patients. These sudden cardiac deaths associated with Lyme carditis occurred from late summer to fall, ages ranged from young adult to late 40s, and four patients were men. Autopsy tissue samples were evaluated by light microscopy, Warthin-Starry stain, immunohistochemistry, and PCR for B. burgdorferi, and immunohistochemistry for complement components C4d and C9, CD3, CD79a, and decorin. (Source: American Journal of Pathology)
Tuesday 8 March 2016
Lyme borrelia genotypes differ in their capacity to cause disseminated disease. Gene array analysis was employed to profile the host transcriptome induced by Borrelia burgdorferi strains with different capacities... (Source: BMC Microbiology)
Tuesday 8 March 2016
Fatal Lyme carditis caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi rarely is identified. Here, we describe the pathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings of five case patients. These sudden cardiac deaths associated with Lyme carditis occurred from late summer to fall, ages ranged from young adult to late 40s, and four patients were men. Autopsy tissue samples were evaluated by light microscopy, Warthin-Starry stain, immunohistochemistry, and PCR for B. burgdorferi, and immunohistochemistry for complement components C4d and C9, CD3, CD79a, and decorin. (Source: American Journal of Pathology)
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Tuesday 8 March 2016
A reduction in the use of animals in infectious disease research is desirable for animal welfare as well as for simplification and standardization of experiments. An artificial silicone-based membrane-feeding system was adapted for complete engorgement of adult and nymphal Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), and for infecting nymphs with pathogenic, tick-borne bacteria. Six wild-type and genetically transformed strains of four species of bacteria were inoculated into sterile bovine blood and fed to ticks. Pathogens were consistently detected in replete nymphs by polymerase chain reaction. Adult ticks that ingested bacteria as nymphs were evaluated for transstadial transmission. Borrelia burgdorferi and Ehrlichia muris-like agent showed high rates of transstadial transmission to adult ...
Tuesday 8 March 2016
Discussion The case shows a multimodal approach to facial paralysis integrating pharmacological treatment and CAM including YNSA, Applied Kinesiology and breathing exercises. (Source: EXPLORE: The Journal of Science and Healing)
Tuesday 8 March 2016
Lyme disease has increased both in incidence and geographic extent in the United States and Canada over the past two decades. One of the underlying causes is changes during the same time period in the distribution and abundance of the primary vectors: Ixodes scapularis Say and Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls in eastern and western North America, respectively. Aside from short periods of time when they are feeding on hosts, these ticks exist in the environment where temperature and relative humidity directly affect their development, survival, and host-seeking behavior. Other important factors that strongly influence tick abundance as well as the proportion of ticks infected with the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, include the abundance of hosts for the ticks and the capaci...
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Monday 7 March 2016
Conclusions Feral pigeons living in urban and periurban areas are a hazard for the human health as source of several pathogens. The obtained results confirm pigeons as reservoirs of chlamydial agents and suggest that they may be involved in the epidemiology of zoonotic tick-borne infections too. (Source: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine)
Saturday 5 March 2016
Conclusions: LB patients exhibit a significant decrease of their serum carnitine concentrations. The largest changes were in the NB and PLD patients. To prevent late complications of the disease a possibility of early supplementation with carnitine should be considered. Further studies are required to explain the pathophysiological significance of our findings. (Source: Postepy higieny i medycyny doswiadczalnej)
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Saturday 5 March 2016
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Didrik F. Vestrheim, Richard A. White, Ingeborg S. Aaberge, Audun Aase Detection of specific antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a useful aid for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis. However, antibodies are present in the general population. The seroprevalence increase with age, and varies according to the prevalence of infected ticks. We performed a seroprevalence study of IgM and IgG antibody reactivity against B. burgdorferi sensu lato in Norway by age-groups and geography, in order to provide a reference set of seroprevalence to inform the interpretation of positive test results. We used two commercially available enzyme immuno assays (EIA) and a multiplexed bead as...
Tuesday 1 March 2016
Borrelia burgdorferi isn't the only bacterial species causing Lyme disease in the United States. Learn about emerging tickborne infections and how they differ from 'traditional' Lyme disease. Medscape Infectious Diseases (Source: Medscape Infectious Diseases Headlines)
Tuesday 1 March 2016
We present a case report of 46-year-old man with no medical history, who complained of extreme fatigue, near-syncope, and palpitations. He initially presented in complete heart block. A transvenous pacemaker was placed in the emergency department, and he was started empirically on Ceftriaxone for Lyme disease. He was admitted and over the course of the next few days, his rhythm regressed to Mobitz type I first-degree atrioventricular block and then to normal sinus rhythm. This case report highlights some important features regarding Lyme carditis, a rare presentation of early disseminated Lyme disease (seen in a few weeks to months after the initial tick bite). In 25%–30% of patients, the characteristic targetoid rash may not be seen, a likely culprit of the disease not being detected ea...
Tuesday 1 March 2016
Tick-borne diseases are prevalent throughout the United States. These illnesses are caused by a variety of different pathogens that use ticks as vectors, including bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, and protozoa. Some of the most common illnesses caused by ticks are Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, tularemia, Colorado tick fever, tick-borne relapsing fever, and Powassan disease. Unique skin changes, fever, and influenza-like symptoms may indicate tick-borne disease. Early diagnosis can be difficult as well as nonspecific and can resemble overtraining syndrome. Diagnosis is important to facilitate early treatment to decrease morbidity and mortality and should often be initiated before a definitive diagnosis is made. Treatment guidelines are pub...
Tuesday 1 March 2016
Authors: Choi E, Pyzocha NJ, Maurer DM Abstract Tick-borne diseases are prevalent throughout the United States. These illnesses are caused by a variety of different pathogens that use ticks as vectors, including bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, and protozoa. Some of the most common illnesses caused by ticks are Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, tularemia, Colorado tick fever, tick-borne relapsing fever, and Powassan disease. Unique skin changes, fever, and influenza-like symptoms may indicate tick-borne disease. Early diagnosis can be difficult as well as nonspecific and can resemble overtraining syndrome. Diagnosis is important to facilitate early treatment to decrease morbidity and mortality and should often be initiated before a de...
Tuesday 1 March 2016
Authors: Yu PF, Niu QL, Liu ZJ, Yang JF, Chen Z, Guan GQ, Liu GY, Luo JX, Yin H Abstract An investigation was performed to detect eight pathogens in ticks collected from grass tips or animals in the southern, central and northeast regions of China. DNA samples extracted from ticks were collected from ten different locations in eight provinces of China and subjected to screening for tick-borne pathogens, including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Babesia/Theileria spp., Ehrlichia ruminantium, Coxiella burnetii, and Francisella tularensis, using nested PCR assays and sequencing analysis. The results indicated that Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Babesia/Theileria spp. were detected in all of the investigated provinces. Ehrlichia spp. was also foun...
Tuesday 1 March 2016
The case study reports on the effect of pharmacological, complementary and alternative medicine including YNSA, Applied Kinesiology and respiratory exercises in a 9-year old boy with facial paralysis. (Source: Explore)
Tuesday 1 March 2016
Summary In the 14‐year period from 1993 to 2006, New York State (NYS) accounted for over one‐quarter (27.1%) of all confirmed Lyme disease (LD) cases in the United States. During that time period, a nine‐county area in south‐east NYS accounted for 90.6% of the reported LD cases in the state. Based on concerns related to diminishing resources at both the state and local level and the increasing burden of traditional LD surveillance, the NYS Department of Health (DOH) sought to develop an alternative to traditional surveillance that would reduce the investigative workload while maintaining the ability to track LD trends by developing a system to estimate county‐level LD cases based on a 20% random sample of positive laboratory reports. Estimates from this system were compared to ob...
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Tuesday 1 March 2016
I was told that I was a moody teenage girl in need of antidepressants and psychotherapy, that I didn't stretch enough before and after sports so I should see a physical therapist, that I was tired because school started so early, that it was all in my head, and that I was just a clumsy person who should stop complaining. Seven years later, I was diagnosed with chronic neurologic Lyme disease and coinfections of Babesia and Bartonella. (Source: Journal of the Association for Vascular Access)
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Tuesday 1 March 2016
Conclusions. We describe 8 cases of POWV encephalitis in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 2013–2015. Prior to this, there had been only 2 cases of POWV encephalitis identified in Massachusetts. These cases may represent emergence of this virus in a region where its vector, I. scapularis, is known to be prevalent or may represent the emerging diagnosis of an underappreciated pathogen. We recommend testing for POWV in patients who present with encephalitis in the spring to fall in New England. (Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases)
Monday 29 February 2016
The case study reports on the effect of pharmacological, complementary, and alternative medicine including YNSA, Applied Kinesiology, and respiratory exercises in a 9-year-old boy with facial paralysis. The boy suffered from borreliosis and one-sided facial paralysis that occurred 3.5 weeks after being bitten by a tick and persisted despite 4 weeks of medication with antibiotics. In the first treatment, muscle function as assessed by the coachman ׳s test was normalized, and improvement in the facial paralysis was observed. (Source: Explore)
Monday 29 February 2016
The case study reports on the effect of pharmacological, complementary, and alternative medicine including YNSA, Applied Kinesiology, and respiratory exercises in a 9-year-old boy with facial paralysis. The boy suffered from borreliosis and one-sided facial paralysis that occurred 3.5 weeks after being bitten by a tick and persisted despite 4 weeks of medication with antibiotics. In the first treatment, muscle function as assessed by the coachman׳s test was normalized, and improvement in the facial paralysis was observed. (Source: Explore)
Monday 29 February 2016
Zoonoses and Public Health,Volume 65, Issue 2, Page 260-265, March 2018. (Source: Zoonoses and Public Health)
Sunday 28 February 2016
This article describes how the course was developed and how participants were selected; details its aims and objectives; provides an overview of the sessions and a flavour of some of the exercises that were used; and considers findings from the structured evaluation alongside written reflections from participants. PMID: 26905617 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Gerontology and Geriatrics Education)
Sunday 28 February 2016
Publication date: Available online 27 February 2016 Source:Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases Author(s): Didrik F. Vestrheim, Richard A. White, Ingeborg S. Aaberge, Audun Aase Detection of specific antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a useful aid for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis. However, antibodies are present in the general population. The seroprevalence increase with age, and varies according to the prevalence of infected ticks. We performed a seroprevalence study of IgM and IgG antibody reactivity against B. burgdorferi sensu lato in Norway by age-groups and geography, in order to provide a reference set of seroprevalence to inform the interpretation of positive test results. We used two commercially available enzyme immuno assays (EIA) and a multiplexed bead as...
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Thursday 25 February 2016
Germ forms slimy layer that makes it up to 1,000 times more resistant than other bacteria, researchers say (Source: U.S. News - Health)
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Thursday 25 February 2016
Germ forms slimy layer that makes it up to 1,000 times more resistant than other bacteria, researchers say Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Antibiotics, Lyme Disease (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Wednesday 24 February 2016
We examined 12 PEP-PTS transporter component mutants by needle inoculation of mice to assess their ability to cause mouse infection. Transposon mutants with mutations in the EIIBC components (ptsG) (BB0645, thought to be involved in glucose-specific transport) were unable to cause infection in mice, while all other tested PEP-PTS mutants retained infectivity. Infectivity was partially restored in an in trans-complemented strain of the ptsG mutant. While the ptsG mutant survived normally in unfed as well as fed ticks, it was unable to cause infection in mice by tick transmission, suggesting that the function of ptsG is essential to establish infection by either needle inoculation or tick transmission. In Gram-negative organisms, the regulatory effects of the PEP-PTS are mediated by adenylat...
Tuesday 23 February 2016
Annapolis, MD; February 23, 2016 – Ticks that transmit Lyme disease and other pathogens have been spreading geographically, and increased numbers of illnesses are being diagnosed. To address this issue, a symposium on Integrated Tick Management will be held May 16-17, 2016 in Washington, DC by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Entomological Society of America, the IPM Institute of North America, and the North Central IPM Center. The symposium aims to: read more (Source: ESA News)
Tuesday 23 February 2016
.Follow me at @drClaire The news about the Zika virus possibly causing microcephaly in infants has everyone talking about — and worried about — mosquitoes. It’s not just the Zika virus that can be spread by mosquitoes; these insects also spread other illnesses, such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis, and Japanese encephalitis. It should be said that most people who are bitten by mosquitoes don’t get sick with anything. But if you are living in or traveling to an area where these illnesses are prevalent, it’s important to know the four best ways to protect yourself and your family: Choose your clothes wisely. Lightweight long sleeves and long pants are your best bet; spraying clothing with insect repellent may help even mo...
Tuesday 23 February 2016
(Entomological Society of America) Ticks that transmit Lyme disease and other pathogens have been spreading geographically, and increased numbers of illnesses are being diagnosed. To address this issue, a symposium on Integrated Tick Management will be held May 16-17, 2016 in Washington, DC by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Entomological Society of America, the IPM Institute of North America, and the North Central IPM Center. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Tuesday 23 February 2016
Bacteraemia is a life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality [1] and is typically complicated by severe sepsis or septic shock [2]. Third-generation cephalosporins (3GCs), such as cefotaxime (CTX) and ceftriaxone (CRO), have remarkable potency against all Enterobacteriaceae and have been established as an appropriate parenteral treatment of various community-onset infections caused by susceptible organisms, such as complicated urinary tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, bacterial meningitis, bacteraemia, connective tissue infections, pelvic inflammatory disease, intra-abdominal infections and Lyme disease [3,4]. (Source: International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents)
Tuesday 23 February 2016
Researchers deciphered the genome of the blacklegged tick, which causes several diseases, including Lyme disease. The resource can aid development of new ways to control ticks. (Source: NIH Research Matters from the National Institutes of Health (NIH))
Monday 22 February 2016
CONCLUSION: A man developed AP three days after starting therapy with oral doxycycline, and the association between drug and reaction was determined to be probable. His case appears to be the third of doxycycline-associated AP, although tigecycline, tetracycline, and minocycline have also been implicated as causes of AP. PMID: 26896500 [PubMed - in process] (Source: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy : AJHP)
Sunday 21 February 2016
Publication date: Available online 20 February 2016 Source:Veterinary Parasitology Author(s): Nicole A. Honsberger, Robert H. Six, Thomas J. Heinz, Angela Weber, Sean P. Mahabir, Thomas C. Berg The efficacy of sarolaner (Simparica™, Zoetis) to prevent transmission primarily of Borrelia burgdorferi and secondarily of Anaplasma phagocytophilum from infected wild-caught Ixodes scapularis to dogs was evaluated in a placebo-controlled laboratory study. Twenty-four purpose-bred laboratory Beagles seronegative for B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum antibodies were allocated randomly to one of three treatment groups: placebo administered orally on Days 0 and 7, or sarolaner at 2mg/kg administered orally on Day 0 (28 days prior to tick infestation) or on Day 7 (21 days prior to tick in...
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Saturday 20 February 2016
Lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne human disease and is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.). Borrelia miyamotoi, a relapsing fever spirochaete, is transmitted transovarially, whereas this... (Source: Parasites and Vectors)
Friday 19 February 2016
Authors: Nelson CA, Starr JA, Kugeler KJ, Mead PS Abstract Hispanics comprise a growing portion of the US population and might have distinct risk factors for tickborne diseases. During 2000-2013, a total of 5,473 Lyme disease cases were reported among Hispanics through national surveillance. Hispanics were more likely than non-Hispanics to have signs of disseminated infection and onset during fall months. PMID: 26889721 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)
Friday 19 February 2016
Today, I want to talk to you about my patient D.B. A key treatment I offer at the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine turned her life around and boosted her chances of recovering from cancer. D.B had been a vivacious 47-year-old woman, who’d always led a healthy life. For years, she’d watched her diet carefully and exercised regularly. But then she was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. This is cancer of the inner lining of the uterus. When she came to my clinic, she’d already undergone a hysterectomy and chemotherapy. Unsurprisingly, she felt terrible. She was pale. She felt lethargic and she was experiencing severe mental fog. Every moment of her life had become a struggle. It was clear right away that D.B. was deficient in several important nutrients. It was also clear her im...
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Friday 19 February 2016
Last week, I mentioned the case of Dr. Neil Spector, whose long-undiagnosed Lyme Disease resulted in irreversible heart failure and ultimately, a heart transplant. Dr. Spector, author of Gone in a Heartbeat: A Physician's Search for True Healing, is the Sandra Coates Associate Professor of Medicine and Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University School of Medicine. As the Director of Developmental Therapeutics at t