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Babesia microti imported into foreign countries
Over the past two decades, there have been reports of the tick-borne infection Babesia microti being imported into foreign countries from the United States. International travelers are unknowingly carrying the disease into countries, which may be unfamiliar with diagnosing tick-borne illnesses.
Babesia infections and tick-borne agents transmitted through blood supply
“The threat to blood safety by tick-borne agents is ever-increasing and requires constant surveillance,” state the authors of a review article, which describes the risks of contracting a tick-borne illness, including a Babesia infection, through the blood supply. [1]
Can service dogs help patients with Lyme disease and other chronic illnesses?
Patients with all types of illnesses and disabilities, from cancer to autoimmune diseases to fibromyalgia, have reported great comfort in having a service dog at their side. In a recent article, Rodriguez and colleagues examined how effective a service dog can be in improving the lives of patients suffering from physical disabilities or chronic illness.¹
Using dogs to map Lyme disease
Our dogs are catching Lyme disease -- in greater numbers and in a wider geographic region. What does this mean for humans?
In mapping the prevalence of the tick-borne illness in canines, researchers hope the data may prove useful in predicting areas where human Lyme disease may become a concern.
What nesting songbirds tell us about Lyme disease in Canada?
There are Canadian residents who develop Lyme disease without having ever left the country. So, how are they contracting the disease? Researchers have shown that migratory birds can carry ticks into Canada from other regions. But now, a new study reports that nesting songbirds may confirm what Canadians have long believed – Borrelia burgdorferi-infected deer ticks have already established residency in Canada.
Can Bell’s palsy lead to nonflaccid facial palsy in Lyme disease?
Bell’s palsy typically presents as flaccid facial palsy, where one or both sides of the face drops. However, Bell’s palsy can also lead to nonflaccid facial palsy. Lyme disease can cause either flaccid or nonflaccid facial palsy (NFFP).
Chronic neurological Lyme disease or co-morbid conditions?
Some patients with chronic neurological Lyme disease continue to have persistent, debilitating symptoms following treatment. A recent study confirmed the severity of chronic symptoms in this patient population but unfortunately dismissed the symptoms, attributing them to various co-morbid conditions, rather than Lyme disease. [1]
Lyme carditis symptoms may go undiagnosed in Mexico
Lyme carditis symptoms can be a serious complication of Lyme disease. While the condition is well-recognized in the United States, officials in Mexico are reluctant to acknowledge Lyme disease in their country. In a letter entitled “Advanced AV-block: Is it time to consider Lyme carditis as a differential diagnosis in Mexico?” physicians describe the challenges of proving that a patient has Lyme carditis. [1]
Can’t trust single-dose doxycycline to prevent Lyme disease. Perspective:
Clinicians will often advise patients who have a tick bite to take a single dose of doxycycline to prevent Lyme disease. But this recommendation is based only on findings from one study, which showed that doxycycline prevented patients from developing an EM (or bull’s-eye) rash. It did not demonstrate that the antibiotic stopped patients from developing other manifestations of Lyme disease.
How do ticks move when seeking a meal?
A new study examines the question: How do ticks move when seeking a host? It’s well-known that ticks will sit-and-wait atop vegetation as they quest for their next meal, sitting with their front legs extended and grabbing onto a host passing by. “It is also known that ticks are willing to migrate horizontally (or actively search), when stimulated by the presence of host cues,” and that host-seeking behavior differs among life stages, writes Curtis and colleagues in the journal Medical and Veterinary Entomology. [1]
