Lyme Science Blog

While the Powassan virus is considered rare, it can be dangerous and is fatal in 10% of the cases. In 2013, a Maine woman died from the disease and as of 2017, 10 residents had been infected. An increase in cases of Powassan is particularly alarming, given that there is no medication to treat this […]

In the summer of 2013, a young man from Poughkeepsie, NY, died suddenly after suffering from flu-like symptoms for nearly 3 weeks. Initial reports suggested he had died from complications due to the Powassan virus, a rare illness, transmitted by ticks that can be fatal. However, a paper published in the March issue of Cardiovascular Pathologist, 3.

While vacationing in rural Newfoundland, the man developed nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, double vision (diplopia) and impaired coordination (ataxia). He was admitted to a hospital where his symptoms worsened. The man became febrile and experienced slurred and slow speech (dysarthria), weakness, and respiratory distress. “Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed pleocytosis (159 × 106 total nucleated cells:

To explore the possible association, Žákovská and colleagues from Masaryk University in the Czech Republic conducted a pilot study using an in vitro method. Blood from volunteers was placed on the perimeter of filter paper placed on a Petri dish. Researchers collected 100 nymphal Ixodes ricinus ticks in Ruda, near the Brno Reservoir. These are

The working group, led by Dr. John Aucott of Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Clinical Research Center, released its first report in 2018. The report included multiple suggestions to address the “serious and growing threat of tick-borne diseases.” Authors of the report called on the government to invest more funds in research, prevention and treatment of

In a 2014 interview, Dr. Eugene Shapiro, dismissed patients’ concerns over chronic symptoms associated with Lyme disease And recommended the medical community “figure out ways to reduce healthcare-seeking behaviors” by patients who are ill and told they do not have Lyme disease. Shapiro expressed his concerns after reviewing Yale Medical Center’s patient database and finding

According to Haddad, more than 1,000 individuals consulted 1 of 3 centers in France about presumed Lyme borreliosis. However, the majority (90%) were not diagnosed with Lyme disease. “The most striking result is that approximately 10% of such patients have a final diagnosis of LB [Lyme borreliosis],” writes Haddad. Yet, in one of the studies

Out of the 52 patients, 4 (7.7%) “had convincing evidence of Babesia microti co-infection,” writes Wormser. These patients, along with 2 additional cases of suspected Babesia, were highlighted in the article. Patient 1: 69-year-old with fever on day 4 of amoxicillin therapy. Positive for B. microti by blood smear and DNA by PCR. Patient 2:

“The exact prevalence of NB [neuroborreliosis] in France is unknown because reporting is not required,” explains Guet-Revillet. “Nevertheless, the prevalence seems rare.” The outcome for the 9 children “was favorable” after a 2- to 3-week course of third-generation cephalosporin. However, the outcomes have not been so positive for other pediatric cases. According to the authors’

The pain had been ongoing for one week. “He described the pain as throbbing, worse with movement, and improved with rest,” writes Sandelich and colleagues.  Three days earlier, the boy had visited a different emergency department and was diagnosed with a muscle sprain following results from an X-ray. The boy’s pain, however, continued, and an ultrasound