Lyme Science Blog

Babesia Neurologic Complications: What 163 Patients Revealed Babesia neurologic complications are more common than many clinicians realize. In their study “Neurologic Complications of Babesiosis,” the authors “sought to describe the type and frequency of neurologic complications of babesiosis in a group of hospitalized patients and assess risk factors that might predispose patients to neurologic complications.” […]

Case study: Lyme disease in patient with Long COVID The authors cited the World Health Organizations definition of Long COVID as follows: definition of Post COVID-19 – “Post COVID-19 condition occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection, usually 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms that last

Investigators question the term “Australian Lyme” The authors looked at patients admitted to their infectious disease clinic in Australia between 2014 – 2020. “Patients were included if they had debilitating symptoms suggested by either themselves or the referring clinician as being attributed to ticks.” They acknowledged that there are ill patients who have been seen

What parts of the body do ticks prefer to bite? In their study, “Human attachment site preferences of ticks parasitizing in New York,” Hart and colleagues describe which body parts black-legged and lone star ticks prefer to bite.¹ They collected ticks, submitted between April and December 2020 from individuals living in New York State, along

Does Lyme disease affect the brain? In their article entitled Common Neurologic Features of Lyme Disease That May Present to a Rheumatologist, Govil et al. describe the various ways that Lyme disease can affect the brain. The authors hope to make rheumatologists aware of the most common neurologic presentations of Lyme disease.1 Key Point: Neurologic

Abnormal MRI leads to Lyme encephalitis diagnosis In their article “Lyme neuroborreliosis with encephalitis: A rare case,” Rosendahl and colleagues describe a 74-year-old immunocompromised woman, who was admitted to the hospital with confusion, paranoid delusions, weight loss, back pains, and a history of fever and vomiting suspect of cancer and infection of unknown origin.¹ The

Borrelia Miyamotoi California: First Documented Human Case Borrelia miyamotoi California cases are now being documented. “Although B. miyamotoi has been identified in ticks in California for more than 20 years, locally acquired human cases within the western United States have not been described [in the literature],” according to Rubio et al. In this case report,

Supportive Oligonucleotide Therapy (SOT) for Lyme Disease In their article “Supportive Oligonucleotide Therapy (SOT) as a Potential Treatment for Viral Infections and Lyme Disease: Preliminary Results,” Apostolou and colleagues describe findings from a study evaluating the potential role of Supportive Oligonucleotide Therapy (SOT) in patients with viral infections and Lyme disease.1 The study included 115

Tick control methods not effective in residential neighborhoods In their study, “Impacts Over Time of Neighborhood-Scale Interventions to Control Ticks and Tick-Borne Disease Incidence,” Ostfeld and colleagues examined the effectiveness of tick control methods in 24 residential neighborhoods endemic for Lyme disease in New York.¹ The study, conducted over several years, assessed the impact of

Temporary Pacemaker for Lyme Carditis: Avoiding Permanent Implants A temporary permanent pacemaker allowed a 31-year-old man with Lyme carditis to recover at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, avoiding prolonged hospitalization while his heart block resolved. The approach offers a safe middle ground between traditional temporary pacing and unnecessary permanent pacemakers. By Dr. Daniel Cameron Key