Lyme Science Blog

Lyme disease is known to be endemic in parts of Japan, yet it is rarely diagnosed. Between 2006 and 2010, only 41 cases of Lyme disease were reported nationwide, according to Soloria and colleagues. “Forty-one cases were domestic cases with 19 suspected to have been acquired in Hokkaido, 5 cases in Nagano, and 2 cases […]

The results of a survey by Levy et al. offer some possible answers. The authors looked at patients who had suffered at least 1 of 4 imminent threats including depression, suicidality, abuse, and sexual assault. They found “that many people withhold information from their clinicians about imminent health threats that they face,” writes Levy. [1] The

Persistent antigen Lyme arthritis has gained attention following research suggesting that Borrelia burgdorferi peptidoglycan fragments (PG(Bb)) may drive inflammation even after antibiotic treatment. According to Jutras and colleagues, PG(Bb) fragments likely “contribute to inflammation during infection and in cases of post-infectious Lyme arthritis.” In a mouse model, the authors found that PG(Bb) alone was sufficient

While there are many differences between disease vectors and the infections they transmit, the authors seek to answer a critical public health question: Why did malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases elicit effective interventions, while Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses have not? Lyme disease is “one of the most challenging contemporary public health problems,” writes

“Besides the rise in the number of cases of Lyme disease, caused by genospecies of the Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. complex, important tick-borne diseases also include anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Powassan virus, and babesiosis,” writes Benelli. [1] Ticks can also be frustrating if your child, livestock, or pet becomes infected. Have you found ticks

Peri and colleagues reviewed the medical records of children admitted to a hospital in Italy between January 2016 and December 2018. They identified 26 children who had a diagnosis of Lyme disease. Seven fit the criteria for chronic Lyme disease. But the authors disputed these findings, suspecting instead that the patients suffered from a somatic

Knee pain from Lyme disease can mimic arthritis, sports injuries, or overuse conditions—making it one of the most commonly missed presentations of tick-borne illness. In a 2019 report, Miller noted that empirical treatment is often appropriate in cases where Lyme disease is suspected. “Because early treatment of Lyme disease decreases the chance of chronic symptoms,

The cause of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is not fully understood, but researchers believe it is multifactorial. According to Wells and colleagues, moderate autonomic dysfunction, increased sympathetic tone, severe deconditioning, inadequate venous return, or excessive venous pooling may contribute to POTS symptoms. In addition, autoimmunity and mast cell activation syndromes have been postulated as

Post-treatment Lyme disease cases are rising — and a 2019 study estimates nearly 2 million Americans may be affected.For a significant number of patients with Lyme disease, standard antibiotic treatment does not work. In fact, recent studies have shown that treatment failure rates may range between 10% and 20%, writes DeLong and colleagues.These patients can