The OspA vaccine trial was 78% effective at preventing a culture confirmed erythema migrans rash. But the vaccine was only 48% effective at preventing what the authors referred to as “possible Lyme disease.” “Possible Lyme disease was defined as a flu-like illness (fever, chills, fatigue, headache, joint or muscle aches) with IgM or IgG Western blot […]
Questions linger on the efficacy of the Lyme disease vaccine Read More »
by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH The authors found 13% of patients with a spinal tap positive by both cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis and Borrelia-specific antibodies remained ill for more than 3 months after treatment. Meanwhile, 33% of Lyme neuroborreliosis patients with Borrelia-specific antibodies detected in cerebrospinal fluid and 43% of Lyme neuroborreliosis patients with pleocytosis
by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH “Three weeks after the vacation [in Cape Cod], he awoke in the night to use the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, he found himself on the bathroom floor, not recalling any premonitory symptoms for syncope. In the following weeks, he experienced a sharp decrement in exercise tolerance,” according to Patel
Another Lyme Carditis Case Read More »
by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH According to the authors, “If uncontrolled in the context of neuroborreliosis, the astrocyte response could lead to long-term injury in the CNS.” Researchers identified changes in gene expression within 48 hours of infecting cultured astrocytes with Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). “Understanding how these changes are maintained over time will be
Borrelia burgdorferi activates human astrocytes cells in culture Read More »
by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH A 51-year-old man in the United Kingdom was hospitalized with retrosternal, dull chest pain. He had a history of palpitations, dizziness, and sweating and a previous transient ischemic attack.[1] He presented with a heart rate of 180 with right bundle branch block, a superior QRS axis, and signs of
Questions to ask patients about Lyme disease Read More »
by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH According to a 2017 study published in Clinical Infectious Disease, a pronounced TH17 cytokine response may be beneficial in the early stages of Lyme disease. “In these patients, the levels of inflammatory mediators, particularly TH17-associated cytokines, correlated directly with B. burgdorferi IgG antibodies (P<0.02), suggesting a beneficial role for
Questing ticks were collected from grassland, hedges, parks, woodland and woodland edges in Salisbury, an urban area located in Wiltshire, England. Ticks were identified at over 50% of the 25 sites surveyed. Furthermore, investigators reported that the collected ticks carried two pathogens posing a health risk to the public. The “DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l.
“Urban” ticks carry B. burgdorferi s.l. and B. miyamotoi Read More »
by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH In a review, published in Cochrane, entitled Antibiotics for the neurological complications of Lyme disease, Cadavid and colleagues identify several trials investigating the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments for neurological Lyme disease in Europe. The authors describe generally favorable outcomes for treating neurologic complications of Lyme disease. “The majority of people
by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH Older hybrid Ixodes scapularis ticks did not do so well. “Four month old larvae resulting from a cross between Wisconsin males and South Carolina females died faster under southern than under northern conditions in the lab,” explains Ginsberg. But then again, it is unlikely that an individual would be
Ticks can survive a Northern winter. But can ticks survive a Southern summer? Read More »
by Daniel J. Cameron, MD MPH The findings of this double-blinded placebo controlled clinical trial were published in The Lancet Infectious Disease. In a post hoc analysis of 134 subjects, the authors were able to prevent 6 rashes if the gel was applied after a tick bite. The gel delayed the onset of EM rashes
Azithromycin gel fails to prevent Lyme disease Read More »
