Lyme Science Blog

C6 peptide test may indicate Borrelia miyamotoi infection Koetsveld and colleagues examined C6 reactivity in sera from both mice infected with Borrelia miyamotoi and from 46 patients with PCR-confirmed Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD). Their findings suggest that the C6 peptide assay—commonly used in Lyme disease testing—may also serve as an indicator in a Borrelia miyamotoi […]

Treatment of Lyme Arthritis: Are DMARDs Appropriate? The decision to use DMARD therapy in Lyme arthritis depends on whether persistent infection has been adequately treated or excluded. The treatment of Lyme arthritis with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) remains controversial. DMARDs are designed to slow inflammatory disease progression, but their role in Lyme arthritis depends on

Brain Imaging in Lyme Disease: Can MRI or MRS Detect Cognitive Impairment? Brain imaging in Lyme disease may provide insight into cognitive symptoms, even when standard tests appear normal. Patients with Lyme disease frequently report cognitive symptoms such as memory problems, slowed processing, and difficulty concentrating. Yet conventional imaging studies are often unrevealing. Emerging techniques

Delayed Treatment in Lyme Disease: Risks of Waiting Too Long Delaying antibiotics in Lyme disease can increase the risk of complications, especially when early treatment is missed. Patients who do not receive antibiotics or who experience delayed treatment may have worse outcomes than those treated promptly. While this has been well documented in other infections,

Children With Lyme Disease: Delays and Challenges Parents of children with Lyme disease often describe a difficult path marked by delayed diagnosis, persistent symptoms, and frustration with the medical system. In fact, one study found that in Ontario, Canada adolescents ages 15 to 19 comprised the group most frequently hospitalized for Lyme disease.¹ The number

How Many Patients Do Not Meet the CDC Criteria for Lyme Disease? How many patients do not meet the CDC criteria for Lyme disease? A study by Kobayashi and colleagues found that nearly 3 out of 4 patients referred to an infectious diseases clinic did not meet the CDC criteria for Lyme disease based on

Hispanic Risk of Lyme Disease Hispanic risk of Lyme disease may be influenced by differences in access to care, awareness, and prevention practices. In their article, “Knowledge and prevention of tick-borne diseases among Hispanic and non-Hispanic residents of Maryland and Virginia,” Hu and colleagues found that Hispanics were more likely to have disseminated Lyme disease

Lyme Vaccine for Humans: The Race for a New Vaccine Lyme vaccine for humans remains an important goal, but past challenges continue to shape the path forward. LYMErix was withdrawn from the market in 2002 after concerns over its safety, raising ongoing questions about whether researchers can develop an effective and safe Lyme disease vaccine.

Babesia duncani Emerges in Eastern U.S. and May Go Undetected Babesia duncani is no longer just a West Coast problem. In their article “Babesia microti – Borrelia burgdorferi Co-infection,” Parveen reports that B. duncani has now been identified in eastern USA and Canada—areas already endemic for Lyme disease and Babesia. Babesia duncani Spreads East New

Why Tick Prevention Varies: How Socio-Economic Factors Affect Lyme Risk Why do some people consistently prevent tick bites while others don’t? Tick prevention behaviors vary widely across socio-economic groups—affecting real-world risk for Lyme disease. A study of nearly 2,000 individuals in endemic areas found that prevention strategies differ significantly based on income, education, and exposure