Lyme Science Blog

New Lyme Disease Treatments: Dapsone, Disulfiram and Azlocillin New treatments for Lyme disease are being investigated as researchers attempt to understand why some patients continue to experience symptoms after standard antibiotic therapy. Some investigators believe persistent infection, drug-tolerant bacteria, or immune system dysfunction may contribute to ongoing symptoms in a subset of patients. These concerns […]

Central Sensitization Syndrome and Lyme Disease Symptoms Central sensitization syndrome may amplify Lyme symptoms Pain, fatigue, and sensory overload can become disabling Recognizing sensory changes may improve treatment planning Central sensitization syndrome and Lyme disease are increasingly discussed together when patients describe persistent pain, fatigue, sound sensitivity, brain fog, and sensory overload. Central sensitization syndrome,

Can Lyme Disease Cause AFib or Irregular Heartbeat? Lyme disease may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation Lyme carditis can affect the heart’s electrical conduction system Irregular heartbeat and palpitations may reflect cardiac inflammation Researchers continue to investigate whether Lyme disease and Lyme carditis may contribute to atrial fibrillation (AFib), irregular heartbeat, myocarditis, and other

Could Azlocillin Become a Treatment for Persistent Lyme Disease? Researchers are investigating whether azlocillin could become a future treatment for persistent Lyme disease. Scientists identified azlocillin after screening nearly 8,000 drug compounds. In laboratory studies and mouse models, azlocillin was effective against drug-tolerant Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. For a broader overview

Do Raccoons Carry Ticks? Babesia Found in Texas Raccoons Raccoons frequently encounter ticks Texas raccoons were found carrying Babesia microti Wildlife reservoirs may influence disease ecology Do raccoons carry ticks? Search data suggests many people ask this question when considering tick exposure risk around homes, campsites, and wooded areas. Researchers studying raccoons in Texas identified

Why Tick-Borne Illnesses Persist for Decades Tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease behave differently from many infectious diseases. Instead of appearing suddenly and disappearing quickly, these infections circulate quietly between ticks and wildlife reservoirs, allowing them to persist in nature for decades. This ecological pattern helps explain why Lyme disease tests the limits of medicine

Imported Babesiosis or Malaria? Why Babesia Gets Missed Imported babesiosis can resemble malaria Travel history may change the diagnosis Babesia microti cases are being reported worldwide “Recently, sporadic cases of human babesiosis caused by several species of Babesia have been reported in other countries,” write the authors of “Imported Human Babesiosis, Singapore, 2018.” [1] These

Can You Get Babesia from a Blood Transfusion? FDA Findings Blood transmission raises important questions Blood transmission raises important questions Babesia poses a greater transfusion risk than Lyme disease Understanding these differences may improve blood safety Babesia poses a greater transfusion risk than Lyme disease Blood safety depends on understanding these differences Babesia and other

Service Dogs for Lyme Disease and Chronic Illness Service dogs may support daily function Chronic illness can affect independence Psychosocial benefits may matter for Lyme patients Click here to watch a 13 second video of a Lyme patient with a service dog Service dogs, the authors explain, can assist people with functional physical disabilities, such

Using Dogs to Map Lyme Disease Risk Dogs may help researchers map the geographic spread of Lyme disease. Because dogs are frequently exposed to ticks and are routinely tested by veterinarians, canine infection data can provide valuable insight into where Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, is circulating. There is often a delay