Lyme Science Blog

A recent article, “Assessment of the Public Health Threats Posed by Vector-Borne Disease in the United Kingdom,” by Medlock and colleagues explores the growing concern Lyme disease poses to residents in the UK. [1] “There has been an increase in the numbers of reported human cases of Lyme disease,” writes Medlock in the International Journal […]

Babesia combination therapy is essential because doxycycline — the go-to antibiotic for most tick-borne illnesses — doesn’t work against Babesia. This parasite requires a different approach, often involving multiple medications. In a recent article published in The Nurse Practitioner, Paparone discusses the various presentations of Babesia, along with treatment plans for five individuals. Babesia Combination

Avoiding pacemaker implantation in Lyme carditis prevents young patients from decades of device complications, generator replacements, and cumulative healthcare costs. The SILC score (Suspicious Index in Lyme Carditis) helps clinicians identify which patients have reversible heart block from Lyme disease rather than permanent cardiac disease. When Lyme carditis is recognized early, temporary pacing and antibiotics

Heartland virus cases continue to rise, yet much remains unknown about this potentially deadly tick-borne illness. So, what do we actually know about this potentially deadly virus? Symptoms are similar to those seen with other tick-borne illnesses. Patients may experience fever, headaches, joint and muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Individuals with the

“Despite being a top international tourist destination, few sources describe the spectrum of infectious diseases acquired among travellers to the USA,” writes Stoney in the Journal Travel Medicine. [1] Stoney, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and colleagues analyzed travel history and clinical diagnoses for non-US-resident travellers who visited GeoSentinel clinics between

Babesia risk is expanding across the United States — and citizen scientists are helping map the threat. A new study found Babesia microti-infected ticks in states where the parasite had not been previously reported. An article by Nieto and colleagues, published in PLoS One, describes a study using citizen science to gather data on human

Borrelia miyamotoi diagnosis presents unique challenges for clinicians. Borrelia miyamotoi, the bacteria which causes relapsing fever, is one of the latest threats. The disease was first reported in the United States in 2013 but has become increasingly more common. B. miyamotoi is carried by black-legged ticks, the same ticks that can transmit Lyme disease. One

When Seeing Double Signals Neuroborreliosis Prefer to listen? Listen to this case on our podcast A 69-year-old man was admitted to an emergency room in New York City complaining of headache and double vision from Lyme disease. His case demonstrates how neuroborreliosis can affect the extraocular muscles through cranial nerve involvement—a rare but treatable manifestation

Borrelia miyamotoi transovarial transmission means larval deer ticks now pose a threat. According to investigators from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), larval ticks can already be infected with Borrelia miyamotoi, after they hatch from the eggs. [1] This occurs through a process called transovarial transmission in which the adult tick transmits the

The authors of a recent study published in Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases examined the pathogens in 1,240 host-seeking Ixodes scapularis (black-legged) nymphal ticks from Minnesota. They identified seven infectious agents including Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (bacteria causing Lyme disease), Borrelia mayonii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis, Babesia microti (protozoan) and Powassan (virus). B.