Lyme Science Blog

Lyme Endocarditis: A Rare but Serious Cardiac Manifestation Lyme disease can affect the heart in ways beyond conduction abnormalities, including rare cases of endocarditis involving heart valves. This case highlights how Lyme infection can mimic more common cardiac conditions—and why it should be considered in the differential diagnosis. A Severe Valve Presentation A 68-year-old man […]

Lyme Disease Is Widespread in the New York City Metro Area Lyme disease is not confined to rural areas—Borrelia burgdorferi is widespread throughout the New York City metropolitan region. This has important implications for both clinicians and patients who may underestimate risk based on location alone. Evidence of Widespread Infection According to Herrin and colleagues,

Kentucky Deer Ticks Expanding: Over 50% of Counties Affected Deer ticks capable of transmitting Lyme disease are now established in more than half of Kentucky counties, signaling an expanding geographic risk. This shift has important implications for clinicians and patients in regions not traditionally considered high-risk. Widespread Tick Distribution Researchers collected ticks from 794 hunter-harvested

Blacklegged Tick “Hot Spots” Emerging in Northern Canada Blacklegged ticks are appearing in unexpected regions of Canada, creating new “hot spots” of Lyme disease risk—even in areas previously considered unsuitable. This shift highlights the evolving geographic footprint of tick-borne disease. Unexpected Tick Hot Spots Identified Ticks were collected through a surveillance program involving veterinary clinics

Lyme Disease in the Elderly: Often Overlooked Lyme disease may be more common in older adults than previously recognized, yet it is often overlooked or misattributed to aging or other conditions. This has important implications for diagnosis and management in this population. Study Findings in Older Adults In a Netherlands study of 1,454 patients referred

Asymptomatic Babesia: Hidden Infections in Healthy Individuals Asymptomatic Babesia infections may be far more common than realized. The number of individuals in the US who are unaware they are infected with Babesia could be significant. At least 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease every year in the US. Up to 40% of those with

Tinnitus and Hearing Loss in Lyme Disease Tinnitus and hearing loss in Lyme disease may be more common than many patients—and clinicians—realize. In one study, ear symptoms were reported in the majority of patients with tick-borne illnesses, raising important questions about how often these symptoms are overlooked. A study of 216 patients with tick-borne diseases

Infected Ticks in Your Yard: Lyme Disease Risk Close to Home Infected ticks in your yard may be more common than expected. A Canadian study found that hundreds of ticks, including those carrying Lyme disease, were collected from a single residential backyard over several years. Four citizen scientists in Saint John, New Brunswick, recovered several

Poor Sleep Quality in Lyme Disease: Early vs Persistent Symptoms Poor sleep quality in Lyme disease is common, even in patients treated early. In one study, a significant proportion of patients with early Lyme disease reported new-onset sleep disturbances, raising questions about how sleep is affected during and after infection. These findings are part of