Lyme Science Blog

Malaria and Lyme Disease Coinfection Reported in Traveler A traveler developed both malaria and Lyme disease. Neurologic symptoms raised concern for neuroborreliosis. The case highlights the importance of considering coinfections. “As far as we are aware, we are writing the first report of Plasmodium spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi co‐infection,” explains Neves from the Infectious Diseases […]

Tick Bite ER Visits Rising: Why Children and Older Adults Are Most Affected Thousands of ER visits reported Children and elderly at higher risk Diagnosis may be more difficult Education remains critical Tick bite ER visits are more common than many realize. A multi-hospital study highlights how frequently patients seek emergency care—and which groups are

Can Lyme Disease Mimic Parkinson’s Disease? Can Lyme disease mimic Parkinson’s disease? In rare cases, patients with neurologic Lyme disease may develop tremor, stiffness, slowed movement, balance problems, or speech changes that resemble Parkinson’s disease. However, these symptoms are not always degenerative. In some patients, infection-related inflammation or vascular injury involving the nervous system may

Tracking Ticks with Digital Images: Surveillance Study Findings Digital tools may improve how ticks are identified and tracked. A study from Canada suggests that image-based tick identification can support surveillance when images are of sufficient quality. This raises an important question: can digital images reliably identify ticks and assess risk? In many cases, image-based methods

Reversible Heart Block in Lyme Disease: Canadian Case Report Lyme disease can affect the heart and, in some cases, cause serious conduction abnormalities. A case from Canada highlights reversible complete heart block as a manifestation of early disseminated Lyme disease. This raises an important question: can Lyme disease cause severe heart block in otherwise healthy

Western Blot vs Modified Two-Tier Testing in Lyme Disease Modified Two-Tier Testing (MTTT) replaces Western blot with two enzyme immunoassays, but both approaches have important limitations—especially in early Lyme disease. Newer Lyme disease tests were introduced to improve accuracy and simplify interpretation. However, the reality remains more complex. Both traditional and newer testing methods may

Dapsone, Bactrim, and Lyme Disease: What In Vitro Studies Show Some antibiotic combinations show activity against Borrelia in culture Dapsone and sulfa drugs have been studied against stationary-phase organisms Laboratory findings do not necessarily predict clinical outcomes Researchers have explored whether combinations of antibiotics may improve activity against stationary-phase Borrelia burgdorferi in laboratory culture models.

Lyme Carditis Can Cause 3rd Degree Heart Block Lyme carditis may rapidly progress to severe heart block. 3rd degree AV block can develop early and may require temporary pacing. Prompt antibiotic treatment may reverse conduction abnormalities. A case report entitled Electrocardiographic progression of acute Lyme disease describes a patient with Lyme carditis who developed rapidly

Hedgehogs and Tick-Borne Diseases: Urban Reservoir Study Findings Urban wildlife may play a larger role in tick-borne diseases than previously recognized. A study of European hedgehogs found high rates of infection in ticks, including multiple pathogens within the same tick. This raises an important question: can urban animals contribute to the spread of Lyme disease

Could slowing Lyme spirochete movement improve treatment? Spirochete movement affects infection behavior Motility may influence virulence and tissue spread Laboratory studies suggest slowing movement could alter survival Lyme spirochete movement may play an important role in how Borrelia burgdorferi spreads through tissues, avoids immune defenses, and contributes to infection. Researchers have examined whether slowing spirochete