What does Borrelia miyamotoi cause?
Borrelia miyamotoi is a co-infection that can be transmitted by the same tick that carries Lyme disease. B. miyamotoi can lead to Borrelia miyamotoi disease (BMD). In their article “Borrelia miyamotoi: A Comprehensive Review,” Cleveland and colleagues reviewed the clinical manifestations of BMD. [1]
Fatal case of Heartland Virus
The Heartland virus (HRTV) is an emerging tick-borne illness which can be acquired through the bite of an infected Lone Star tick. The virus was first reported in 2009 in Missouri. Since then, it has spread to other states including Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, and North Carolina, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Borrelia miyamotoi can be transmitted from mother ticks to offspring
Lyme disease and Borrelia miyamotoi can be transmitted from a tick to a host and vice versa (horizontal transmission). B. miyamotoi can also be transmitted from the mother to their offspring (vertical transmission).
Pacemakers for Lyme carditis
Some patients with Lyme carditis (LC) require implantation of a pacemaker. Yeung and Baranchuk discussed the need for “preventing unnecessary implantation of permanent pacemakers in otherwise healthy young individuals” in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology in 2019.
Similarities of Long-COVID and Lyme disease in children
Both COVID-19 and Lyme disease can lead to long term illness in children. In their article, “Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations,” Davis and colleagues summarized the symptoms of Long-COVID in children. [1]
Stroke associated with Lyme disease in a 59-year-old man
Stroke is a rare presentation of Lyme disease with only 5 cases reported in the U.S. But a recent study reminds us of the importance of considering Lyme disease in the differential diagnosis “in patients who present with stroke or acute confusional state in endemic areas for Lyme disease.”[1]
Increasing spread of Lyme disease in Europe
The number of Lyme disease cases continues to climb in the U.S. and Europe despite preventative measures. A new study examines the prevalence of Lyme disease in Greece, a country that has questioned its existence.
Can anaplasmosis cause heart problems?
The number of cases of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is rising in the United States, with more than a three-fold increase over the past several years. The tick-borne illness is not often associated with conduction problems and myocardial disease. But a new study highlights a case in which anaplasmosis triggered mycopericarditis.
Can Lyme disease cause speech issues?
“Lyme can affect the nerves that are responsible for controlling the muscles in the vocal cords,” says Amesh A. Adalja, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. “As a result, someone could technically lose their voice if they had Lyme disease.”
Patient contracts Babesia from a blood donor
Babesia is most commonly transmitted through a tick bite but it can also be transmitted through a blood transfusion. To minimize the risk to the public, blood banks now screen donors for Babesia in endemic states.
