B. burgdorferi, the pathogen that causes Lyme disease is widespread in New York City metro area
The number of humans and dogs in the New York metropolitan area exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen that causes Lyme disease, is staggering. According to Herrin and colleagues, authors of “Canine and human infection with Borrelia burgdorferi in the New York City metropolitan area,” approximately 22 million people live in the region. And one out of every three homes has one or more pet dogs. [1]
Kentucky is swarming with deer ticks: over 50% of counties infested
According to a study by Lockwood and colleagues, from the University of Georgia, the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) has been identified in 59 of 120 counties in Kentucky. [1] Having such data is critical since the deer tick can transmit not only Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen causing Lyme disease, but also B. mayonii, B. miyamotoi, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Powassan virus, Babesia odocoilei and Babesia microti.
“Hot spots” for blacklegged ticks found in Canada
The blacklegged tick (Ixodes Scapularis), otherwise known as the deer tick, has been expanding throughout Canada. The tick, which harbors Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the bacteria causing Lyme disease, is finding its way into new regions, thanks to climate change, according to Lieske and colleagues from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada. [1] Furthermore, milder winters and a rise in annual precipitation are contributing to the increase in the number of black-legged ticks.
Netherlands study finds Lyme disease common in elderly
Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a treatable condition in the elderly, but little is known about the prevalence of the illness and pervasiveness of depressive symptoms among this age group. Now, a study by Zomer and colleagues takes a more in-depth look, examining the records of patients referred to a Lyme disease center in the Netherlands between 2008 and 2014. [1]
Untreated Lyme disease triggers a stroke in 9-year-old boy
The authors of a retrospective study, published in the European Journal of Pediatric Neurology, examined the records of patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke and Lyme neuroborreliosis between 2000 and 2015. Participants were identified from the Swiss NeuroPaediatric Stroke Registry.
Healthy people may be unaware they are infected with Babesia
A new study, “Transfusion-transmitted and community-acquired babesiosis in New York, 2004 to 2015,” reports a growing incidence of Babesia in New York state over a 12-year period. [1] Blood donors, unknowingly infected with the parasite, are contributing to spreading the disease. This is alarming, given that Babesia can be life-threatening and often times does not produce symptoms.
Study finds hearing loss and tinnitus common in patients with tick-borne diseases
A new study finds that the majority of patients with tick-borne diseases admitted to an outpatient otolaryngological clinic in Poland suffered from hearing loss and tinnitus. In the article, “Otolaryngological symptoms in patients treated for tick-borne diseases,” Sowula and colleagues from Jagiellonian University in Krakow review the records of 216 patients, ages 18-55, who were evaluated in their clinic for tick-borne diseases between 2014 and 2016. [1]
Hundreds of infected ticks found in one yard in Canada
Just how many infected ticks are in your yard? A citizen scientist initiative found hundreds of ticks in one backyard located in St. John, Canada as part of a larger tick surveillance study, writes Lewis from Mount Allison University in Canada. [1]
Poor sleep quality in Lyme disease patients
A study by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine finds that patients with early Lyme disease and those with “Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS)” struggle with poor quality of sleep. Most early Lyme disease patients reported their sleep quality returning to normal after antibiotic treatment. But PTLDS patients did not, according to Weinstein, lead author of the study. [1]
Most residents in Delaware are not worried about Lyme disease
Delaware is one of the top 10 states in the country with the highest incidence of Lyme disease. Yet, a newly published survey, which examines the effectiveness of state awareness campaigns and educational programs, found that Delaware residents have a limited understanding of tick-borne diseases and the potential risks ticks may present. Children were found to be at particular risk with a low number of families practicing tick bite prevention behaviors.
