Human seroprevalence of Borrelia miyamotoi in Manitoba, Canada, in 2011–2014: a cross-sectional study

[CanLyme Note: This is a very interesting and important study and we are pleased that this is being looked at but there are some glaring omissions in the document. Not made clear in the results is that a significant percentage of obviously symptomatic patients (why their blood was tested in the first place) would be completely…

The cost of Lyme borreliosis.

Eur J Public Health. 2017 Jun 1;27(3):538-547. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckw269. Abstract BACKGROUND: Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most frequently reported tick-borne infection in Europe and North America. The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-of-illness of LB in the Netherlands. We used available incidence estimates from 2010 for tick bite consultations and three symptomatic LB outcomes:…

Borrelia lanei sp. nov. extends the diversity of Borrelia species in California

First Published Online: 08 September 2017, International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.002214 Subject: Taxonomic Description – New Taxa Abstract The diversity of Borrelia species discovered in California appears to be particularly high. A divergent group of Borrelia strains collected from Ixodes ticks in California was described by Postic and co-workers and designated ‘genomospecies 2’ (Postic D, Garnier M,…

Ontario: Twenty-four cases of Lyme Disease in Durham

September 6th, 2017 The Durham Region Health Department is reminding the public to protect themselves against Lyme disease, a serious bacterial illness that is spread by the bite of an infected black-legged tick or “deer” tick, which carry the bacteria. So far this season, the health department has submitted 118 ticks for testing for Lyme…

Empirical validation of the Horowitz Multiple Systemic Infectious Disease Syndrome Questionnaire for suspected Lyme disease

International Journal of General Medicine September 4th, 2017 Purpose: Lyme disease is spreading worldwide, with multiple Borrelia species causing a broad range of clinical symptoms that mimic other illnesses. A validated Lyme disease screening questionnaire would be clinically useful for both providers and patients. Three studies evaluated such a screening tool, namely the Horowitz Multiple…

First record of locally acquired human babesiosis in Canada caused by Babesia duncani: a case report

First Published August 29, 2017 John D Scott Abstract Objectives: The aim of this clinical assessment was to ascertain whether a 70-year-old Canadian patient, who had no history of out-of-country travel, had contracted a Babesia infection. Methods: The adult human male developed constitutional symptoms, which included sweats, chills, and immobilizing fatigue, and was screened for human babesiosis. Subsequent…

Watch New York State Senate Public Hearing on Lyme and Tick Borne Diseases

LYME SCI: Re-cap of New York’s Lyme disease hearing On August 29, the New York State Senate’s Task Force on Lyme and Tick-borne Diseases held a public hearing, with participation from many stakeholders. Public health officials, scientists, patients, and doctors from IDSA and ILADS all addressed the committee hearing, which was streamed live to a…

Toronto Star: Pet owners help university track ticks through new online tool

Pathobiology professor Scott Weese, who developed the Tick Tracker, says the data could serve as an “early warning system.” By Isabel Teotonio August 7th, 2017 When Ellen Holmes takes her two cocker spaniels for a walk on her 40-hectare property — a pooch paradise made up of ponds, trails and thick brush — they always…

BABESIA CASES SKYROCKET IN WISCONSIN WITH A 26-FOLD INCREASE

by Daniel J. Cameron, MD, MPH In Wisconsin, between 2001 and 2015, “there was a 26-fold increase in the incidence of confirmed babesiosis, in addition to geographic expansion,” according to MMWR. [1] The report listed suburbanization, forest fragmentation patterns, and warming average temperatures as potential causes behind the surge. The rising prevalence of co-infections in rodents may also…

Saskatchewan: Sask. Lyme disease patients are falling through the cracks

The Saskatchewan government says there have been three cases of Lyme disease in the province since 2008. Five Lyme patients beg to differ.   Anika Kosteniuk was 13 years old when a tick bite changed her life. She was on vacation in Virginia, on the acreage of her great-aunt and uncle, when she found an…

Two women joined in a mission to learn more about a still misunderstood condition

[CanLyme Note: CanLyme and the G Magnotta Foundation for Vector Borne Diseases have worked together for 5 years to bring this research program to fruition.  This is the first step in a major thrust to aid in diagnostics, inform treatment, and bring much needed knowledge to the Canadian medical community.] CTV National News: Motivated by trajedy….

Stevia could offer cure for Lyme disease, researchers say

Published July 12th, 2017 Stevia, a common coffee sweetener, could be a possible cure for Lyme disease after tests conducted by a Connecticut professor and her students showed it was most effective in treating the tick-borne illness. Professor Eva Sapi, chairwoman of University of New Haven’s Department of Biology and Environmental Science, and her students have…

Human Rights Violations of Relapsing Fever and Lyme Disease Patients Under International Investigation

[CanLyme Note: CanLyme was approached by Jenna Luché-Thayer early this year after her finding out that the World Health Organization (WHO) had held a meeting in November 2016 regarding updating the WHO International Classification of Diseases codes (ICD codes) relative to tick borne diseases. WHO is mandated to work with stakeholders yet no patient groups…

Global News: Lone Star ticks that cause red meat allergies are on their way to Canada

Jun 27th, 2017 By Carmen Chai It looks like Lyme disease isn’t the only thing Canadians need to worry about contracting from ticks. A bite from the Lone Star tick can trigger an allergy to red meat, and the tiny bug is making its way into Canada. For decades, scientists kept a watchful eye over…