Category Archives: For Physicians

Recent in: For Physicians

Ticks do not only transmit Lyme disease: After Tularemia Death, Experts Stress Education

[Learn more about tularemia ] Article… September 13, 2018 Julia Wells The Vineyard Gazette With tick-borne diseases a growing matter of public health concern on Martha’s Vineyard, education and prevention are more important than ever, the state’s leading expert in infectious diseases said in an interview this week. Dr. Catherine Brown, the state epidemiologist and senior scientist for the Massachusetts Department Continues →

Neuropsychiatric Lyme Borreliosis: An Overview with a Focus on a Specialty Psychiatrist’s Clinical Practice

Pulished August 25, 2018 Robert C Bransfield Department of Psychiatry, Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA Abstract   There is increasing evidence and recognition that Lyme borreliosis (LB) causes mental symptoms. This article draws from databases, search engines and clinical experience to review current information on LB. LB causes immune and metabolic effects that result in a Continues →

The Situation of Human Rights Defenders of Lyme and Relapsing Fever Borreliosis Patients: Edition One March 6, 2018

Thanks to the tremendous effort of Jenna Luché-Thayer the report was presented at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in June 2018 by several of us on the The Ad Hoc Committee for Health Equity in ICD11 Borreliosis Codes representing many different countries affected by poor policy. Authors: Jenna Luché-Thayer, Holly Ahern, Robert Bransfield, Joseph Burrascano, Anne Fierlafijn, Theresa Denham, Huib Kraaijeveld, Continues →

Lyme-disease-carrying ticks a growing problem in Ontario as ticks climb tops of tall grass waiting for victims

[CanLyme Note: this article includes some information we disagree with.  Treating with a single dose of antibiotics lacks GRADE level science to support it as an effective approach and was a closed door decision showing arrogance, not ethical science. Opposing experts and advocates were not consulted therefore the policy is invalid – longer durations of antibiotics are needed.] from ‘FARMERS Continues →

Woman walks away from wheelchair after recovering from Lyme disease

July 23, 2018 Chronicle Herald by Nikki Sullivan PORT CALEDONIA — Melissa Boutilier knows how quickly life can change after you get Lyme disease and how hard it can be to diagnose it. In July 2015, Boutilier biked around the Cabot Trail for a Heart and Stroke Foundation fundraiser. She was also getting ready to buy her first home and Continues →

Far-Reaching Dispersal of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato-Infected Blacklegged Ticks by Migratory Songbirds in Canada

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare6030089 Abstract Lyme disease has been documented in northern areas of Canada, but the source of the etiological bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl) has been in doubt. We collected 87 ticks from 44 songbirds during 2017, and 24 (39%) of 62 nymphs of the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, were positive for Bbsl. We provide the first report of Bbsl-infected, songbird-transported I. scapularis in Cape Continues →

Borrelia burgdorferi adhere to blood vessels in the dura mater and are associated with increased meningeal T cells during murine disseminated borreliosis

Published: May 3, 2018 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196893 ABSTRACT Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, is a vector-borne bacterial infection that is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick. If not treated with antibiotics during the early stages of infection, disseminated infection can spread to the central nervous system (CNS). In non-human primates (NHPs) it has been demonstrated that the Continues →

What are implications for eastern Canada? – New York – Warning Issued After New Tick Species Discovered In Westchester

[CanLyme Note:  Ticks in New York state are only a short flight away aboard our migratory passerine birds ie robins, finches, wrens. who bring these ticks into Canada in the millions each year.] July 18th, 2018 State officials are warning New York residents, visitors and farmers about the continued importance of taking measures to protect against ticks, as a new tick species Continues →

Dog owners issued warning as deer ticks move into Calgary backyards

July 16th, 2018 Deer ticks no longer respect city limits. That was the word Monday from Dr. Wendy McLelland, a Calgary veterinarian, who delivered the advice that no matter how much of a city dweller you and your pet are, this may be the summer to engage in a pre-emptive strike against Lyme disease. Read full article

Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of strains of the agent of Lyme disease Borrelia burgdorferi from Canadian emergence zones.

S. Tyler, et al  July 2018 Abstract Lyme disease is emerging in southern Canada due to range expansion of the tick vector, followed by invasion of the agent of Lyme disease Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. Strain diversity, as determined by Multi Locus Sequence Typing, occurs in this zone of emergence, and this may have its origins in adaptation to ecological Continues →

June 23rd, 2018 A CBC online news article… CanLyme offers notes of how clever messaging from “officials” slants the truth so CanLyme is “setting the record straight”.

June 23rd, 2018 A CBC online news article… CanLyme offers notes of how clever messaging from “officials” slants the truth so CanLyme is “setting the record straight”. “Lyme disease surges in Quebec: What you need to know to protect yourself” “Lyme disease is treatable if it’s caught early enough” [CanLyme Note: Lyme disease, a borreliosis, is treatable even in most Continues →

To Hell and Back: denial of access to health care in Canada. Another disgraceful failure of the Public Health Agency of Canada, now a Human Rights issue

June 19th, 2018 This is another example of the disgraceful anti-science, anti-collaborative management of health care in Canada. Federal and provincial health authorities, devoid of oversight by patients and their experts have total disregard for the life and well being of untold thousands of Canadians whose numbers are growing annually. Holding meeting after meeting with no progress, no action plan, no Continues →

INFORMED CONSENT – a patient’s right… a physician’s requirement to become informed BEFORE informing the patient.

This is related to all medical practice not just Lyme borreliosis. We have inserted our comments.   “Patients have the right to decide on investigations and treatments (patient autonomy).” Properly informing the patient  (captured from Canadian Medical Protective Association June 18th, 2018)   Canadian legal judgments dealing with informed consent suggest the following interpretations: When possible inform the patient of the Continues →

Province of Nova Scotia publicly makes false claims regarding Lyme disease.

June 3, 2018 Chronicle Herald – Public health failing to address Lyme disease crisis, says author From the article titled “Public Health failing to address Lyme disease crisis says author” this is a quote … “Heather Fairbairn, a spokeswoman with the province’s public health department, issued a statement to the Herald last week saying in part, that Lyme disease and other Continues →