LDA NEWS & UPDATES
January 2021
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Edward Breitschwerdt, DVM |
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Biomedical Importance of Bartonella Species Infections.” The study’s authors describe Bartonella spp. test results for participants who reported neuropsychiatric symptoms, with a majority reporting the concurrent incidence of cutaneous lesions. As well, Bartonella spp. serology and Bartonella alpha proteobacteria enrichment blood culture/PCR were reviewed. Read more.
The Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA) awarded lead author Edward B. Breitschwerdt, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), a grant in 2020 for Bartonella research as well as a grant in 2019 for Bartonella research, still ongoing, to a team of researchers including Dr. Breitschwerdt.
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A new summary article by employees of the CDC presents the first county-level map of the distribution of Lyme disease spirochetes in host-seeking Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes scapularis ticks between 2004-2019 in the contiguous United States. Data was compiled from literature searches, publicly available tick-borne pathogen surveillance databases (ArboNet Tick module), and internal CDC pathogen testing databases.
Investigators narrowed their search to include only host-seeking ticks, because ticks in this state are most likely to bite humans, and because host-seeking ticks provide enhanced spatial precision compared to ticks collected from mobile hosts. Data used was restricted to studies that collected ticks by flagging, dragging, or CO2 Traps. Read more.
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In comparison to a broad distribution of vector ticks, the resulting map shows a more limited distribution of Lyme disease spirochetes. |
Reported distribution of Lyme disease spirochetes, B. burgdorferi s.s. and B. mayonii in host-seeking I. scapularis (eastern United States) or I. pacificus (western United States), relative to the previously reported distribution of these vector species.(Eisen et al. [2016] or CDC [2020]). |
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published in the February edition of its Emerging Infectious Diseases two new papers pertaining to Lyme disease.
CDC states on its "How Many People Get Lyme Disease?" webpage (reviewed Jan 13, 2021), “A recently released estimate based on insurance records suggests that each year ~ 476,000 Americans are diagnosed & treated for Lyme disease.1,2 This number is likely an over-estimate of actual infections because patients are sometimes treated presumptively in medical practice. Regardless, this number indicates a large burden on the health care system and the need for more effective prevention measures.” Read more.
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Fig. 1: Prepared by LDA, Jan. 2021 |
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Graph from Pike County Tick Borne Diseases Base-Line Study |
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The Pike County (PA) Tick Borne Diseases Task Force has provided a 6 minute video slide show with results from the Pike County Tick Borne Diseases Base-Line Study, a county-wide assessment of the tick-borne diseases and infection rates of ticks, funded in part by a 2018 grant awarded by the LDA. Read more.
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This year has been a challenge for all of us, and in particular, for those with chronic conditions such as Lyme disease, which is still unrecognized by the federal government. The Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA) has been working for Lyme and tick-borne diseases (TBD) for 30 years, with individuals who are patients and family members of patients driving the programs. We care about you, your family, your friends, your pets, who have or might acquire Lyme disease and other TBD. That is why ~97% of our funds generally go directly to programs. We continue to have no employees to keep administrative costs down and we utilize consultants to provide expertise as needed. Read more.
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Visit LDA’s LymeAid 4 Kids program webpage which has awarded $400,400 in grants ($17,000 in 2020) to families struggling with financial difficulty across the US, to help with their children’s medical expenses.
Read about the 154 education grants LDA has awarded over time to other Lyme organizations/institutions providing program materials and help to patients (2020 grants were awarded by year’s end).
See LDA's Guidestar.org page, showing our designation as a charity at its highest level committed to transparency, Platinum.
Please DONATE TODAY and help LDA continue our programs that help Lyme patients and provide a healthier 2021 for people everywhere. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
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On January 14, 2021, The National Institute of Health (NIH) COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel issued a change in position and are no longer recommending “against” the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19. This “permission” was issued 8 days after Drs. Paul Marik and Pierre Kory, founding members of the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC), along with Dr. Andrew Hill, researcher/consultant to the World Health Organization, presented their data on ivermectin before the Panel, showing significant benefits of ivermectin in prophylaxis, early treatment and late-stage disease. Read more.
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According to “TrialSite News” on January 21, “Apparently, a judge just ordered the Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital to allow an 80-year old woman to be treated with Ivermectin." A New York Supreme Court judge ordered the hospital to allow her to be treated with Ivermectin for COVID-19.
Ivermectin, which had been administered in the ICU with noticeable symptom improvement, was discontinued when the patient was moved to another unit in the hospital. Family members took legal action after the doctor in the new unit disallowed the use of the drug, and the woman’s health condition again declined. The patient's family immediately involved lawyers and legal action to resume treatment. Judge, Henry J. Nowak aligned with the family. Read more.
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The study “Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Stricto DNA in Field-Collected Haemaphysalis longicornis Ticks, Pennsylvania, United States” was recently published in the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases. Pennsylvania has the highest number of reported Lyme disease cases in the US. Read more.
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Haemaphysalis longicornis Ticks Photo courtesy of James Occi, (PhD cand.) LDA Scientific & Professional Advisory Board |
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