Latest news with #Borreliaburgdorferi
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Health crisis: What you need to know about Tick-Borne Lyme disease that is expanding across Canada
Blacklegged ticks , known carriers of Lyme disease , are spreading into new regions across Canada , prompting fresh warnings from health officials. What does the Health Agency of Canada say? The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) now lists more than 1,100 municipalities as high-risk for Lyme exposure. Hotspots include Vancouver Island, southern BC, most of Manitoba, southern Ontario (including the entire GTA), a corridor along the St. Lawrence River from Kingston to Montreal, and nearly all of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your IQ Is 140 If You Can Answer 10 Of These Questions Correctly IQ International 'Risk areas are growing,' says Dr. Virginie Millien, a McGill University biologist who has tracked the tick spread for over a decade. 'It's not going to stop anytime soon because it's really driven by climate warming.' PHAC notes that ticks can hitch rides on birds and deer, showing up far from known habitats. 'Always take precautions in wooded or grassy areas,' the agency warns. Live Events What is Lyme disease? Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, can cause fatigue, fever, a bullseye-shaped rash, and later, severe joint pain, memory issues, and even facial paralysis. In 2009, Canada tracked only a few hundred cases; last year saw over 5,000. 'It's exponential when a disease emerges,' Millien says. 'It's going to get bigger and bigger.' Ticks survive better in milder winters, and hosts like mice are also expanding their range. 'Winter conditions determine whether the tick survives—and it's getting warmer,' Millien explains. If bitten, University of Calgary professor George Chaconas advises careful removal with tweezers, gripping the tick by the head. 'If it's been less than 24 hours, the risk of Lyme is low,' he says. Use for ID. Precautions and safety measures To prevent bites: wear light-colored clothes, tuck pants into socks, use repellents, and check your body after outings. Lyme's expansion is a warning sign of the climate's impact on health. 'It's not just the woods anymore,' Millien says. 'Urban parks are part of the story too.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
State officials warn about the dangers of tick-bites
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)—With tick-borne diseases on the rise, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services () is encouraging people to be aware when they are outdoors. The MDHHS reports that the cases of these diseases, such as disease and , are increasing across the state. Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne disease in the state. Cases have increased by 168% over the last five years. The state recorded 1,215 cases in 2024, compared to 452 cases in 2020. Anaplasmosis, caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, is the second most common tick-borne disease. Cases have increased by nearly five times in the last five years, with 82 cases in 2024 compared to 17 in 2020. The disease is particularly common in northern parts of Michigan. MDHHS says both diseases are transmitted by Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the blacklegged or deer tick. Symptoms usually arise one to two weeks after a bite, often after being in wooded or brushy areas where ticks commonly live. Early symptoms may include fever, chills, rash, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. Early treatment with antibiotics can decrease the risk of serious complications. 'Preventing tick bites is the best way to prevent tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis,' said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan, in a news release sent to 6 News. 'If you find a tick attached to your body, promptly remove it. Monitor your health, and if you experience fever, rash, muscle or joint aches, or other symptoms, or if you suspect a tick has been attached for more than 24 hours, consult with your medical provider,' added Bagdasarian. Avoid tick-infested areas As ticks live in grassy, brushy, and wooded areas, individuals should walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter at trail edges Keep an eye on your pets Dogs and cats can encounter ticks outdoors and bring them into the home. Talk with your veterinarian about the best tick prevention products. Use insect repellent Apply an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin. Find a repellent product that is right for you. Treat clothes (especially pants, socks, and shoes) with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact, or buy clothes that are pre-treated. Do not use permethrin directly on skin. Always follow the manufacturer`s instructions when applying repellents. Perform daily tick checks Always check for ticks on yourself and your animals after being outdoors, including in your yard. Inspect all body surfaces carefully and remove attached ticks carefully with tweezers. To remove a tick, grasp the tick firmly and as closely to the skin as possible. With steady, even pressure, pull the tick`s body upward and away from the skin. Cleanse the area with an antiseptic. Be sure to bathe and shower Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks. Wash clothing in hot water and dry on high heat to kill ticks in clothing. If you need help identifying a tick, you can email photos of it to for identification free of charge. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How to spot ticks and remove them
(NewsNation) — It's tick season, and no one wants to find one of those pesky creatures somewhere on our body, or worse, end up in the hospital with Lyme disease. May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. The infection progresses in stages after an infected tick bites a human and causes joint pain. The bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi in deer ticks, also called black-legged ticks, causes Lyme disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Dog ticks and wood ticks don't carry the infection. The Cleveland Clinic offers tips on how to spot ticks and remove them. US measles cases surpass 1K, CDC reports Examine your entire body, including your head, paying close attention to arms and knees as ticks like moist, warm areas. Experts recommend wearing good-fitting socks, long pants, long sleeve shirts and bug repellents. To remove a tick, use tweezers and pull straight up, getting as close to the skin as possible. 'After we remove a tick, there's now a break in the skin, and just like any other break in the skin, we need to be careful to prevent a secondary bacterial infection,' said Dr. Christopher Bazzoli, an emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, in a statement. He said washing that area with warm and soapy water is 'really important.' Be sure to also check your pets for ticks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Epoch Times
09-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Old Antibiotic Shows Promise Against Lyme Disease at Ultra-Low Doses
Scientists may be closing in on two major advances in the fight against Lyme disease: an overlooked antibiotic that eliminates the infection at exceptionally low doses and new insights into why symptoms often persist long after treatment. In a pair of Unlike doxycycline, piperacillin targets the Lyme disease bacteria specifically, sparing the gut microbiome from the disruption that typically accompanies doxycycline use. 'What was remarkable to us was how well piperacillin worked at really low doses,' Brandon L. Jutras, a professor in the microbiology-immunology department at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and lead researcher, told The Epoch Times. 'We don't need to provide it at a concentration that could kill other microbes.' The team also found that remnants of the Lyme bacteria can remain in the body after being treated with antibiotics, which may Peptidoglycan—a component of Lyme bacteria's cell wall—can linger in the body, triggering prolonged immune reactions and helping explain the symptoms of post-treatment Lyme disease (PTLD), where some patients continue to experience symptoms for months or even years after the infection is thought to be cleared. A More Targeted Approach Lyme disease is an infectious illness that is spread to people through the bites of infected black-legged ticks and can lead to neurological and heart complications if untreated. Related Stories 10/22/2023 11/13/2024 Piperacillin works by interfering with the unique way Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease, builds its cell walls—a process essential for bacterial survival. Because of this targeted mechanism, researchers believe piperacillin will spare the gut microbiome, which is often disrupted by broader-spectrum antibiotics like doxycycline. However, whether this more targeted approach could help prevent PTLD wasn't addressed in the study. Jutras' team screened nearly 500 FDA-approved drugs, tracking how each compound affected the bacteria's ability to build its distinctive cell wall. 'We could literally watch what happened to the cell wall when we added antibiotics,' Jutras said. 'Piperacillin disrupted that process in a way that was incredibly specific to Borrelia.' Currently, piperacillin is used to treat pneumonia and urinary tract infections and is not approved for use against Lyme disease in humans. Beyond treatment, the researchers also see promise in piperacillin as a potential preventive measure. The idea is that one dose, received right after a tick bite, could stop the infection before it starts. Early diagnosis is challenging since small tick bites may often go unnoticed, early symptoms may not appear for days or weeks, and not all patients develop the telltale bull's-eye rash. Diagnostic tests often rely on antibodies that take time to form, resulting in false negatives during early infection. 'You get bit by a tick. You go to your doctor. Right now, they might tell you to wait for symptoms or a positive test result,' Jutras said. 'But with piperacillin, the idea is that you could receive a single prophylactic dose. It wouldn't harm your microbiome, and it might prevent illness altogether.' Jutras noted that while the findings make piperacillin a promising option, it must first be tested and proven effective in human trials before physicians can prescribe it. Some experts also caution that any antibiotic—even at low doses—can contribute to antibiotic resistance. 'The question is: does the benefit of potentially preventing Lyme disease outweigh the risk to that person's microbiome and the collective antibiotic resistance concern that we collectively face?' 'If piperacillin is proven to be highly effective, then that is a no-brainer in favor of preventing this potentially debilitating medical condition,' he said, adding that piperacillin is only available in intravenous or intramuscular form, so it's unlikely to be practical for widespread preventive use after a tick bite. Side effects of doxycycline may include gastrointestinal discomfort, increased sensitivity to sunlight, and potential risks to bone and tooth development in children. It's also avoided during pregnancy. Piperacillin, commonly used to treat pneumonia and urinary tract infections in combination with another antibiotic (tazobactam), carries risks of allergic reactions or changes in liver function. However, researchers note that the much lower dose used in this study—and the fact that it was not combined with a second antibiotic—may result in a safer profile. Why Lyme Symptoms Persist Lyme disease is now the most common vector-borne disease in the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that approximately 500,000 Americans are diagnosed and treated Unlike most infections, where the concern is primarily the initial acute phase, a significant worry with Lyme disease is that even after treatment, some people develop chronic symptoms of fatigue, pain, and brain fog that don't respond to further treatment. A 2022 There is currently no single approved treatment for PTLD. Management typically focuses on relieving symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, and brain fog through a combination of supportive care, lifestyle changes, and in some cases, extended or repeated antibiotic courses. Jutras and his team believe that lingering bacterial debris may trigger an immune response that mimics chronic illness, even when no live bacteria remain. These peptidoglycan fragments were found in the liver and in joint fluid of patients with Lyme arthritis, where they continue to provoke an immune response. Compared to other bacteria, Lyme bacteria's peptidoglycan is more resistant to breakdown, possibly due to its unique structure—a feature that scientists say is altered by the tick's biology. Holistic Approaches for Prevention To help reduce the risk of persistent symptoms, many doctors who specialize in Lyme treatment take a holistic approach to prevention and recovery. By lowering the number of lingering pathogens and supporting immune function, these strategies can help manage and even reduce the chances of developing PTLD. Bell highlighted the importance of identifying co-infections, such as Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, or Rocky Mountain spotted fever, as well as addressing mold exposure and mycotoxins. 'If co-infections or mold toxins are present and go untreated, the patient will have a much more challenging time recovering from Lyme,' he said. Herbal remedies such as Cryptolepsis and Japanese knotweed Once symptoms indicating an acute infection are gone, these two botanicals may be a superior choice to antibiotics for long-term maintenance therapy after infection, Bell said. In addition to herbal treatments, lifestyle changes—such as prioritizing quality sleep, engaging in gentle movement like walking or yoga, and minimizing exposure to environmental toxins—are a key part of recovery. Clean tick bites with soap and water, and remove any attached ticks by using tweezers to pull them upward—without twisting or crushing them. Early symptoms of Lyme disease, occurring 3 to 30 days after exposure, include: Bull's-eye rash (erythema migrans) Fever, chills, or fatigue Muscle aches and joint pain Swollen lymph nodes Later symptoms, which may occur weeks to months after infection, include: Severe joint swelling or pain Drooping on one side of the face (facial palsy) Numbness or tingling Irregular heartbeat Cognitive issues, such as memory loss
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Antibiotic shows promise against Lyme disease at a fraction of the dosage
A Northwestern University study reveals that piperacillin, a common antibiotic, effectively treats Lyme disease in mice at a much lower dose than doxycycline, the current standard. This reduced dosage minimizes harm to beneficial gut bacteria, a significant drawback of existing treatments. Piperacillin, already FDA-approved, could also potentially serve as a preventive measure against Lyme disease following tick bites. Lyme disease affects nearly half a million individuals in the United States annually. The disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii is spread to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, known as deer ticks. Lyme disease can be devastating even in acute cases, so early treatment with antibiotics is crucial to prevent chronic symptoms like heart and neurological problems and arthritis. Scientists from Northwestern University have found that a specific antibiotic can cure Lyme disease effectively, and only requires 1/100th of the dose of the treatment currently being used. The study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine revealed that piperacillin, an antibiotic in the same class as penicillin, effectively Lyme disease in mice at 100 times less than the dose of doxycycline, the current gold standard treatment. The study revealed that at such a low dose, piperacillin also had the added benefit of 'having virtually no impact on resident gut microbes.' Though doxycycline and other generic antibiotics treat the disease, they wreak havoc on the microbiome by killing the beneficial gut bacteria. Doxycycline also fails in 10 and 20% of individuals who take it, and it is not approved for use in young children, who are especially at the highest risk of tick bites, resulting in Lyme. 'Powerful, broad-spectrum antibiotics that kill extracellular bacteria are seen as the most effective medication because physicians want to just kill the bacterium and don't care how. This is certainly a reasonable approach, but I think the future for Lyme disease patients is bright in that we are approaching an era of customized medicine, and we can potentially create a particular drug, or a combination to treat Lyme disease when others fail. The more we understand about the various strains and species of Lyme disease-causing Borrelia, the closer we get to a custom approach,' Brandon L. Jutras, who led the research, and ios an associate professor in the microbiology-immunology department of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and a member of Northwestern's Center for Human Immunobiology, said in a statement. Trump Demands This From China Amid Tariff War... | 'U.S. No Longer Lose On Trade' The researchers stated that the piperacillin, which has already been FDA-approved as a safe treatment for pneumonia, could also be used as a preventive treatment. If someone is bitten by a deer tick and might have been exposed to Lyme disease, they could get a one-time shot of the medication to help prevent infection. The study said that penicillin is relatively the most effective and targeted treatment. Piperacillin is usually given with another drug, tazobactam, to treat serious strep infections. This is because strep can block piperacillin from working unless tazobactam is there to stop the enzyme that breaks it down. Jutras also looked at the option of using both drugs together as they might work better than using piperacillin alone. 'Bacteria are clever. Strep and some other bacteria combat antibiotics by secreting beta-lactamases that inactivate piperacillin. We found the approach is totally irrelevant in the context of Lyme disease, and another way that makes piperacillin more specific. Adding the beta-lactamase inhibitor doesn't improve the therapy because Lyme Borrelia don't produce beta-lactamase, but the cocktail does negatively impact the microbiome by becoming more broadly functional against beneficial residents,' Jutras added. Curbing Lyme disease is a challenge, given that there are no approved human vaccines as of now, and this new research could be a way forward.
