Meat allergy caused by the bite of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum. The tick’s saliva triggers immune response to a carbohydrate, alpha-gal, found in red meat. Although eating red meat is the most common allergic trigger to alpha-gal, ingredients found in everyday products such as dairy, gelatin, soap, cosmetics, lotions, household products, and […]
Babesiosis is a Malaria-like illness caused by a parasite, either Babesia microti, B. duncani, B. divergens, MO-1. It is sometimes fatal in the elderly or those with no spleen. Babesiosis may be more severe in patients with co-existing Lyme disease. Symptoms include: fever, chills, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, sweats and anemia. Tests for Babesiosis: blood smears, IFA (IgG […]
A study by Mikhail et al in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, Feb. 2021, from 2006 to 2017 showed 19,469 beneficiaries had babesiosis recorded, a substantial increase. The highest states by rates were Massachusetts (62), Rhode Island (61), Connecticut (51), New York (30), and New Jersey (19). States previously considered nonendemic saw increases: New Hampshire, Maine, […]
Bartonellosis is a disease caused by several Bartonella species transmitted either by a flea or a tick bite, cat scratch or lice. (Bartonella Henselae and/or perhaps other spp.) When tick-borne, symptoms includes visual problems, headaches, significant lymph node enlargement, resistant neurological deficits and the new onset of a seizure disorder. Diagnosis is based on acute and convalescent antibody […]
Borrelia miyamotoi is a bacteria is in the relapsing fever group of Borrelia. Although it’s not closely related to the Lyme disease bacteria, it can cause a Lyme-like-illness. Symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle aches and chills, rash uncommon. Diagnosis is by PCR testing that is now available at several labs. Treatment is doxycycline. Borrelia miyamotoi was identified […]
Bourbon Virus Five cases of the Bourbon virus, a thogotovirus, have been confirmed since it was first discovered in Bourbon County, Kansas, in 2014, and cases have since been found in Oklahoma and Missouri. Transmission: The premise of Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick) as vector is supported. Symptoms: Fever, headache, tiredness, rash, other body aches, […]
Colorado tick fever (CTF) is a disease caused by an RNA virus, Colorado tick fever virus (CTFV). Symptoms, which are often non-specific, begin 3 to 5 days after the bite with an abrupt onset of fever and any of these: headaches, chills, malaise, photophobia, myalgias, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. In 5 to 15% […]
Scientists used to separate ehrlichiosis into two entities caused by the bacterium Ehrlichia: Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis (HME) and Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (HGE). After further study, they determined that HGE is actually caused by a bacterium, Anaplasma phagacytophilum. HME is caused by a bacterium, Ehrlichia chaffeensis. Symptoms of ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis include: fever, malaise, headaches, chills, severe muscle aches, vomiting, […]
Heartland virus The virus, a Phlebovirus, was discovered in humans in 2009 in the state of Missouri and has been found to date in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Indianan, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. It is transmitted by Amblyomma americanum, lone star tick. Symptoms: fever, leucopenia (decrease in the number of total white blood […]
The results of a study to collect ticks from Pike County, Pennsylvania, conducted by the Northeast Wildlife DNA Laboratory of East Stroudsburg University included real time PCR analysis of ticks countywide. The county was divided into 9 grids, each with several collection sites. The sites were based on use by community members and presence of […]