World
International
Lyme
Disease
Emergency
Rescue
Network
WILDER Network
Bioterrorism
as it relates
to Tick-Borne Diseases
Edward
L. McNeil, MB, BS, MD
Punta Rassa, Florida
WILDER Home
These
comments will not refer to the Bioterrorism promulgated by one nation
or terrorist group against others, although it is recognized that the
dangers are real for the spread of dangerous pathogens as a method of
attacking a real or assumed enemy.
Microorganisms have become agents of Bioterrorism themselves as those that were innocuous to our health, some even necessary for our health through symbiosis and for their properties that advantageously process many of our foods, have become our enemies.
For that enmity we can blame ourselves. In this age of antibiotics and antimicrobial chemicals, the microorganisms have fought back with drug resistance using their own means of altering their genes or conspiring with other pathogens to exchange particles of DNA to make them more dangerous, more pathogenic, more powerful to overcome the natural resistance provided by our immune systems.
During the same period during which antibiotic use increased at a prodigious rate for humans, the use in agriculture and animal husbandry also increased at an even greater rate, and the movement of peoples, from one country or continent to another, increased as the means of traveling quickly by air has been encouraged by the relatively low price of an airline ticket to travel a great distance. Travelers can carry endemic diseases in a symptomless state, some already with symptoms of active disease not yet apparent to themselves or others. An infective disease, not previously present in an area of the world, can surface and spread. Any of the world's pathogens, notorious or rare, can arrived in an unsuspecting community. It has been considered that the West Nile Virus arrived in America by such means.
The spread of AIDS around the world was the wake up call to look to the dangers of the viruses, so many of them resistant to any treatment, survival depending on an intact immune system, that defense being broached and disrupted by the viruses themselves. Pathogens certainly appear to have a number of battle tactics that can be coordinated by communications between individual pathogens whether by chemical messengers or other means unknown to us.
Another way we antagonize the microbes is by the wholesale use of antiseptics, advertised as though all items, surfaces, orifices, and skins need a spray, wash, gargle or douching, to kill, kill, kill microbial enemies and friends alike. Friends then turn enemies and enemies gain strength and fight back.
What is mentioned above is of great relevance to the study of the tick-borne diseases. To begin with, we encouraged the ticks by altering the landscape for their convenience and then giving them lifts to other places on people, birds, animals and on land, sea and air transport vehicles.
It is well known that mosquitoes are the vectors of malaria, but mosquitoes can be vectors of many other diseases. Of all the insects and arthropods, the tick has the reputation of being the top vector for carrying the most diseases, some still to be recognized.
Ticks have many relatives with variations of anatomy and habits in different localities and countries. The genus Ixodes contains almost 250 species worldwide, with at least 35 species reported in North America. What they all have in common is the need of blood for food. At least 5 of the species have been found to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen of Lyme disease. If that was the only disease the tick bite can transmit, a modality of treatment should not be difficult to find if a diagnosis can be made quickly. But that is questionable as it is difficult to confirm by most of the tests available, tests reported as negative not ruling out the presence of active disease.
Other difficulties confront the patient and physician; there are over 300 different genotypes of Borrelia; the ability of the Borrelia to change into various forms requiring different therapeutic tactics; its ability to mutate, altering its genetic structure to make it resistant to particular therapies when they are exhibited. The worst obstruction to the ability to effectively treat Lyme disease, is the concomitant pathogens that can be carried by the tick and be simultaneously injected into a patient. It is now common for patients to be sickened by 3, 4 or more pathogens at the same time. The best known concomitants of Borrelia are the Ehrlichia, Babesia and the Bartonella, but more and more concomitants are being recognized, such as other Rickettsia of which Ehrlichia is a member, Mycoplasmas and an unknown number of viruses.
Any one pathogen can be the cause of a weakened immune system, presenting an advantage for more severe pathogenicity to any of the organisms infecting a patient.
Any of the previous considerations indicate that Tick-Borne diseases are the most difficult to understand, to diagnose completely (not missing any of the pathogens being harbored), and to treat.
At the present time, the most reliable way to diagnose Lyme disease is by clinical methods, the history of the illness being of the greatest importance, its onset, its relationship to the environment where the patient could have been bitten, progress of symptoms and what they are or have been, appearance and changes in any skin rashes reported and hopefully documented, fluctuations of signs and symptoms and any lengths of remissions or recurrences, family and sexual history and history of travel.
History can be further elucidated by interviews with relatives, colleagues or friends of the patient who may be able to provide important information on mental and physical changes the patient has not provided.
The physical examination is important but secondary to the history. The examination must be thorough missing none of the systems of the body and with special attention to the neurological system, cerebral (especially memory), peripheral motor, sensory and autonomic systems. These would include changes in bowel and urinary habits, and menstrual changes in females.
Both the history and physical can be time consuming if thorough, time most physicians are unable to provide in the present climate of medical practice in the UK and USA. Having mentioned the history as being so important in diagnosis, the patient can record it with the help of those close to them, taking time not to miss important episodes in the illness, and, very important, the state of health before the illness started. Once the history is as up to date as possible, then a daily entry in a diary should be kept of any or no changes in signs or symptoms, including sleep patterns and levels of energy.
The information above is alarming enough, but other bad news is that it has become apparent that molds, growing in homes and other buildings, infect many patients adding another degree of obstruction to the ability of therapy to cure a tick-borne illness; the Sick Building Syndrome.
Many have thought Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) could be linked to the Tick-Borne Diseases (TBDs). So many of the symptoms appear similar. It has now been shown that it is also of infectious origin, but not all cases from the same pathogens associated with TBDs. CFS patients have been shown to be infected with chronic ciguatera poisoning, the symptoms caused by a powerful neurotoxin.
Having provided no news for patients that can be in any way encouraging, be not dismayed. Researchers are making some progress in accumulating knowledge unwinding some of the mysteries organisms have hidden from us, and we have to acknowledge the successes using empirical therapy suggested by previous experimentation and the glimmer of hints provided by the microbiologists. Immune systems can be therapeutically boosted.
The lesson I read is that more research must be done to rapidly identify ALL the pathogens a patient may be harboring, the idiosyncrasies of mitochondria and DNA of those pathogens recognized, and treatment designed accordingly by more efficient sensitivity testing. It may appear that I am dreaming but dreams can come true. A glimmer of hope lies in the possibility for aiding identification of pathogens by extending the international database that catalogues all genetic sequences in the Gen ebank. If patience is a virtue, then I have to admit having little virtue.
Edward L. McNeil, MB, BS, MD
Punta Rassa, Florida.
Microorganisms have become agents of Bioterrorism themselves as those that were innocuous to our health, some even necessary for our health through symbiosis and for their properties that advantageously process many of our foods, have become our enemies.
For that enmity we can blame ourselves. In this age of antibiotics and antimicrobial chemicals, the microorganisms have fought back with drug resistance using their own means of altering their genes or conspiring with other pathogens to exchange particles of DNA to make them more dangerous, more pathogenic, more powerful to overcome the natural resistance provided by our immune systems.
During the same period during which antibiotic use increased at a prodigious rate for humans, the use in agriculture and animal husbandry also increased at an even greater rate, and the movement of peoples, from one country or continent to another, increased as the means of traveling quickly by air has been encouraged by the relatively low price of an airline ticket to travel a great distance. Travelers can carry endemic diseases in a symptomless state, some already with symptoms of active disease not yet apparent to themselves or others. An infective disease, not previously present in an area of the world, can surface and spread. Any of the world's pathogens, notorious or rare, can arrived in an unsuspecting community. It has been considered that the West Nile Virus arrived in America by such means.
The spread of AIDS around the world was the wake up call to look to the dangers of the viruses, so many of them resistant to any treatment, survival depending on an intact immune system, that defense being broached and disrupted by the viruses themselves. Pathogens certainly appear to have a number of battle tactics that can be coordinated by communications between individual pathogens whether by chemical messengers or other means unknown to us.
Another way we antagonize the microbes is by the wholesale use of antiseptics, advertised as though all items, surfaces, orifices, and skins need a spray, wash, gargle or douching, to kill, kill, kill microbial enemies and friends alike. Friends then turn enemies and enemies gain strength and fight back.
What is mentioned above is of great relevance to the study of the tick-borne diseases. To begin with, we encouraged the ticks by altering the landscape for their convenience and then giving them lifts to other places on people, birds, animals and on land, sea and air transport vehicles.
It is well known that mosquitoes are the vectors of malaria, but mosquitoes can be vectors of many other diseases. Of all the insects and arthropods, the tick has the reputation of being the top vector for carrying the most diseases, some still to be recognized.
Ticks have many relatives with variations of anatomy and habits in different localities and countries. The genus Ixodes contains almost 250 species worldwide, with at least 35 species reported in North America. What they all have in common is the need of blood for food. At least 5 of the species have been found to transmit Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen of Lyme disease. If that was the only disease the tick bite can transmit, a modality of treatment should not be difficult to find if a diagnosis can be made quickly. But that is questionable as it is difficult to confirm by most of the tests available, tests reported as negative not ruling out the presence of active disease.
Other difficulties confront the patient and physician; there are over 300 different genotypes of Borrelia; the ability of the Borrelia to change into various forms requiring different therapeutic tactics; its ability to mutate, altering its genetic structure to make it resistant to particular therapies when they are exhibited. The worst obstruction to the ability to effectively treat Lyme disease, is the concomitant pathogens that can be carried by the tick and be simultaneously injected into a patient. It is now common for patients to be sickened by 3, 4 or more pathogens at the same time. The best known concomitants of Borrelia are the Ehrlichia, Babesia and the Bartonella, but more and more concomitants are being recognized, such as other Rickettsia of which Ehrlichia is a member, Mycoplasmas and an unknown number of viruses.
Any one pathogen can be the cause of a weakened immune system, presenting an advantage for more severe pathogenicity to any of the organisms infecting a patient.
Any of the previous considerations indicate that Tick-Borne diseases are the most difficult to understand, to diagnose completely (not missing any of the pathogens being harbored), and to treat.
At the present time, the most reliable way to diagnose Lyme disease is by clinical methods, the history of the illness being of the greatest importance, its onset, its relationship to the environment where the patient could have been bitten, progress of symptoms and what they are or have been, appearance and changes in any skin rashes reported and hopefully documented, fluctuations of signs and symptoms and any lengths of remissions or recurrences, family and sexual history and history of travel.
History can be further elucidated by interviews with relatives, colleagues or friends of the patient who may be able to provide important information on mental and physical changes the patient has not provided.
The physical examination is important but secondary to the history. The examination must be thorough missing none of the systems of the body and with special attention to the neurological system, cerebral (especially memory), peripheral motor, sensory and autonomic systems. These would include changes in bowel and urinary habits, and menstrual changes in females.
Both the history and physical can be time consuming if thorough, time most physicians are unable to provide in the present climate of medical practice in the UK and USA. Having mentioned the history as being so important in diagnosis, the patient can record it with the help of those close to them, taking time not to miss important episodes in the illness, and, very important, the state of health before the illness started. Once the history is as up to date as possible, then a daily entry in a diary should be kept of any or no changes in signs or symptoms, including sleep patterns and levels of energy.
The information above is alarming enough, but other bad news is that it has become apparent that molds, growing in homes and other buildings, infect many patients adding another degree of obstruction to the ability of therapy to cure a tick-borne illness; the Sick Building Syndrome.
Many have thought Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) could be linked to the Tick-Borne Diseases (TBDs). So many of the symptoms appear similar. It has now been shown that it is also of infectious origin, but not all cases from the same pathogens associated with TBDs. CFS patients have been shown to be infected with chronic ciguatera poisoning, the symptoms caused by a powerful neurotoxin.
Having provided no news for patients that can be in any way encouraging, be not dismayed. Researchers are making some progress in accumulating knowledge unwinding some of the mysteries organisms have hidden from us, and we have to acknowledge the successes using empirical therapy suggested by previous experimentation and the glimmer of hints provided by the microbiologists. Immune systems can be therapeutically boosted.
The lesson I read is that more research must be done to rapidly identify ALL the pathogens a patient may be harboring, the idiosyncrasies of mitochondria and DNA of those pathogens recognized, and treatment designed accordingly by more efficient sensitivity testing. It may appear that I am dreaming but dreams can come true. A glimmer of hope lies in the possibility for aiding identification of pathogens by extending the international database that catalogues all genetic sequences in the Gen ebank. If patience is a virtue, then I have to admit having little virtue.
Edward L. McNeil, MB, BS, MD
Punta Rassa, Florida.
Ticks carry more than just
Lyme disease! Including:
0 -Ehrlichia;
o -Bartonella;
0 -Babesia;
o -Q- Fever;
0 -Tularemia;
o -Tick-borne Encephalitis;
0 -Mycoplasma;
o -Relapsing Fever;
0 -Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and others.
Never WAIT and SEE about a tick bite, please! Quickly and properly treated infections are less likely to progress to later stage or chronic disease.
Sometimes tick bites are
mistaken for spider bites!
Some diseases may be spread by animal bites or scratches and from mosquitoes, fleas or lice.
There is still so much to learn about Lyme disease and related infections.
Sometimes Lyme disease and related infectious diseases are undiagnosed for years, even decades!
Watch closely for symptoms after tick bites. Some never see a tick or a bulls-eye rash.
Don't ignore tick-borne disease symptoms!
If you feel sick, ask a doctor!
SYMPTOMS may include:
0 -Tick bites;
o -Fever; Flu symptoms;
0 -All kinds of Rashes;
o -Muscle; Joint; Neck Pain;
0 -Body Aches; Weakness
o -Light /Sound Sensitivity;
0 -Bells Palsy; Nerve pain;
o -Insomnia; Poor memory
0 -Headaches; Numbness;
o -Mood disorders; Confusion;
0 -Extreme Fatigue; Exhaustion
Never let tick-borne diseases progress!
Lyme and associated diseases are often MISTAKEN FOR OTHER ILLNESSES, Including:
0 -Chronic Fatigue;
o -Fibromyalgia;
0 -Hypochondria;
o -Multiple Sclerosis;
0 -Lupus;
o -Rheumatoid Arthritis;
0 -Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS);
o -Alzheimer's and
0 -Parkinson's disease
******************
Don't be fooled about ticks and their diseases.
******************
Directly affecting humankind, worldwide:
W H A T H A P P E N E D
when the U.S. Senate addressed the Centers for Disease Control regarding Lyme disease?
Consult a good doctor!
Visit ILADS, LDF, LymeNet or LDA to find a specialist in your location.
Protect your children and your family.
Learn about ticks and their many diseases.
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TICK
BYTES:
Tick-borne diseases are spreading rapidly
in many countries across the world including,
UK, Scandinavia, Hungary, Scotland, USA,
France, Germany, China, and Australia.
There is NO 100% accurate Lyme disease
TEST available to detect infection or cure.
Ticks can be found in and around
leaf litter; grass; logs; animal fur;
bird feeders; and deer, mice, squirrel,
and other small animal habitats.
Tick-borne diseases are spreading rapidly
in many countries across the world including,
UK, Scandinavia, Hungary, Scotland, USA,
France, Germany, China, and Australia.
There is NO 100% accurate Lyme disease
TEST available to detect infection or cure.
Ticks can be found in and around
leaf litter; grass; logs; animal fur;
bird feeders; and deer, mice, squirrel,
and other small animal habitats.
How
to Properly Remove A Tick
Never let tick-borne
infections progress !
Tick-borne diseases can
affect any body part,
organ, and any system
of the body.
Lyme disease and Syphilis are both caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete.
Tick-borne diseases can KILL!
Ticks travel on mice!
ALWAYS Get Ticks Tested!
Never let tick-borne
infections progress !
Tick-borne diseases can
affect any body part,
organ, and any system
of the body.
Lyme disease and Syphilis are both caused by a type of bacteria called a spirochete.
Tick-borne diseases can KILL!
Ticks travel on mice!
ALWAYS Get Ticks Tested!
Lyme Disease Foundation
Lyme
rashes have been
mistaken for ring worm!
mistaken for ring worm!
Ticks
travel on birds!
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