MAJOR NEWS FOR THOSE LIVING WITH LYME IN THE SOUTHEAST U.S. WHO ARE TOLD "YOU CANNOT CONTRACT LYME DISEASE AND LIVE IN THE SOUTH":
Tackett, Kristina, "The Lyme Disease Spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, in Tick Species Collected from Raccoons (Procyon lotor) and Opossums (Didelphis virginiana) Trapped in the Warren and Barren Counties of South Central Kentucky" (2009). Masters Theses. Paper 118.
Advisor(s) - Committee Chair: Dr. Cheryl Davis (Director), Dr. Nancy Rice, Dr. Rodney King
Degree Program: Department of Biology
Degree Type: Master of Science
Abstract
The incidence of tick-borne zoonoses such as Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme disease has steadily increased in the southeastern United States in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the southeastern states accounted for 1,200 of the 27,000 total cases of Lyme disease reported in the U.S. in 2007. Although Ixodes scapularis is the most commonly recognized vector for the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, Dermacentor variabilis (a common vector for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever) also has been shown to be a viable host for this pathogen. The purpose of the present study was to use PCR and DNA sequencing technologies to determine if Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is present in ticks and whole blood samples removed from raccoons and opossums trapped in south-central Kentucky.
Raccoons and opossums were trapped in Barren and Warren counties of Kentucky between June 2007 and June 2008. Ticks were removed and stored in 70% ethanol. Sterile blood samples were collected into three 10 ml tubes containing the anticoagulant K2EDTA and stored at 4�C. Genomic DNA was extracted from ticks and blood samples using a QIAamp DNA mini kit and a QIAamp DNA blood mini kit (Qiagen) respectively. DNA samples were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of B. burgdorferi using oligonucleotide primers specific for the OspA gene.
A total of 976 ticks were collected. Three different species were obtained from raccoons; Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum, and Ixodes sp. Dermacentor variabilis was the only tick species found on opossums. Twenty-five percent (163/642) of the tick DNA samples were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi. Prevalence of B. burgdorferi by tick species was 24.4% (141/577) in D. variabilis, 40.6% (13/32) in A. americanum, and 27.6% (8/29) in I. scapularis. In the present study, 15.7% (8/51) of the total raccoon blood samples examined by PCR were positive for B. burgdorferi, while no opossum blood samples were positive. The high prevalence of B. burgdorferi in ticks common to raccoons and opossums observed in this study, as well as in a tick species that aggressively bites humans in the southeast U. S. (A. americanum), creates concern that there are ample opportunities for people to come in contact with the infected ticks on these animals. Future studies are urgently needed to fully assess the presence and prevalence of B. burgdorferi in Kentucky and other southeastern states in the U. S.
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Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
Thanks for this info.
I was one of the many that was told by my doctor that we don't really have LD in MS.
Posted by levity101 (Member # 1528) on :
Thanks for posting this. Importantly, it shows the presence of Bb in ticks other than Ixodes sp. as well as showing infection in mammals in the Southeast. Great work.
After dealing with Lyme disease in my son for over 10 years, my husband was bitten by a Lone Star (A. americanum) tick last year on our property in north Florida and contracted Lyme.
I had heard that the Lone Star ticks were very aggressive, not passive like others which simply grasp hosts as they brush past. I saw this first hand after placing the tick, which I had pulled off my husband, in a plastic bag to send off for testing. Only minutes after setting the bag down on my dresser the tick had chewed its way out of the bag. I began frantically searching the furniture and floor around it with a flashlight--then I felt something on my ankle...amazingly, it was the tick. I never dreamed they could move that fast and hone in on a target!
The fact that these aggressive ticks are carrying Lyme means that people should be even more vigilant in doing tick checks after being outdoors.
Posted by sapphire101 (Member # 6638) on :
Thanks for posting this. I read this a few days ago and thought it's about time they recognize this.
Last summer my sister-in-law was in Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville. She was presenting like she could possibly have lyme and I mentioned it to her dr.
He said no that there isn't lyme in TN. I just wanted to laugh in his face and then smack him.
They couldn't figure out why she couldn't walk and could barely put a sentence together. When she went they knew she had fluid on her brain but yet said that wasn't causing her probs. They wanted to put her in a mental institute.
So sad but she did end up in a nursing home for a while till hubby finally talked a dr into putting in a shunt. Guess what happened? Yep, she walked and talked just like normal.
Sorry to get off topic but lyme isn't the only disease where the drs don't know what they are doing. You would think Vanderbilt would know about lyme and the sx of fluid on the brain.
My blood boils when I think what she went through and what so many of us go through because of such ignorance.
By the way, I live in Barren County where the ticks were collected. Sadly, there isn't very many here with lyme. Maybe I should say, that know they have lyme. There are so many people I know with the fibromyalgia dx. Including my best friend but she won't even think about that it could be lyme.
Sapphire
Posted by Sick Tick (Member # 23003) on :
OH!!!! Please, someone inform the ID in Arkansas who told me there are no ticks in Arkansas that transmit Lyme!
My tick gave me Lyme and RMSF. It was a Lone Star tick in the Ozarks. I had the little bugger in a bag, so I KNOW what did it!
The dumb MD even had my CDC and anyone-with-a brain positive titers and western blot in front of him!
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
My Lyme came from a Lone Star tick... in the Lone Star State!
Oh yes, they move FAST! I had hundreds on my legs the first day we went out to our inherited propery when I was a kid. Everything was downhill from there.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
I'd also received this abstract and I live in Kentucky. Infected about 2 counties over in '98.
I tried to find an email address of this lady because I have some additional questions for them. I'm sure this article didn't cover everything they found in the belly of these ticks.
I'd like to know which type bartonella was found? Babesia? Information that would be real helpful to all of us infected nearby.
Any ideas how to make contact with those researchers?
Pam
Posted by Bugg (Member # 8095) on :
Sapphire-Yes, Vanderbilt's ignorance regarding this disease is astounding...Please mail a copy to the doctor who told you there's no lyme in this area...
Pam-You might try contacting the committee chairs who are listed at the top of the abstract and they may put you in touch with the researcher....I'm sure they are listed in WKU's Directory if you call...Good luck....
Posted by sapphire101 (Member # 6638) on :
Bugg, good idea except I don't remember his name. I sure would love to though. It amazes me how ignorant some drs can be.
Everyone around here think if you go to Vanderbilt you are in good hands. I have absolutely no faith in them.
Sapphire
Posted by Karen Mc (Member # 23354) on :
Thanks for info....
Yeah, I live in Va and in case any of the "so called Doctors" don't believe in Lyme here...come give me a visit.
IM LIVING (so far-lol) proof!!!!
Karen Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I think most doctors play dumb regarding lyme disease and try their best NOT to learn much about it. They don't want to get caught up in the contriversy; and the less they know, the less guilt they feel for not treating us.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
LOL Sorry I did not mean to cross post. I did not see it as KY. related till now. Gonna leave it for other dummies like me. LOL But hey we can send it out to our local papers....
Here is the Honors site if you would like to send a note of encouragement and thanks.
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