Potential for Lyme Disease Spreading at an Alarming Rate
International researchers say spread of parasites could increase incidence of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases
SHAWNEE, Kan., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ --
According to the world's top veterinary researchers, the numbers of blood-feeding parasites, such as ticks, are growing at an epidemic rate. Not only are their numbers increasing, but they are spreading rapidly across the country.
The growth rates have state health departments across the United States implementing programs to warn residents of the influx of these parasites, the threat of diseases associated with them, and preventive measures they can take for themselves and their pets.
What is causing the increase in parasites? Researchers are noting exceptionally warm weather has prolonged the activities of these harmful parasites tremendously and allowed deeper penetration into temperate zones, such as North America and Europe. As it has remained warmer longer, the life span of the parasites has increased as well. The longer the life span, the more opportunity for them to prey on humans.
Unfortunately, these parasites not only are a nuisance, but they also are vectors of dangerous infections such as Lyme Borreliosis (Lyme disease).
These parasites pose dangers to pets as well. Lyme disease is just one of many CVBD, which are caused by pathogens transmitted by vectors such as ticks, fleas, sand flies, or mosquitoes. Other CVBD include: Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Leishmaniosis, Anaplasmosis, Bartonellosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), and Dirofilariosis (Heartworm Disease).
"In the past few years, we have seen a remarkable increase in CVBD across the country," said Susan Little, DVM, professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Oklahoma State University. "Ticks thrive in humid and brushy areas. The overall rise in global climate shifts is one of the leading factors to the spread of ticks and the diseases they carry," added Dr. Little, who attended the Second Annual Canine Vector Borne Diseases (CVBD) International Symposium held earlier this year in Italy, and is a leading researcher in the area of CVBD.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of U.S. Lyme disease cases has doubled since its first becoming nationally reported in 1991 and strikes most severely in the northeast, mid-Atlantic, and north-central regions.(1)
Symptoms and Disease Prevention
In the early stage of Lyme disease, a person may suffer from symptoms such as exhaustion, chills and fever, headache, muscle and/or joint pain, swollen lymph glands, and a skin rash. If left untreated, long-term complications can be as serious as arthritis, nervous system problems, meningitis, Bell's palsy, and heart rhythm irregularities.(2)
The CDC recommends the use of repellants to protect humans from ticks. The CDC states, "Use an insect repellent on exposed skin to repel mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other arthropods. EPA-registered repellents include products containing DEET (N,N-diethylmetatoluamide) and picaridin (KBR 3023). DEET concentrations of 30% to 50% are effective for several hours." It also states: "Apply permethrin-containing (e.g., Permanone) or other insect repellents to clothing, shoes, tents, mosquito nets, and other gear for greater protection. Permethrin is not labeled for use directly on skin. Most repellent is generally removed from clothing and gear by a single washing, but permethrin- treated clothing is effective for up to 5 washings."(3)
For canines, the researchers and scholars who participated in the recent symposium announced that monthly, year-round preventative treatment against ticks and mosquitoes is necessary to ensure the health of pets.
Dr. Joe Hostetler, Veterinary Technical Services Manager at Bayer HealthCare, Animal Health Division, recommends, "Pet owners who are unsure which parasites are active in their environment should seek the advice of their veterinarian and follow the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) guideline of year-round treatment with a flea and/or tick preventative."
About the Second Annual CVBD Symposium The Second Annual CVBD Symposium, sponsored by Bayer Animal Health, took place on April 26-27, 2007, in Sicily, Italy. The symposium brought together 33 experts from around the globe to discuss the topic of vector-borne diseases.
These experts -- from the human medical field and veterinary medicine -- were parasitologists, clinicians, and specialists on infectious diseases. They discussed current information, studies they are presently conducting, and their future research plans. The symposium participants attended workshops with the common goal of creating a better understanding of these diseases. U.S. attendees included Dwight D. Bowman, Ph.D., College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University; Dr. Susan Little, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University; Dr. Edward Breitschwerdt, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University; and Dr. Ricardo Maggi, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University.
About Bayer Animal Health
Bayer HealthCare's Animal Health Division is the maker of Advantage(R) flea control for cats and dogs and K9 Advantix(R), a flea, tick, and mosquito control product for dogs only. The division is a worldwide leader in parasite control and prescription pharmaceuticals for dogs, cats, horses, cattle, and poultry. North American operations for the Animal Health Division are headquartered in Shawnee, Kan. Bayer Animal Health is a division of Bayer HealthCare LLC, one of the world's leading healthcare companies. About Bayer HealthCare AG Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world's leading, innovative companies in the healthcare and medical products industry and is based in Leverkusen, Germany. Bayer HealthCare generated sales amounting to some 9.4 billion euros and employed 33,800 people worldwide in 2005. The company combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals divisions. The new Pharmaceuticals division was established on January 1, 2006, and comprises the former Biological Products and Pharmaceutical divisions. Pharmaceuticals now have three business units: Hematology/Cardiology, Oncology, and Primary Care. Bayer HealthCare's aim is to discover and manufacture products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. The products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing, and treating diseases. Forward-looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development, or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in our public reports filed with the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (including our Form 20-F). The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. (1) Centers for Disease Control, MMWR Weekly http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5623a1.htm?s_cid=mm5623a1_e, retrieved June 19, 2007.
(C) 2007 Bayer HealthCare LLC, Animal Health Division, Shawnee Mission, Kansas, 66201 Bayer, the Bayer Cross, Advantage and K9 Advantix are trademarks of Bayer.
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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GiGi
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 259
posted
"The CDC recommends the use of repellants to protect humans from ticks. The CDC states, "Use an insect repellent on exposed skin to repel mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other arthropods. EPA-registered repellents include products containing DEET (N,N-diethylmetatoluamide) and picaridin (KBR 3023). DEET concentrations of 30% to 50% are effective for several hours." It also states: "Apply permethrin-containing (e.g., Permanone) or other insect repellents to clothing, shoes, tents, mosquito nets, and other gear for greater protection. Permethrin is not labeled for use directly on skin. Most repellent is generally removed from clothing and gear by a single washing, but permethrin- treated clothing is effective for up to 5 washings."(3)"
What is the matter with these people? DEET????
Thank you for posting this.
Posts: 9834 | From Washington State | Registered: Oct 2000
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luvs2ride
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8090
posted
This qualifies as an ad. Bayer manufacturers tick and flea repellent products and feels we should be using their products on a regular basis? Hmmm.....
I absolutely agree that the warmer seasons are creating more insects. I'm living in a region where it is happening.
I don't want to be bit either, but I want safer methods of protection. Let me share a couple of simple and safe alternatives that have worked for me and my pets.
Shaklee Basic H. This is an all purpose household cleaner. It is completely non-toxic. It also works as a bug repellent. I apply it directly to my exposed skin and I do not suffer a single mosquito, fly, flea or tick bite. It feels sticky when you first apply, but that quickly goes away. It washes off easily, and has no odor. It is also very good for poison oak or ivy. Apply it to the rash and the itch stops immediately. The rash will dry up completely within a couple of days.
Best repellent I have found for my pets is BugCheck. This is a feed supplement and only requires a small amount daily. Common houseflies leaves my property when I feed this to the horses plus the horses get georgous shiny coats. It also has diatenaceous earth (sp?) in it which is a natural dewormer and parasite cleanser. No fleas on dogs or in house or even in yard. It can be purchased at www.thenaturalvet.net.
I used to work in a vet's office and learned that the vet only vaccinated his dogs, cats and horses every third year. But of course he had a semi-annual vaccination program for your pets. A really good vet will take blood titers before vaccinating to see how much serum is still in your pet.
I quit worming my horses on a regular basis years ago after attending an Expo and hearing a vet talk about the weakened immune systems of our horses which is creating diseases they never used to suffer. He felt we were weakening them with all the worming, vaccinations and fly repellents we were using. Before I worm, I have a poop sample examined by the vet (any vet can do this and it only cost around $10). If they aren't wormy, I don't worm. I haven't had to worm in 4 yrs.
I do trailer my horses to public riding areas which exposes them to many things so I compromise the vaccination thing by getting spring shots and skipping the fall shots. So far, my horses are incredibly healthy.
I have no affiliation with Shaklee or The Natural Vet.
Luvs
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
I posted the article mainly because I thought it was interesting as far as the huge increase in tick population and the fact that it is finally recognized by researchers that they are spreading across the country.
Longer life spans too. Something I hadn't thought too much about. According to the article, lyme is a dangerous infection contrary to what we often hear in the media. Perhaps it is the advertising aspect of the article that allows them to admit this? The more frightening they can make it, the more products they sell?
I wonder how the veterinary and human experts reconcile with each other when it seems like the veterinary world often recognizes the danger of lyme much more readily.
Yes, I agree GIGI, I don't use DEET.
Good info Luvs. I considered cutting out the Bayer info but decided to post the whole thing so that everyone could decide for themselves.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
quote:Luvs: I have a poop sample examined by the vet (any vet can do this and it only cost around $10). If they aren't wormy, I don't worm. I haven't had to worm in 4 yrs.
I don't know about horses but we took in a stray dog. We had her tested for worms but the test came up negative. I felt certain she had worms so I had my husband take in several samples. All negative.
Upon returning from the vet, hubby and dog had just walked in the door to tell me that the latest sample was negative when our dog vomited a huge pile of worms on the carpet as she got to the top of the stairs. Ugh!!!!
Those stool tests were worthless in this case.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
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