Melanie Reber
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3707
posted
Title Lyme disease: report of two cases.
Author(s) Jowi JO, Gathua SN
Institution Kenyatta National Hospital, P.O. Box 19624-00202, Nairobi, Kenya.
Source East Afr Med J 2005 May; 82(5):267-9.
Abstract Lyme disease is a tick-borne multisystem disease. It was first described in Lyme, Connecticut, USA in 1975. Cases have been reported in Canada, Switzerland, hAustria, Australia and Great Britain. It is an inflammatory disease that has varied clinical manifestations ranging from skin rash (erythema migrans), arthritis, fibromyalgia, and regional lymphadenopathy, cardiac conduction defects to neurological manifestations of meningoencephalitis, Bell's palsy, peripheral neuropathy, and painful radiculoneuropathy. There has been no case record of Lyme disease in Kenya and indeed literature on Lyme disease in Africa is very scanty. We present two cases of Lyme disease with predominant neurological manifestations; outline their clinical presentation and management.
Language eng Pub Type(s) Case Reports Journal Article PubMed ID 16119758
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Title Vectors vs. humans in Australia--who is on top down under? An update on vector-borne disease and research on vectors in Australia.
Author(s) Russell RC
Institution Department of Medical Entomology, University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
Source J Vector Ecol 1998 Jun; 23(1):1-46.
Abstract Australia has a diversity of vectors and vector-borne human diseases. Mosquito-borne arboviruses are of greatest concern, but there are issues with other vector and pathogen systems. Mosquitoes were responsible for more than 35,000 cases of Ross River virus during 1991-1997. Barmah Forest virus is increasing nationwide, and unidentified bunyaviruses suspected of causing illness have been isolated. Cases of Murray Valley encephalitis have occurred in 14 of the past 20 years in northern Australia. Dengue is a continuing problem for northern Queensland, with various serotypes being active. Japanese encephalitis has appeared in the Torres Strait Islands and threatens mainland Australia.
Although malaria is eradicated, almost 1,000 cases are imported annually and occasional cases of local transmission occur. With ticks, paralysis in children occurs annually in eastern Australia. Tick typhus (Queensland Tick Typhus--Rickettsia australis) occurs down the east coast, and (Flinders Island Spotted Fever--Rickettsia honei) in Bass Strait and probably Tasmania. Lyme disease is reported but its presence is controversial.
Fleas were responsible for a recent outbreak of murine typhus (Rickettsia typhi) in Western Australia. Mites cause scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi), and there was a recent fatality in the Northern Territory. Overall, resources for investigation and control of vector-borne disease have generally been meager. However, various avenues of basic and applied research have been pursued, and have included investigations into mosquito ecology, vector competence, disease epidemiology, and vector control. Disease surveillance programs vary between states, and mosquito control programs are organized and effective in only a few regions.
There are concerns for import of vectors such as Aedes albopictus and export of pathogens such as Ross River virus; the former has occurred but the species has not become established, and the latter has occurred and has resulted in a major outbreak in the South Pacific. The predicted scenarios of increased temperature and rainfall with global warming are also causing concern for increases in vector-borne diseases, particularly the endemic arboviruses. Interest by health authorities is gravitating more towards epidemiological reporting and less towards public health action. In many respects, humans have much to do to get 'on top' of vectors and their pathogens 'down under' in Australia.
Language eng Pub Type(s) Journal Article Review PubMed ID 9673928
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Title Culture-positive Lyme borreliosis.
Author(s) Hudson BJ, Stewart M, Lennox VA, Fukunaga M, Yabuki M, Macorison H, Kitchener-Smith J
Institution Microbiology Department, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW. [email protected]
Source Med J Aust 1998 May 18; 168(10):500-2.
Abstract We report a case of Lyme borreliosis. Culture of skin biopsy was positive for Borrelia garinii, despite repeated prior treatment with antibiotics. The patient had travelled in Europe 17 months before the onset of symptoms, but the clinical details indicate that the organism could have been acquired in Australia. The results of conventional serological and histopathological tests were negative, despite an illness duration of at least two years.
Language eng Pub Type(s) Case Reports Journal Article PubMed ID 9631675
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Here is a pretty good website with information. Unfortunately, it concludes that LD is still controversial there.
Lyme Disease//Borreliosis is present in Australia [first noted in the Hunter Valley, at Branxton, between Singleton and Maitland, NSW in 1980] and 4 other continents. Even if the disease were not normally found in Australia there are numerous people flying into the country every day who may have been exposed to the deer ticks that commonly carry the disease in the USA and Europe. It is possible that ticks found on Australian native animals may also carry and transmit borrelia spirochetes introduced in this way. [Australia's Dangerous Creatures. pub Reader's Digest]
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It looks like you have a battle on your hands, although there have been other members here with LD. Have you tried searching for them?
Posts: 7052 | From Colorado | Registered: Mar 2003
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Well, looky here. I just grabbed a few things from some searches... and Ms. Melanie beat me to it. But then ... truth be known.... it wasn't hard to do that. She is a smart one.. and fast too.
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Here is a bit of history. I am posting it just to show Melanie I DID try and get 'er done! Even though she beat me to it.
LYME DISEASE IN AUSTRALIA
Lyme Disease//Borreliosis is present in Australia [first noted in the Hunter Valley, at Branxton, between Singleton and Maitland, NSW in 1980] and 4 other continents. ... [Australia's Dangerous Creatures. pub Reader's Digest]
posted
Try looking in the lymenet archives, using the search word Australia because this subject has come up several times. And there is a new support group.
Posts: 8430 | From Not available | Registered: Oct 2000
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