Lone star ticks, (Amblyoma americanum). are taking over. They now comprise more than 80% of the small black legged, hard bodied ticks found in the D.C metro area and elsewhere. These guys are very aggressive. They may be hard to distinguish from their deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) colleagues. Adult females are easy to spot: white spot on top. The shape and coloration is somewhat different. Take a careful look with a magnifying glass and compare to pix on google images. The CDC party line is: Lone stars do not transmit Lyme; they transmit STARI which is a mild disease and easy to treat. The CDC website states it is unknown wich bacteria causes the syndrome. The CDC website says Borrelia lonstari was a suspect but “further research” showed this not to be the case. This “definitive” research is the product of a small study published by Gary Wormser (name familiar) in 2005. Thirty EM rashes were examined for B. burdorferi (classic Lyme) and B. lonestari. Wormser did not find the genetic signature of B. burgdorferi or B. lonstari (or any Borrelia species) Therefore, the case is closed. Incidentally, all cases were from the Cape Girardeau are of Missouri (along the Mississippi river). I leave it to the reader to make sense of this research. It is said that an inhibitor in lone star tick saliva makes them an inhospitable host for B. burdorferi. Perhaps. Nonethess, multiple studies have shown that B. burdorferi can be found in lone stars. A patient in my practice with PCR (blood) proven B. lonestari was amongst the sickest patients I have seen. The only lab that I know of that does this test is Clongen. What about Western Blots? This patient was negative except for band 41 at two reference labs.
The Western Blot (as we currently know it) may soon be obsolete as the mix of Borrelia pathogens changes. Clongen found many Babesia organisms in these ticks, species unknown. Laboratory testing for unknown species of Babesia is impossible, except for fresh, properly stained blood smears. Bartonella is already a complete mystery: I say no more here.
Diverse ticks (Ixodes species) around the globe are known to transmit Borrelia species causing a Lyme-like illness, referred to as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. Rapid changes are occurring in the US. The spirochetes live in an expanded reservoir, beyond white footed mice; the species are different; the strains are different and of course the vectors are different.
The coinfections are different and may be complete unknowns.
Here are a few clues: Ehrichia antibodies equal lone star tick. Only Anaplasma in deer ticks. RMSF antibodies show up a lot. I am not sure what this means. Cross reacting Rickettsia sp? RMSF occurs only in lone stars not deer ticks. Meat allergies (anti-gal) only from lone stars: can be devastating.
The Lyme disease and associated tickborne pathogens paradigm is changing dramatically and very quickly. Be cognizant as we move forward.
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