Lyme disease is the most recognized and common tick-related infection caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. Besides the Borrelia that cause Lyme disease, ticks are known to carry more than 20 microorganisms that cause bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections in humans.
When Lyme disease is present, these are referred to as coinfections. It has been noted that a typical tick bite can transmit 3 infections which could include, bartonellosis, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, or Rocky Mountain Spotted fever. It can be minutes, hours, days, weeks or years before symptoms actually develop. The symptoms that result from several tick-borne infections can be multiple making diagnosis and treatment challenging.
Lyme is referred to as “the great imitator” mimicking other chronic, debilitating conditions. Tick-borne diseases (TBD) can sometimes be the root of many unexplained symptoms and illnesses. In the United States all 50 states have reported cases of Lyme disease, which is now the most common vector-borne illness.
The International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) is a nonprofit, international, multidisciplinary medical society dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of Lyme and other complex inflammatory diseases. Recent updates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and supported by ILADS, stress the importance of an extensive clinical history and examination along with the laboratory findings for optimal diagnostic accuracy and the opportunity to individualize treatment. Therefore, Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis dependent on history, and physical examination, and supported by diagnostic laboratory testing.
The CDC’s recent acknowledgement of persistent symptoms beyond the initial treatment, as “Post-Treatment Lyme Disease” (PTLD), emphasizes the importance of addressing the lingering, and sometimes debilitating, symptoms seen in many individuals.
Lyme Signs & Symptoms
- Rash (erythema migrans) EM, a pink or red rash surrounding the tick bite, may be flat or raised may be circular and itch, may or may not be a bullseye rash
- Only about 9% of people get the classic bull’s eye rash
- Joint/muscle pain or swelling.
- Fatigue
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Neuropsychiatric: mood swings, irritability, depression, disturbed sleep (too much, too little, early awakening), personality changes, panic/anxiety
- Eye symptoms: redness of eyes, itchy or burning eyes or eyes with discharge, floaters
- Heart symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, fainting
- Neurological: muscle twitching, headache, tingling, numbness, shooting pain, facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy), dizziness, poor balance, light-headedness, tremor, confusion, difficulty thinking/concentrating/ forgetfulness, poor short term memory, disorientation, double or blurry vision, increased sensitivity to light or sound, buzzing or ringing in ears, seizure activity
The Main Tick-borne diseases in North America
- Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi, B. mayonii, B.miyamotoi). There are 20 different species of B. burdorferi. Possible carrier is the black legged tick (aka deer tick)
- Babesiosis ( Babesia microti, B. divergens, and B. duncani), it is a protozoan from the deer tick
- Bartonellosis . A bacteria from fleas and lice (cat scratch fever)
- Anaplasmosis a bacterium from the deer tick that infects white blood cells
- Erlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeenisi, E. ewingii, or E. muris eauclairensis), a bacteria from the lone star tick
- Rickettsia Spotted Fever group, carried by the American dog tick or sometimes called the wood tick
- Tularemia or rabbit fever (Francisella tularensis), transmitted bacteria by the American dog, lone star, and Rocky Mountain wood ticks
- Heartland Virus (Phlebovirus genus), transmitted by the lone star tick
- Tick-Borne-relapsing fever; there are 15 Borrelia species that cause tick-borne relapsing fever worldwide
- Colorado Tick Fever: caused by the Coltivirus genus, from Rocky Mountain wood ticks
- Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness (STARI) or Masters Disease, possibly carried by the lone star tick. The lone star tick carries the alpha-gal in their saliva. The result is an allergic reaction called alpha-gal syndrome which presents with possible allergic reactions to the consumption of beef, port or lamb.
- Powassan Virus: is the only North American member of the tick-borne encephalitis serogroup of flaviviruses
Diagnosis and Testing
Challenges of a diagnosis occur in the setting of the diversity and multitude of varying symptoms with or without a history of a tick bite or EM rash. The initial consultation of 1-2 hours will give direction in determining the appropriate lab testing to order and an individualized treatment plan.
There are many different testing options available for Borrelia burgdorferi and other tick-borne pathogens. Specialty labs provide more accurate testing results than the conventional labs.
They generally can be divided into two categories, indirect and direct testing. Indirect tests look for human antibodies instead of the pathogen or genetic material from the pathogen. Antigens are the proteins made by the immune system when it comes into contact with the pathogen. Direct tests look for evidence of the pathogen by looking for the pathogen itself or genetic material of the pathogen.
IGeneX has been a global leader in the research and development of tests that accurately detect Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
Go to IGeneX.com for information how to remove a tick, tick testing form, lab testing for tick-borne diseases, and more.
TickReport is a company that tests for pathogens from a tick(s) detached from a tick bite. You’ll find instructions and pertinent information on their website, tickreport.com