Next is Dr. @aucott_john on Lyme disease and infection associated chronic illness. Lessons from COVID Long Haulers and ME/CFS.
Infection associated illness is not new. #LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth
Dr @aucott_john quickly noticed the symptoms of #LongCOVID were very similar to #LongLyme. Can occur in patients with mild illnesss. Something similar in how these diseases are affecting humans (P.S. Long-haul does not occur post-flu.) #LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth
Patients with chronic illnesses are often disbelieved. It is difficult as there are no diagnostic tests to prove "Long haul" is real.
Strict case definitions should NOT be used to diagnose patients. Case definitions are for surveillance purposes. #LymeDisease is a clinical diagnosis based upon signs, symptoms and exposure to ticks. #LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth
Aucott designed the SLICE study has very strict criteria for enrollment, including the presence of a rash. All recieved treatment. #LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth
Aucotts says his new published work from the SLICE study proves that Long-haul #LymeDisease is a real thing. Especially when comparing symptoms of Lyme to controls.
See the prospective cohort study here: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35066160/
Aucott says there are three potential causes of Long-haul #LymeDisease
Aucott reviewing brain changes visible on PET imaging.
Aucott says the vegss nerve is involved in Lyme disease infection. Impacts autonomic function and is a driver in POTS and possibly Long-hauler symptoms.
Aucott collaborating with Brian Fallon. There will be announcements coming soon for those wanting to enroll in the Lyme Clinical Trials. Watch here for the announcement: hopkinslyme.org#LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth
Dr. Aucott talked in depth about risk factors and comorbidities for Long-Lyme yesterday. See here:
Jeff says they were able to present the @liv_lyme@TicktrackerAPP to the The National Association and County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during Vector Week. #LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth
Since it's launch in 2018 @TicktrackerAPP has had over 8,000 submissions. Submissions peak in May-June. American dog tick was number one tick identified. #LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth
Dr. Rajadas, a pharmacologist by training, finding doxycycline is not clearing infection in the lab. However, mitomycin & azlocillin are working well. Prefers fewest number of molecules as treatment option (1 or 2 at most). #LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth
Rajadas finding TLR2 interaction in both Borrelia and SARS-Cov-2 surface proteins, also elevation of quinolinic acid. #LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth
Next is Dr. Saravanan Thangamani @Thangamani_Lab Emergence of ticks and tick-borne diseases in NY.
Deer tick
Lone star tick
Dog tick
Asian longhorned tick
Dr. @Thangamani_Lab reviewing the many pathogens carried by Deer tick, Lone star tick, Dog tick, Gulf coast tick, and the invasive Asian longhorned tick. #LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth
Dr. Monica Embers | Persistent Lyme Disease: Supportive Evidence and Potential Solutions. #LymeDiseaseAwarenessMonth
Embers "there are three potential causes of post-treatment #LymeDisease
Inflammatory response
Continuous infection
Autoimmune
The standard treatment for #LymeDisease utilizes a bacteriostatic antibiotic which slows the growth of the bacteria and relies on the immune system to clear the infection.