Thread by @ilads_lyme

Joseph Burrascano, Jr. MD: Ticks are "Nature’s Dirty Needle." In addition to #Lyme, ticks may be infected with #Babesia #Bartonella #Ehrlichia #Anaplasma #Chlamydia #Mycoplasma #WestNileVirus #Nematodes #candida and viruses. #ILADS2022

2/Burrascano: B. microti and B. duncani (also known as WA-1) are the predominant cause of Babesiosis in the United States #Babesiosis has been detected in all 50 states #ILADS2022

3/Burrascano: #Babesia odocoilei has been found in ticks across N America, but not human samples, perhaps due to defective primers. Immunoblot data shows significant % of Babesia species in human patients are not microti or duncani. Could be divergens and/or odocoilei? #ILADS2022

4/ Burrascano: Babesia can be spread from mother to child during pregnancy #ILADS2022

5/Burrascano: Clinical manifestation #Babesiosis can range from asymptomatic to multi-organ failure. Severe illness is frequently seen in immunocompromised & asplenic patients.P atients chronically co-infected with multiple infections, immunity is often suppressed. #ILADS2022

6/Burrascano: Suspect #Babesia if abrupt
• night sweats
• Fatigue
• Air hunger, unexplained cough
• Global, migraine-like headaches
• Off-balance
• anxiety and GI distress
• Hypercoaguable
• VPoor response of #Lyme to otherwise appropriate treatment.
#ILADS2022

7/Burrascano: Although parasitemia is highest w/ initial infection it's difficult to detect directly in blood. Antibody levels are not always high enough to be detected. Multiple Babesia species may be infecting patients and not all tests are validated for all of them. #ILADS2022

8/Burrascano: #Babesia treatments regimens that have been tried include use of antimalarials, antimalarials combined with antibiotics, antiparasitics and botanicals, alone and in combination. #ILADS2022