A common misconception regarding Bartonella henselae infection, sometimes known as cat scratch disease (CSD), is that cats are the “bad guy” in the situation. Cats and other animals have been a part of human life for millennia and have documented positive effects on mental and physical wellness. Cats are natural reservoirs for Bartonella henselae, and […]
Breaking down the Bartonella spp. ePCR Triple Blood Draw: How does it work?
Galaxy customers often ask our team, “Why do results for a Bartonella ePCR test take 3 weeks?” By the time a customer has decided to get a Bartonella ePCR triple draw test they may have had symptoms for some time, seen many doctors, and made difficult decisions about where to spend their healthcare dollars. We […]
Ticks are out for the summer: How can bites be prevented?
People who have experienced symptoms related to tick-borne disease generally say they wouldn’t wish these illnesses on anyone. Despite the educational information tick-borne disease patients repeatedly provide in the media and to their friends, many people do not act to prevent tick bites when participating in activities that may put them at risk. The Tick-Borne […]
How Vector-Borne Diseases Impact Heart Health
Both bartonellosis and Lyme disease are associated with dangerous heart conditions that can be fatal in some cases. According to the CDC, 11 cases of fatal Lyme carditis have been reported between 1985 and 2019, however, researchers suspect there are more undetected cases. The heart has three critical aspects that can be affected by disease: […]
The Role of Host Response in Chronic Illnesses
Here at Galaxy Diagnostics, we are often asked “Why do symptoms for bartonellosis vary between patients so much?” and “How do I know that my symptoms are related to Bartonella species infection?” The simple yet frustrating answer for patients and physicians alike is that chronic flea- and tick-borne illnesses are complex and typically do not […]
How do antibiotics eliminate bacteria while keeping you healthy?
Antibiotic medications have a tricky job: kill the target single-celled organisms without causing so much damage to the host animal that it would be better off with the infection. Many treatments that seem promising in a petri dish can’t make that leap. So how do antibiotics work anyway? Before the era of modern broad-spectrum antibiotics, […]
