Chronic infections can persist for various reasons. A weakened host immune system may provide a suitable environment for bacteria to thrive long-term. Likewise, re-infections could take place due to shared habitats between host and vector. The ability for tick-borne pathogens, like Bartonella and Borrelia, to form biofilms is another possibility that clinicians and researchers are […]
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 […]
Ticks: A Complex Microbiome
Ticks can be a hospitable environment for a wide range of microorganisms that harm people and their pets. The question is, when are these pathogens a risk to people and animals? Does the microbiome of the tick gut have a different effect on disease risk than the microbiome of its saliva? The invention of PCR […]
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 […]
For Lyme Disease Awareness Month: Occupational Risk and Zoonotic Diseases
When mounted police officer Margie Raimondi developed fatigue and muscle pain after a year on the job, she sought medical help and tested positive for Lyme disease. After treatment she returned to work, but eventually after a fall she could no longer work and applied for workers compensation benefits. People who have an adverse experience […]
Ehrlichiosis: A Tick-borne Illness That Can Imitate Blood-Related Cancers
Ehrlichiosis, or an infection caused by Ehrlichia species, is a tick-borne illness that causes mild to severe symptoms in approximately 1,500 patients per year in the United States and an unspecified number around the world. The nonspecific symptoms of the infection can lead to misdiagnosis. Furthermore, research in North Carolina suggests that testing for Ehrlichia […]
