Just a tick — take time to find out about Lyme disease

People enjoying outdoor activities during the June bank holiday are being advised to take precautions against tick bites which could lead them to contracting Lyme disease. Ticks are most active during the warmer months of summer and autumn and are often found in areas with high grass, woodland and sand dunes. Lyme disease is spread … Read more

Bartonella, Babesia pathogens can be a cofactor in complex neurological illnesses

In a new case study, researchers from North Carolina State University found Bartonella henselae, Babesia odocoilei and Babesia divergens-like MO-1 DNA in brain tissue samples from a young child with seizures and suspected Rasmussen’s encephalitis. The findings further support the idea that these pathogens can be a cofactor in complex neurological illnesses. Bartonella are a group of vector-borne bacteria transmitted … Read more

Study reveals high prevalence of Lyme disease bacteria in Northeast ticks

Across most of the Northeast, getting bitten by a blacklegged tick- also called a deer tick – is a risk during spring, summer, and fall. A new Dartmouth study, published in Parasites and Vectors, finds that 50% of adult blacklegged ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease while 20% to 25% of the younger … Read more