while the North American germ is called B.
burgdorferi sensu stricto (it's also found in
Europe).
Dakota, indicating the germ’s range may
solely cover the Upper Midwest. Though
these infections resembled classic Lyme in
many ways, the rash seen in them was
widely spread as opposed to a "bull’seye" rash. Infected patients were also likely
to have additional nausea and vomiting
and an especially high concentration of
bacteria in their blood.
Some research has suggested, however,
that other Borrelia species spread by ticks
can cause illnesses similar to Lyme — in
areas of the country typically not
associated with Lyme, such as the
south. But many researchers, including at
the CDC, have hesitated to bunch these
cases together underneath the wider Lyme
definition, due to conflicting evidence. This
latest study then is the first bit of research
on a potential new Lyme species to receive
a stamp of approval from the CDC.
According to the CDC, it’s likely people
infected with B. mayonii will test positive for
Lyme under the current battery of
diagnostic tests, with only further testing
distinguishing
between
the
two.
Thankfully, it doesn’t appear to be any
harder to take care of than classic Lyme,
already reliably treatable with antibiotics.
All six patients successfully recovered.
The Mayo Clinic researchers tested the
clinical diagnostic specimens (blood and
joint fluid) of people suspected to have
Lyme from 2003 to 2014, specifically
looking for a gene, oppA1, that belongs to
the group of germs related toB. burgdorferi.
They also collected samples of the tick
known to spread Lyme stateside, Ixodes
scapularis (deer tick), in areas where
they suspected the patients were infected.
The CDC will continue working with the
Mayo Clinic and the health departments of
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota
to further understand B. mayonii as well as
discover other tickborne illnesses. "CDC is
investing in advanced technology to bring
study of tickborne infections into a new
era," said Dr. Ben Beard, chief of CDC’s
Bacterial Diseases Branch. "Coupling
technology with teamwork between federal,
state, and private entities will help improve
early and accurate diagnosis of tickborne
diseases."
Out of the more than 100,000 specimens
looked at, six showed signs of a particularly
abnormal oppA1 gene when compared to
specimens containing B. burgdorferi. As for
the patients themselves, five presented
signs of fever; four had a distinct rash;
three had neurological symptoms; two
ended up hospitalized; and the sixth had
knee pain and swelling. Further testing
confirmed the bacteria found in these
people
was
indeed
a
previously
unrecognized species and they were even
able to find B. mayonii in nearby deer
ticks.
Earlier this January, a new study found the
population of ticks capable of spreading
Lyme has noticeably increased since the
turn of the millenium, with others
speculating that warmer climates are
playing a part in the increase.
Source: Pritt B, Mead P, Johnson D, et al.
Identification of a novel pathogenic Borrelia
species causing Lyme borreliosis with
unusually
high
spirochaetaemia:
a
descriptive
study.
Lancet
Infectious
Diseases.
The evidence of B. mayonii infection only
dates back to 2012, with no samples having
been found before then, and only from the
states Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North
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