Confusing Symptoms- VA Health Department

Borrelia miyamotoi

Confusing Symptoms Leads to

Possible Missed or Misdiagnosis

July 2013

According to David Gaines of the Virginia Department of Health, via ProMed-mail from the International Society of Infectious Diseases:

It appears that the newly discovered Lyme-like illness, Borrelia miyamotoi, has signs and symptoms that could easily be confused with ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis the recently discovered Heartland virus. David Gaines feels this presents significant problems in correctly diagnosing cases of Borrelia miyamotoi, and understanding its true prevalence in states where anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and the Heartland virus are known to occur.

This issue will only become more complicated as the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) expands its range northward into the heavily Lyme endemic regions and the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), a vector of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and Borrelia miyamotoi, expands its range southward.