When A Lyme Rash Is Not A Lyme Rash
Study Quotes
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2018 Aug 21. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2278. [Epub ahead of print]
Report of Non-Lyme, Erythema Migrans Rashes from New Jersey with a Review of Possible Role of Tick Salivary Toxins.
LINK TO FREE STUDY ABSTRACT
(For and additional $51.00 you can read the full article.)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30129909
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
I think they are trying to say Lyme rashes (EM) are caused by toxins in the tick saliva and are NOT from Lyme spirochetes. Therefore, according to the authors you can have an EM (Lyme) rash and not have Lyme disease (and as a result, no treatment).
The theories and tools they use to support their conclusion are lame, at best, and can easily be explained away with a simple review of the past 4 decades of literature stating otherwise. Additionally, although both authors are published on other topics, this is the first Lyme related publication by either of them.
QUOTE- "Erythema migrans (EM) rashes once considered pathognomonic of Lyme disease (LD) have been reported following bites of arthropods that do not transmit LD and in areas with no LD."
COMMENT- Many areas once thought of as having no cases of Lyme disease actually have cases of Lyme disease. (If you don't look you won't find it.) The CDC reporting system has been so far from accurate for so long they've recently admitted to missing at least 280,000 cases a year, many from areas they didn't know had Lyme disesase.
Additionally, there has not been any research proving arthropods or insects other than ticks can NOT transmit Lyme disease. There have been many cases of mosquitoes and other biting insects harboring the Lyme disease spirochete and many clinical cases of Lyme being transmitted to humans after a mosquito and other bites.
QUOTE- "Also, EM rashes have been reported in association with organisms other than members of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex."
COMMENT- Correct. However, no one has done the research and tested these other biting insects for Lyme disease organisms.
QUOTE- "No organisms have been isolated from many EM rashes."
COMMENT- Blame that on the poor quality tests that, at best, only detect exposure to one strain and not the other many known strains, and are able to detect exposure to the one strain only 25% of the time.
QUOTE- "Although there is one report of Borrelia lonestari in a patient with a rash, biopsies of 31 cases of STARI, with cultures and PCR, failed to show a relationship."
COMMENT- The 2005 Lyme study on blood tests by Johns Hopkins showed the tests are failing to detect the infection up to or greater than 75% of the time, when using cultures, PCR and the 2-tier standard method.
QUOTE- "We propose that tick salivary toxins may play a role in the causation of rashes and laboratory abnormalities in tick-borne diseases."
COMMENT- I propose the authors stop depending on the junk and inferior "tools of the trade" and pay more attention to what is happening in the real world. Stop trying to re-invent the mouse trap. You only waste research money that could be used to find a cure.
QUOTE- "In this study, we present case examples of 2 Lyme-like rashes, variations of EM rashes, and a brief review of studies that suggest a role of tick salivary toxins in tick-borne diseases."
Lucy Barnes