Bartonella are bacteria that live inside cells; they can infect humans, mammals, and a wide range of wild animals. Not all Bartonella species cause disease in humans. Bartonella henselae causes an important emerging infection first reported in 1990 and described as a new species in 1992. It is mainly carried by cats and causes cat-scratch disease, endocarditis, and several other serious diseases in humans.
Ticks are tiny crawling bugs in the spider family that feed by sucking blood from animals. If the animal is carrying Lyme disease spirochetes, the tick sucks them up as it feeds and they multiply in the tick’s gut. The tick may then transfer them into the next animal it feeds on.
There are two kinds of ehrlichiosis, both of which are caused by tick-borne rickettsial parasites called Ehrlichia that infect different kinds of white blood cells. In HME (human monocytic ehrlichiosis), they infect monocytes. In HGE (human granulocytic ehrlichiosis), they infect granulocytes. HGE was renamed anaplasmosis in 2003.
Besides the diseases described above, ticks in different geographic areas may be infected with one or more of the following: Colorado tick fever virus; Mycoplasmas; Powassan encephalitis virus; Q Fever; Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia); tickborne relapsing fever Borrelia; Tularemia (bacteria).
Chart showing types of ticks, their physical structure and the types of diseases they carry
Scientists recognize more than a dozen tickborne diseases in the United States and new ones are still being discovered. One tick may carry more than one disease, so sometimes people get more than one co-infection from the bite of a single tick.
Personal Prevention Tips for Lyme Disease
California State Senator Lois Wolk, sponsor of the measure, calls Lyme disease "often misunderstood.” She says "It can cause serious, persistent health problems if not caught early and treated appropriately. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to learn how to avoid ticks altogether. But, in the event of a bite, it’s equally important to know how to remove the tick properly and when you should consult a doctor.”
…………. Lyme Times Latest issue includes articles on: The IDSA Lyme guidelines controversy Lyme…
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