TWENTY THREE PERCENT OF DEER IN ENGLAND AND WALES HAD ANTIBODIES FOR LYME DISEASE

Friday 30 March 2012

TWENTY THREE PERCENT OF DEER IN ENGLAND AND WALES HAD ANTIBODIES FOR LYME DISEASE

New research just published looked at antibodies for Lyme Disease in deer in England and Wales and found 23% of the deer had antibodies for Borrelia.
Link here

Borrelia burgdorferi Serosurvey in Wild Deer in England and Wales.
Alonso S, Márquez FJ, Solano-Gallego L. Source 1 Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health Group, Royal Veterinary College , Hertfordshire, U.K.

Abstract Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United Kingdom and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. However, limited information is available on its epidemiology and dynamics in the U.K. A survey in wild deer to investigate the presence of antibodies reactive to Borrellia burgdorferi was conducted to obtain initial information on the distribution pattern of the spirochete in England and Wales. Samples from roe deer (n=604) and red deer (n=80) were collected in eight different locations. An ELISA protocol was developed to identify antibodies reactive to B. burgdorferi s.l. Seropositivity was investigated by location of sampling, over time, and in relation to the level of deer tick infestation. Twenty-three percent of animals had a positive serology. Seroprevalence varied according to location with the southern forestry districts showing higher seroprevalence rates. One northern location showed an unexpectedly high proportion of positive deer. Variations in the proportion of positive animals were also observed over time. Tick load was higher from spring through autumn, and its relation to seroprevalence was compatible with higher tick infectivity during the spring and summer months. This study represents the first assessment of distribution of Borrelia antibodies in deer in the U.K. and identifies areas that are potential hot spots for human Lyme borreliosis. Targeted epidemiological studies should be conducted to evaluate the actual disease risk for humans.

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What I would like to see is more research in line with what Faith Smith produced using dogs as sentinels here So many of us with Lyme Disease have dogs or cats that bring ticks into our homes - often as in my case unaware that ticks can latch onto us or pass on Lyme Disease or up to 30 different infections (according to Prof Luc Montagnier in a recent TV interview I posted earlier).

2 comments:

Camp Other5 April 2012 at 07:14
What took them so long?

You would think they would have actually done more studies like this given patients' complaints.

If you're going to make claims about Lyme disease not being in the UK, you need evidence to back it up. Now that they've waited, they have all the evidence patients need to point out yes, Lyme is in the UK, it's endemic, now let's talk about what to do about it.

Amazing disconnect. They call it the fastest growing vector-based disease yet so few people are diagnosed and treated early and properly.
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Joanne5 April 2012 at 20:34
They have known Lyme Disease can be caught in UK since it was first named as Lyme and have a tick in the Natural history musem dating back to early 1900's where Borrelia has been identified.
It's same old story though lack of dissemination of appropriate information to our doctors so that patients can be diagnosed early or better still take necessary precautions to avoid being bitten or seeking early adequate treatment.

Deny, deny deny once they lift the lid off this denial not only will it stop many people becoming chronically ill but it will help our economy in getting many sick people well and back to work or independent living
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Lyme Life written in 2009

I started suffering with arthritis in mainly my large joints especially my knees 6 years ago. The symptoms varied and I remember saying that every joint was affected except my elbows to one doctor. I was told it would be hormonal and to take the usual supplements cod liver oil or glucosamine ( I would certainly recommend buying shares in the companies producing these supplements) They had no noticeable affect.

All my symptoms deteriorated significantly over a few weeks,4 years ago. Hips shoulders and knees being the worst and I started with muscle weakness in upper arms and upper legs. I had difficulty standing and walking across a room. I was unable to walk upstairs and my husband was making plans to convert to a downstairs bedroom. I had seen 5 doctors and 3 Rheumatologists and put on steroids for Poly Myalgia Rheumatica diagnosis. I had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS.

I have X rays and scans showing signs of osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. ( later note.- the X rays done some years into treatment showed my hands completely normal no signs of inflammation or RA confirming how they felt - normal) I have been retired early from the Civil Service having lost my job not to mention my earning potential. My illness seemed to progress through my body not affecting the same joints left to right at the same time. I had bursitis in left hip, right hip, left elbow. I had synovial thickening in both wrists. At that time I could not lift and hold a magazine so lifting a kettle I could only do if a third full and with two hands. Each joint in my hands fingers feet and toes were affected. I had swallowing difficulties and many other symptoms. None of this describes the endless and awful pain whenever I moved or the tiredness but inability to get quality sleep.

Two years ago my GP gave me Amoxicilin for a sinus/throat/chest infection. All my arthritis symptoms improved. The course ended the symptoms deteriorated I started a second course the symptoms improved. The improvement was more significant than when I had started taking steroids. This led my GP to suspect Lyme Disease. I laughed because we do not travel abroad but she said they had had other cases in the surgery in the early stages of tick bite and Erythma Migrans rash. She said but you have not had a bite. I said oh yes I have I had two on my ankles with rashes, March 05 this was confirmed on her computer when I had seen a locum doctor. My worst symptoms were waking up feeling rigid and having to painfully flex every joint in my body before struggling to get up. The only other time I had experienced this was in May 2003 during a flu like illness like no other I had ever experienced. At that time I had a bite and similar rash on my right foot which lasted like the other rashes about four weeks. I had also consulted the surgery and it was dismissed as a virus. I walked our dog daily in the woods adjacent to our house where the deer roam, prime tick area. Thus started my very lengthy search about Lyme Disease leading me through Lyme Disease Action to a doctor who specialises in this illness. He confirmed my GP's suspicions. I never had a positive blood test but then they are antigen tests and there is much research that shows they are unreliable. In my case the year of steroids and many weeks antibiotics could have affected the results. So with a clinical diagnosis and following ILADS International Lyme and Associated Disease Society guidelines I continued on antibiotics for two years. Both my doctors continued to treat me despite of Health Protection Agency advising against long term antibiotics. I am now nearly 100% recovered I have no pain or muscle weakness. I can walk upstairs something I could not do for three and a half years. I can garden do house work and live a normal life. I still need to pace myself and with only a few months to 60 will not be looking to return to work. Life is such a joy. Sadly there is much controversy about Lyme Disease and doctors in UK are taught that it is so rare. Well where I live in Guildford I have been in contact with a dozen other people with it so perhaps not so rare as HPA would like us to believe. I am in touch with nearly 2000 other patients through a chat line Eurolyme most had been misdiagnosed with several other illnesses. Look at UK charity Lyme Disease Action if you want to read more about this illness. There are many MP's taking an interest in the problems surrounding diagnosis and treatment see above charity links into a recent meeting at the House of Commons.

Thank goodness there are some thinking doctors around who have courageously treated me against opposition and I have made such a miraculous recovery albeit rather a lengthy one. One day there will be many more people who are helped with their chronic illnesses when IDSA starts taking note of what our courageous LLMD’s are doing following ILADS Guidelines.

ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, Poly Myalgia Rheumatica, Arthritis, Bell’s Palsy, MS,MN, ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Heart Block, Stroke, Psychiatric, gastric problems the list is endless. Not all suffering from Lyme Borrelia but how many are even properly assessed for it.

UPDATE

UPDATE 10 January 2012