Lyme Sci: Babesia And The Blood Supply
In December 2016, the American Red Cross published the results of a two-year study into the U.S. blood supply. They were specifically looking for an infectious parasite known as Babesia in donated blood, and they found it in 335 of the samples they tested.
Since then, the CDC has published Babesiosis and the U.S. Blood Supply and is letting the public know you can be infected:
The CDC has known since 1979 that Babesia causes transfusion-transmitted infection in the United States. The FDA estimates 11% of transfusion related deaths are caused by microbial contaminated blood, with up to 38% of the fatalities linked to Babesia.
A Vital Research Need
The Bay Area Lyme Foundation created the Lyme Disease Biobank to help fill a vital research need among researchers working to better understand tick-borne diseases and to identify solutions.
The program collects blood and urine samples from untreated patients with early-stage Lyme disease as well as those with chronic disease.
Samples are also collected from people without Lyme disease, so researchers can compare differences in samples from people infected with Lyme disease with those who are not.
This program also includes tissue samples from late-stage Lyme patients who undergo surgery, and post-mortem samples from those who have passed away.
These samples are used by researchers to understand later stages of Lyme disease, and how the Lyme bacteria can invade organs and tissue.
Chronic Neck Back Hip Or Spine Pain
Common back problems such as sprains, strains and aches may not interfere with a bone marrow donation. However, you are not able to join if you have on-going, chronic, significant pain areas of the neck, back, hip, or spine that:
- Interferes with your daily activities AND
- Requires daily prescription pain medication OR
- Requires regular physical therapy OR
- Requires regular chiropractor treatments
If you have significant back problems and/or any questions regarding your medical condition, contact your local donor center.
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Can You Get Lyme From Sexual Transmission
Theres no direct evidence that Lyme is sexually transmitted by humans. Lyme experts are divided about the possibility.
The evidence for sexual transmission that Ive seen is very weak and certainly not conclusive in any scientific sense, Dr. Elizabeth Maloney told Healthline. Maloney is president of the Partnership for Tick-Borne Diseases Education.
Dr. Sam Donta, another Lyme researcher, agreed.
On the other hand, Lyme researcher Dr. Raphael Stricker told Healthline, Theres no reason why the Lyme spirochete cant be sexually transmitted by human beings. How commonly it occurs, or how difficult it is, we dont know.
Stricker has called for a Manhattan Project approach to Lyme, including more research.
Indirect studies of human transmission are suggestive , but not definitive. A few animal studies of sexual transmission of the Lyme spirochete have shown that it does occur in some cases.
Its not ethical to test sexual transmission by deliberately infecting humans, as was done with syphilis in the past.
to the fetus. But if they receive adequate treatment for Lyme, adverse effects are unlikely.
A 2009 study of 66 pregnant women found that untreated women had a significantly higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Infection from the mother to the fetus can occur within the first three months of pregnancy, according to Donta. If the mother is untreated, the infection would result in congenital abnormalities or miscarriage.
Things To Consider About Donating Tissue:
- You must be 18 years or older, reside in the continental U.S., and be diagnosed with Lyme disease by a healthcare provider
- Your family or loved one must be aware of your wish to donate
- Only organs and tissues needed for research will be recovered
- There is no cost to tissue donors or families to participate
- For surgical donations, costs associated with the surgery remain the responsibility of the patient
- For post-mortem donations, funeral and cremation costs remain the responsibility of the family decision makers
To learn more about tissue donation, you can find FAQs here or contact NDRI directly at 800-222-NDRI option 5 or
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What Is Lyme Disease What Are Its Symptoms
Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, found in deer ticks. These ticks survive on human and animal blood and are responsible for spreading the bacteria. The bacteria enters the bloodstream and causes the chronic Lyme disease. The intensity of contraction increases in summer.
The Chronic Lyme disease has a variety of symptoms and generally impacts more than one system, and its signs are almost always noticed in the nervous system. The joints and skin are also influenced. In the early stage, the chronic Lyme disease is manifested in the form of flu and rashes. As it progresses, neurological issues may occur along with joint pains.
Limitations Of The Babesia Study
The first known case of babesiosis in the U.S. occurred in 1966, after a resident of San Francisco became extremely ill with malaria-like symptoms that were later identified as a Babesia infection. Since then, scientists have identified hundreds of species of Babesia, with several known to infect humans.
Babesia microti is the primary cause of babesiosis in the United States. There are however, at least 5 other strains of Babesia known to infect humans in the U.S.: B. divergens, B. CA1, B. MO1, B. duncani , and a newly discovered species from Tennesee, B. TN1. However, people who travel out of the country could be exposed to several other species of Babesia.
Because the Red Cross study only looked for B. microti, it is likely the actual number of cases of Babesia contamination is much higher than stated.
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Red Cross Declares Blood Crisis Where To Donate In Lyme
LYME, CT Nearly two years into the coronavirus pandemic, the American Red Cross is facing its worst blood shortage in more than a decade as omicron variant cases surge in Lyme and other cities across the country.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Red Cross called the shortage a national blood crisis that’s forcing doctors to delay life-saving treatments for those in need.
In response, the organization called on Americans to donate blood as soon as possible to prevent further delays in vital medical treatments.
While some types of medical care can wait, others cant, Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer of the Red Cross, said in a statement. Hospitals are still seeing accident victims, cancer patients, those with blood disorders like sickle cell disease, and individuals who are seriously ill who all need blood transfusions. Were doing everything we can to increase blood donations to ensure every patient can receive medical treatments without delay, but we cannot do it without more donors.
If you want to donate blood, here are a few Red Cross blood drives coming up in the Lyme area:
1/21/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Saybrook Point Pavilion, 155 College St1/26/2022: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church, 24 Society Road1/27/2022: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Congregation Beth Shalom, 55 East Kings Hwy1/28/2022: 11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Utopia Plaza, 262 Boston Post Road
Search other blood drives in the area here.
Can Other Bugs Give Me Lyme
Researchers have found spirochetes in mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects. But it has not been proven that they can transmit the infection.
A tick is uniquely suited to carry and spread Lyme disease. Spirochetes have co-evolved with ticks over millions of years. Tick saliva contains immune suppressors that help disseminate the bacteria throughout the hosts body. And, because ticks feed on many different animals, they can spread the disease widely.
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Hyperglycemia Impairs The Immune Response To Borrelia Burgdorferi
A preclinical study published in PLoS One recently found that high blood sugar, referred to as hyperglycemia in the medical community, impairs the function of neutrophils, mediators that play a central role in the immune response to the Lyme pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi. Reduced neutrophil activity allows for widespread colonization of body tissues, including the brain and joints, by B. burgdorferi and reduces clearance of the bacteria from the body. These findings indicate that maintenance of blood sugar within a healthy range should be an essential part of any Lyme disease treatment protocol.
When Is The Lyme Disease Blood Test Ordered
When someone has the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease or they live in a region that has deer ticks or black-legged ticks, then this blood test will be ordered. It will also be ordered when these symptoms occur without improvement over the course of 7-14 days by most medical providers.
- A bulls-eye rash that grows from the bite site.
- Fevers, chills, and a persistent headache that does not go away.
- Unusual and persistent fatigue that does not immediately improve.
The IgM and IgG tests are generally ordered first when Lyme disease is suspected. This is because people who have never been exposed to the bacteria that causes the disease will not have any antibodies present. If these tests are positive and followed up by a positive Western Blot test, then the chances are very good that Lyme disease is present. This is especially true if antibody levels continue to rise over time.
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The Controversy Of Blood Donation
Admittedly, some tick-borne diseases can transmit to new carriers through blood transfusion. Lyme is not considered a threat for blood-transferred diseases. However, researchers see another potential reason to worry: an increasing growth rate, with up to 300,000 new infections each year.
Lyme disease occurs 6x as much as HIV/AIDS, but with Lyme research receiving less than 1% of the funding given to HIV research, there is simply not enough information on whether Lyme can actually present a threat. This information becomes even more confused when considering the different stages of the disease from its onset to chronic Lyme disease, or Post Treatment Lyme disease Syndrome .
Can Your Dog Give You Lyme Disease
It is hard to explain how Lyme disease is transmitted to humans directly from dogs. It is possible for the same type of tick to feed on humans, though not on dogs. As humans tend to spend time around their pets, there is a possibility they will become infected with human viruses.
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Tests We Carry Out On Your Blood
You may have noticed that each time you give a blood donation we also take blood samples.
These samples are used to perform a range of screening tests in our laboratories.
Most of these tests are mandatory, in other words we must carry them out on every single blood donation, whether this is your first donation or just one of the many you have given over the years.
However, there are some additional tests that may need to be done on some donations as necessary.
Sometimes the tests cannot be done, for example – if you give an incomplete blood donation or no blood samples are obtained, or if we cannot take a donation because of poor veins or you have low haemoglobin level for blood donation.
The tests play a very important role in ensuring that we provide a safe blood supply to patients. We test for your blood group, so that we can select the correct group for the patient.
We also test for infections that can be passed from donor to patient via a blood transfusion.
The tests are carried out by computer-controlled automated machines which can test many samples both quickly and easily, so helping us to get blood to the hospitals as fast as we can.
Any donation that is reactive on any one of the screening tests cannot be used. If your blood is reactive on any one of the screening tests, further tests are carried out to confirm whether the result indicates a true infection.
If the test results show that you can no longer give blood, then you will be given specific advice.
Do You Have Active Lyme Disease Donate Plasma Earn $$ And Help Others Call Today And Learn More
Have you recently been diagnosed with active Lyme disease? Do you want to help others? We have a unique plasma donation program just for you. Your plasma is needed for further research by researchers and diagnostic companies to research the disease as well as to manufacture your plasma into the controls for test kits to diagnose others.
Participants will donate plasma which is very similar to donating blood like at a red cross but you can do this twice in a 7 day period because you get your red blood cells back thru this process/procedure. If you qualify you will be compensated $500 each time you donate and all/any travel related expenses are pre-paid by us so you can participate at no cost to you.
To learn more visit us at www.accessclinical.com or call us at 800-510-4003 to speak to an agent today about the program.
Basic Qualifications:
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Register Now For Future Organ Donation
To make a difference in the future, please register now for our tissue program. All patients with Lyme disease are encouraged to register with Lyme Disease Biobank Tissue Program through our partner NDRI, and please also register with MyLymeData. Registering for the Lyme Disease Biobank Tissue Program through our partner NDRI as a future donor of post-mortem organs is critical, as it is rarely possible to evaluate how tick-borne disease may infect vital organs such as a persons heart and/or brain. By also providing information about your symptoms and medical history to MyLymeData, you can assist researchers in understanding the disease. More information can be found by visiting NDRIs Private Donor Program website or by calling NDRI at 800-222-NDRI , Option 5.
Lyme Disease Is Remarkably Difficult To Diagnose
The problem with Lyme disease is that the bacteria can create a hard shell around themselves when inactive so that the blood tests are unable to detect them. This is especially true when the disease has reached the chronic stage. The timing of the symptoms is often used by a medical provider to establish a time line to a tick bite or exposure to a high-risk region where the disease is commonly transmitted.
Because the ticks that can spread Lyme disease are often the size of a pinhead, the ticks might not even be notice. A bulls-eye rash at the bite location is a trademark symptom of Lyme disease, but only about half of the people who are infected with the bacteria develop the rash. Once the disease reaches the chronic stage, chronic arthritis, joint pain, and neurological symptoms begin to appear, sometimes several months after the infection.
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Choosing Diseases To Screen And Test
We use three criteria to determine what risk an infectious disease poses to patient safety.
We look at all the evidence and current research to work out the risk and how we should manage it. Sometimes risk factors change, so we update our rules when they do.
Nutritional Supplements For Blood Sugar Control
Last but not least, consider incorporating supplements that support blood sugar control. A few of my favorites are alpha-lipoic acid , N-acetylcysteine , GTF chromium, and berberine. ALA and NAC offer the additional benefits of boosting the bodys production of glutathione, an antioxidant essential in the battle against B. burgdorferi. In addition to lowering blood sugar via mechanisms similar to metformin, a popular antidiabetic drug, berberine also supports a healthy gut microbiota and activates AMPK, a key anti-inflammatory molecular pathway that is also activated by fasting.
Want to learn more about my approach to nutrition in Lyme disease? My upcoming book The Lyme Disease 30-Day Meal Plan offers a comprehensive diet and lifestyle approach to easing Lyme symptoms and optimizing recovery. You can pre-order it here on Amazon today!
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Which Ticks Should I Worry About
Nymphal ticks cause most cases of Lyme disease. Because nymphs are as small as poppy seeds and their bite is painless, people often dont realize they have been bitten. Adult ticks can also infect humans, but are easier to spot and remove.
Not all ticks are infected. Because tick studies have only been done in a relatively few places, in most of the US, tick infection rates are unknown. Even in places where ticks generally do not carry Lyme, there may be hotspots of infection depending on local conditions. The tick infection rate may also change from year to year, even in one location.
To get a better idea of which tick-borne diseases have been found in your area, check this site.
Blood Donation Eligibility Guidelines
- Joined: Wed 2 Mar 2011 4:32
- Contact:
Postby Camp Other»Mon 15 Oct 2012 1:11
Cobwebby wrote:
England/United Kingdom – visited or lived in from 1980 to 1999: deferred indefinitely (this standard varies between United States FDA and The American Red Cross and the American Association of Blood Banks. Western Europe – visited or lived in since 1980 deferred indefinitely
why indefinitely?
Postby panda»Mon 15 Oct 2012 3:53
Blood donors USBlood DonationCan Lyme disease be transmitted during a blood donation?Blood Donation Centers:
- Bell’s Palsy Accept.
- Lyme Disease
InfectionsBabesiosisChronic IllnessesChronic Fatigue SyndromeYou may not donateAmerican Red Cross studying prevalence of rare, but growing, tick-borne parasite in donated blood North CentralBabesia microtiThere currently is no Food and Drug Administration approved rapid test for Babesia available to blood centers.prevalence of Babesia9.5 percent in patients with Lyme diseaseIf a blood donor tests positive for exposure to Babesia or tests positive for Babesiosis, they will be notified by the Red Cross and deferred from donating blood againNational Heart, Lung and Blood Institute :
- NHLBI_emerging_infections.jpg Viewed 3895 times
Transfusion-Transmitted Diseases Parasitic Infections Babesiosis There are no useful tests available for screening blood donors
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