new causative organism may have been found for lyme disease
TRANSCRIPT
New causative organism may have been found for Lyme Disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, has reported the discovery of a new species of bacteria that causes Lyme disease in people. Prior to this finding, only Borrelia burgdorferi was regarded as the causative organism of human Lyme disease.
This is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include:
FeverHeadacheFatigueSkin rash If left untreated, infection can
spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.
Researchers have now discovered a new bacteria that causes Lyme Disease i.e. Borrelia mayonii. This discovery was made after studying blood samples from patients in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota who were suspected of having Lyme disease from 2012-2014.
Unfortunately, in many cases of Lyme disease, antibiotics do not always completely eradicate the disease resulting in long-term damage to the body. As a result, many people with Lyme disease often turn to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies for their most problematic symptoms, or as an adjunct to antibiotics.
Further investigation is required to validate these findings in all cases of Lyme disease which may lead to improved antibiotic treatment and better Integrative Medicine resources.