Lyme Disease Support Group
Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. It is now one of the fastest growing infectious diseases in the U.S. Lyme disease is caused by infection with the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, and is primarily transmitted to humans as well as dogs, horses and other domesticated animals by the bite of infected ticks.
There's a clinical study (for Lyme persisters) still recruiting:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01143558?term=xenodiagnosis&rank=1
"Background:
Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria that is transmitted to humans by ticks. It can cause many different symptoms including rash, fever, headache, meningitis (infection of the central nervous system), and arthritis. While most patients improve after taking antibiotics, some patients continue to have symptoms. It is currently unknown why some patients continue to have symptoms. One possibility is that the antibiotics have not successfully gotten rid of all of the bacteria. Current tests for Lyme disease cannot tell whether the bacteria have been successfully eliminated from the body."
"After completion of antibiotic therapy, 25-30 larval Ixodes ticks will be allowed to feed on the subject and biopsies of the EM site will be performed. Repleted ticks will be collected and tested for the presence of B. burgdorferi. "
I can understand why people wouldn't want to do that----- but some in the Lyme community are signing up.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01143558?term=xenodiagnosis&rank=1
"Background:
Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacteria that is transmitted to humans by ticks. It can cause many different symptoms including rash, fever, headache, meningitis (infection of the central nervous system), and arthritis. While most patients improve after taking antibiotics, some patients continue to have symptoms. It is currently unknown why some patients continue to have symptoms. One possibility is that the antibiotics have not successfully gotten rid of all of the bacteria. Current tests for Lyme disease cannot tell whether the bacteria have been successfully eliminated from the body."
"After completion of antibiotic therapy, 25-30 larval Ixodes ticks will be allowed to feed on the subject and biopsies of the EM site will be performed. Repleted ticks will be collected and tested for the presence of B. burgdorferi. "
I can understand why people wouldn't want to do that----- but some in the Lyme community are signing up.
Now.....maybe, if they make it worth my while........they did not mention $$$$.....
Cave, if you can negiotate a $25,000 fee for me, a 10% agent fee is all yours! :)
Yeah, promises, promises! (grin)
Moving on-----
One of the eligibility factors on that study is:
7. Healthy volunteers who have not had Lyme disease will also be included in this study.
O.K.--- my question is--- since there are many people who are 'healthy' and also asymptomatic with Lyme---- how do they know that those 'healthy' people don't actually carry Lyme? IF those people were to be tested for Lyme and found to be sero-negative they could be included in the study. Wouldn't that skew the tests? (Rhetorical)
The problem is----- Bb is a very clever bacterium. Able to twist and turn and hide.
Reasons Why A Seronegative Test Result Might Occur
Tom Grier, Lyme Alliance
1. Recent infection before immune response
2. Antibodies are in immune complexes
3. Spirochete encapsulated by host tissue (i.e. lymphocytic cell walls)
4. Spirochete are deep in host tissue
5. Blebs in body fluid, no whole organisms needed for PCR
6. No spirochetes in body fluid on day of test
7. Genetic heterogeneity (300 strains in U.S.)
8. Antigenic variability
9. Surface antigens change with temperature
10. Utilization of host protease instead of microbial protease
11. Spirochete in dormancy phase
12. Recent antibiotic treatment
13. Recent anti-inflammatory treatment
14. Concomitant infection with babesia may cause immunosuppression
15. Other causes of immunosuppression
16. Lab with poor technical capability for Lyme disease
17. Lab tests not standardized for late stage disease
18. Lab tests labeled "for investigational use only"
19. CDC criteria is epidemiological, not a diagnostic criteria
From : http://www.anapsid.org/lyme/lymeseroneg.html
Next question: The study is using larval ticks but "It is the next stagethe nymphthat causes most cases of Lyme disease." (From http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Lyme+disease-- with resources from mostly CDC and the like).
The most important reason not to join this study----- it's conducted by agencies who have been proven to deny the existence of persisters. And I'm sure they'll use their own useless, for Lyme, ELISA and WB tests. Has there ever been a study better designed to take the party line? Oh, yes---- I answer myself. Many! :) When the CDC, NIH etc are involved.
with 'Lost' that it's gross. I would raise the fee even higher .
I would be inclined to 'boycott' this form of testing.
It is my understanding according to the book, "13-Lyme
Literate Doctors share about Lyme" and other books, that
treatment by antibiotics is not the only approach to dealing with
Lyme. Sure. It's very possible that the antibiotics have not
killed off all the bacteria. Bryan Rossner in his book thinks
sometimes they drive them deeper into hiding though he's not
against their use. I find it difficult when research or treatment
is just focused on one form of treatment. And then is so
narrowly focused that they only do testing with one treatment.
And suspect testing at that.