Lyme disease is the fastest growing infectious disease in the modern world. It is becoming very obvious that we need to understand more about it. How is it spread? Can the Lyme disease pathogen be spread from person to person? The CDC doesn't think so but clinical evidence and new studies indicate otherwise.
The statement below in red came from the CDC website. There are many couples who have both become ill with Lyme disease and due to their exposure circumstances, claim that the disease was sexually transmitted from one partner to the other. Some Lyme literate doctors treat both sexually active partners when one has a known case of Lyme disease.
Syphilis is a spirochete as is Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. They both behave in similar ways. The Syphilis pathogen is sexually transmissible so it follows that it is a possibility that Borrelia burgdorferi may also be sexually transmitted....especially due to the fact that this pathogen has been found in vaginal secretions and in semen....as the new study below indicates. If this disease is sexually transmitted it does not necessarily mean that the the partner whom the germ was transmitted to will become sick. It all seems to depend on the individual's immune system.
Not enough studies are being done to investigate transmission issues and government agencies seem to be excessively slack with the research in the areas of transmission of Lyme disease through sexual intercourse and from mother to fetus. For more information on transmission of Lyme disease from mother to baby, please go to the bottom of this post.
It seems irresponsible to me for the CDC to claim irrefutably there is no evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted from person to person. Remember though that the transmission of the pathogen does not necessarily mean that the receiver of the germ will become ill. People can harbor a germ and remain well as long as their body's immune defense is up to par.
The following is a study which shows that it is possible for Lyme disease to be transmitted sexually
The statement below in red came from the CDC website. There are many couples who have both become ill with Lyme disease and due to their exposure circumstances, claim that the disease was sexually transmitted from one partner to the other. Some Lyme literate doctors treat both sexually active partners when one has a known case of Lyme disease.
Syphilis is a spirochete as is Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. They both behave in similar ways. The Syphilis pathogen is sexually transmissible so it follows that it is a possibility that Borrelia burgdorferi may also be sexually transmitted....especially due to the fact that this pathogen has been found in vaginal secretions and in semen....as the new study below indicates. If this disease is sexually transmitted it does not necessarily mean that the the partner whom the germ was transmitted to will become sick. It all seems to depend on the individual's immune system.
Not enough studies are being done to investigate transmission issues and government agencies seem to be excessively slack with the research in the areas of transmission of Lyme disease through sexual intercourse and from mother to fetus. For more information on transmission of Lyme disease from mother to baby, please go to the bottom of this post.
It seems irresponsible to me for the CDC to claim irrefutably there is no evidence that Lyme disease can be transmitted from person to person. Remember though that the transmission of the pathogen does not necessarily mean that the receiver of the germ will become ill. People can harbor a germ and remain well as long as their body's immune defense is up to par.
CDC Statement
"Are there other ways to get Lyme disease?
- There is no evidence that Lyme disease is transmitted from person-to-person. For example, a person cannot get infected from touching, kissing or having sex with a person who has Lyme disease."
- http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/Transmission/
The following is a study which shows that it is possible for Lyme disease to be transmitted sexually
"SAVE THE DATE! 7th Annual Medical-Scientific Conference on Morgellons
March 29th and 30th, 2014 Austin, TX
CONTROL ID: 1848565
CONTACT (NAME ONLY): Raphael Stricker
PRESENTATION TYPE: Oral Only
CURRENT CATEGORY: Infectious Diseases
Abstract
TITLE: ISOLATION AND DETECTION OF BORRELIA BURGDORFERI FROM HUMAN VAGINAL AND SEMINAL SECRETIONS
AUTHORS (FIRST NAME, LAST NAME): Marianne J. Middelveen1, Cheryl Bandoski2, Jennie Burke3, Eva Sapi2, Peter J. Mayne4, Raphael B. Stricker5
INSTITUTIONS (ALL): 1. Atkins Veterinary Services, Calgary, AB, Canada.
2. University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, United States.
3. Australian Biologics, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
4. Laurieton Medical Centre, Laurieton, NSW, Australia.
5. CPMC, San Francisco, CA, United States.
ABSTRACT BODY:
Purpose of Study: Recent reports indicate that more than 300,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed yearly in the USA. Previous epidemiological and immunological studies suggest that infection with the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi could be transferred from person to person via intimate human contact without a tick vector (Harvey and Salvato, Med Hypotheses 2003;60:742; Stricker et al, J Investig Med 2004;52:S151). Detecting viable spirochetes in vaginal and seminal secretions would provide additional evidence to support this hypothesis.
Methods Used: Three North American patients with a history of Lyme disease, one male and two female, were selected for the study after informed consent was obtained. Serological testing for B. burgdorferi was performed on all three subjects. Blood and semen or vaginal secretions were used to inoculate BSK-H medium for Borrelia culture. Motile spirochetes were detected in cultures by light and/or darkfield microscopy, and cultured spirochete concentrates were subjected to Dieterle silver staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and anti-B. burgdorferi immunohistochemical staining for further characterization. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was performed by two independent laboratories for specific identification of the cultured isolates. Positive and negative controls for immunohistochemical staining and PCR were performed in all experiments.
Summary of Results: Serum antibodies to B. burgdorferi were detected in all three patients. Motile spirochetes were observed in culture fluid inoculated with blood and genital secretions from the three subjects. Morphological features of spirochetes were confirmed by Dieterle staining, SEM and immunohistochemical staining of culture concentrates. PCR testing confirmed that the spirochetes isolated from blood and genital secretions were strains of B. burgdorferi, and PCR subtyping indicated that the strains were B. burgdorferi sensu stricto.
Conclusions: The culture of viable B. burgdorferi in genital secretions suggests that Lyme disease could be transmitted by intimate contact from person to person."
For a bit further explanation of this study see http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/01/prweb11506441.htm
The Infectious Disease Society of America claims that there is no proof that Lyme disease can be transmitted from mother to fetus. Here is an important article that completely refutes this unscientific statement. http://lymesentinel.blogspot.com/2009/07/hearing-tesimonylyme-disease.html
CONTACT (NAME ONLY): Raphael Stricker
PRESENTATION TYPE: Oral Only
CURRENT CATEGORY: Infectious Diseases
Abstract
TITLE: ISOLATION AND DETECTION OF BORRELIA BURGDORFERI FROM HUMAN VAGINAL AND SEMINAL SECRETIONS
AUTHORS (FIRST NAME, LAST NAME): Marianne J. Middelveen1, Cheryl Bandoski2, Jennie Burke3, Eva Sapi2, Peter J. Mayne4, Raphael B. Stricker5
INSTITUTIONS (ALL): 1. Atkins Veterinary Services, Calgary, AB, Canada.
2. University of New Haven, West Haven, CT, United States.
3. Australian Biologics, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
4. Laurieton Medical Centre, Laurieton, NSW, Australia.
5. CPMC, San Francisco, CA, United States.
ABSTRACT BODY:
Purpose of Study: Recent reports indicate that more than 300,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed yearly in the USA. Previous epidemiological and immunological studies suggest that infection with the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi could be transferred from person to person via intimate human contact without a tick vector (Harvey and Salvato, Med Hypotheses 2003;60:742; Stricker et al, J Investig Med 2004;52:S151). Detecting viable spirochetes in vaginal and seminal secretions would provide additional evidence to support this hypothesis.
Methods Used: Three North American patients with a history of Lyme disease, one male and two female, were selected for the study after informed consent was obtained. Serological testing for B. burgdorferi was performed on all three subjects. Blood and semen or vaginal secretions were used to inoculate BSK-H medium for Borrelia culture. Motile spirochetes were detected in cultures by light and/or darkfield microscopy, and cultured spirochete concentrates were subjected to Dieterle silver staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and anti-B. burgdorferi immunohistochemical staining for further characterization. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was performed by two independent laboratories for specific identification of the cultured isolates. Positive and negative controls for immunohistochemical staining and PCR were performed in all experiments.
Summary of Results: Serum antibodies to B. burgdorferi were detected in all three patients. Motile spirochetes were observed in culture fluid inoculated with blood and genital secretions from the three subjects. Morphological features of spirochetes were confirmed by Dieterle staining, SEM and immunohistochemical staining of culture concentrates. PCR testing confirmed that the spirochetes isolated from blood and genital secretions were strains of B. burgdorferi, and PCR subtyping indicated that the strains were B. burgdorferi sensu stricto.
Conclusions: The culture of viable B. burgdorferi in genital secretions suggests that Lyme disease could be transmitted by intimate contact from person to person."
Journal of Investigative Medicine
For a bit further explanation of this study see http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/01/prweb11506441.htm
The Infectious Disease Society of America claims that there is no proof that Lyme disease can be transmitted from mother to fetus. Here is an important article that completely refutes this unscientific statement. http://lymesentinel.blogspot.com/2009/07/hearing-tesimonylyme-disease.html
If Lyme is known to be transmitted by the vector of ticks, why couldn't it also be transmitted via other mites and insects that bite humans? Mite infections in a home expose everyone in the home, including pets as temporary hosts. Likewise, spirochetes in the blood would cross the placenta, right?
ReplyDeleteYes...spirochetes have been proven to pass through the placenta. Thank you for sharing your thoughts
ReplyDelete