Study Shows Lyme Persists in Monkeys

I posted about this in an earlier blog post, but it's good to repeat it from time to time, because so many articles keep showing up in the media (I just read another one today) that seem to miss the point that there IS evidence showing persistence of Lyme bacteria well after short-term antibiotic therapy has ended.

This is a clear, understandable, interpretation and report put together by the "Lyme disease policy wonk" at LymeDisease.org. 

This is Part 1 of a series of posts I will do on this study. A new study by Drs. Monica Embers, Stephen Barthold and colleagues has found that the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) persist in monkeys after antibiotic treatment. It is the latest in a number of studies that have demonstrated persistent infection in animal models despite treatment. The issue of persistent infection in Lyme disease is a highly controversial issue. Probably the most controversial issue actually. The authors conclude that their studies "offer proof of the principle that intact spirochetes can persist in an incidental host comparable to humans, - See more at: 

http://lymedisease.org/news/lymepolicywonk/lymepolicywonk-new-study-shows-lyme-persists-in-monkeys.html#sthash.KO5Ze8Rf.dpuf

Or:

http://lymedisease.org/news/lymepolicywonk/lymepolicywonk-new-study-shows-lyme-persists-in-monkeys.html