Rabbit ticks? Widely found in the Americas

Notice a rabbit tick was found in Nantucket, but can also be found from Alaska to Argentina.

Haemaphysalis leporispalustris, the rabbit tick (occasionally known as the grouse tick), is a species of tick that is widely distributed in the Americas, stretching from Alaska to Argentina. H. leporispalustris is known to have one of the largest distributions for a tick originating in the New World. 

Strains of Rickettsia rickettsii, the disease aften of Rocky Mountain spotted fever have been found in the rabbit tick. Evidence of this bacteria in rabbit ticks have been found in countries such as Costa Rica and Argentina. A Brazilian strain of the Rickettsia rickettsii was also found recently in Rio de Janeiro in ticks found on wild rabbits as well as rabbit ticks in Costa Rica. 

Since rabbit ticks support the infection of virulent strains of this bacteria, H. leporispalustris contains a role in the maintenance of R. rickettsii in the Americas. H. leporispalustris is currently one of the known vectors that is keeping this bacteria in circulation. 

Also, H. leporispalustris transmits Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis.^[10] Strains of Anaplasma bovis have also been found in rabbit ticks, which was discovered in a Nantucket tick study of the bacteria.

Source for info- WIKI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haemaphysalis_leporispalustris

Gut microbes and mental health: A review

"Perturbations of the gut microbial community have already been implicated in multiple host diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and inflammation, while recent evidence suggests a potential role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety."

Brain Behav Immun. 2017 Jan 25. pii: S0889-1591(17)30016-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.01.016. [Epub ahead of print]

Microbes and mental health: A review.

Rieder R1, Wisniewski PJ2, Alderman BL3, Campbell SC4.

Author information

• 1Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
• 2Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; The Rutgers Center for Lipid Research, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; The Center for Digestive Health, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
• 3Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
• 4Department of Kinesiology and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; The Rutgers Center for Lipid Research, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; The Center for Digestive Health, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. Electronic address: saracamp@rci.rutgers.edu.

Abstract

There is a growing emphasis on the relationship between the microorganisms inhabiting the gut (gastrointestinal microbiota) and human health. 

The emergence of a microbiota-gut-brain axis to describe the complex networks and relationship between the gastrointestinal microbiota and host reflects the major influence this environment may have in brain health and disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). 

Bidirectional communication between the microbiota and the CNS occurs through autonomic, neuroendocrine, enteric, and immune system pathways. 

Potential neurobiological mechanisms through which disruptions in this network may impact health and disease include hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis activation, and altered activity of neurotransmitter and immune systems. 

Perturbations of the gut microbial community have already been implicated in multiple host diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and inflammation, while recent evidence suggests a potential role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety. 

Here, we review the current literature related to the influence of the gut microbial community on central nervous system function, with a specific focus on anxiety and depressive symptoms. 

The role of stress and stress-mediated changes in autonomic, neuroendocrine, immune, and neurotransmitter systems are examined, followed by a discussion of the role of the microbiota in novel gastrointestinal-based treatment options for the prevention and treatment of brain-based disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

KEYWORDS: 

Anxiety; Depression; HPA-axis; Microbiome; Microbiota-gut-brain axis

PMID:

 

28131791

  

DOI:

 

10.1016/j.bbi.2017.01.016

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher] 

Link Here

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28131791

New Tests for B. miyamotoi & other pathogens in New York

This could be a HUGE step forward in Lyme diagnosis and treatment!

-Bob

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2017 Mar;8(3):407-411. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.01.004. Epub 2017 Jan 16.

Detection of Borrelia miyamotoi and other tick-borne pathogens in human clinical specimens and Ixodes scapularis ticks in New York State, 2012-2015.

Wroblewski D1, Gebhardt L2, Prusinski MA3, Meehan LJ3, Halse TA2, Musser KA2.

Author information

• 1Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 120 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, United States. Electronic address: danielle.wroblewski@health.ny.gov.
• 2Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, 120 New Scotland Ave, Albany, NY 12208, United States.
• 3Vector Ecology Laboratory, Bureau of Communicable Disease Control, New York State Department of Health, Empire State Plaza C456-C467B, Albany, NY 12237, United States.

Abstract

Borrelia miyamotoi (Bm) is a recently emerging bacterial agent transmitted by several species of ixodid ticks. Diagnosis of Bm infection can be challenging, as the organism is not easily cultivable. 

We have developed and validated a multiplex real-time PCR to simultaneously identify Bm infection and the agents causing human granulocytic anaplasmosis and human monocytic ehrlichiosis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia chaffeensis, respectively. 

The assay is 100% specific; highly sensitive, detecting 11 gene copies of Bm DNA in both whole blood and cerebral spinal fluid; and provides rapid results in less than two hours. 

A retrospective study of 796 clinical specimens collected between the years 2012 and 2014 and a prospective study of 366 clinical specimens were performed utilizing this novel assay to evaluate the frequency of Bm infection in New York State (NYS). 

Eight clinical specimens (1%) were found to be positive for Bm, 216 were positive for A. phagocytophilum, and 10 were positive for E. chaffeensis. 

Additionally, we tested 411 I. scapularis ticks collected in NYS during 2013 and 2014 in a separate multiplex real-time PCR to determine the prevalence of Bm, A. phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., and Borrelia species. 

Our results indicated rates of 1.5%, 27%, 19.7%, and 8.8% respectively. The ability to monitor both the frequency and geographic distribution of Bm cases and the prevalence and geographic distribution of Bm in ticks will help create a better understanding of this emerging tick-borne pathogen.

Published by Elsevier GmbH.

KEYWORDS: 

Borrelia miyamotoi; Ixodes scapularis; Multiplex; Real-time PCR; Tick-borne disease

PMID:

 

28131594

 

DOI:

 

10.1016/j.ttbdis.2017.01.004

[PubMed - in process]

Link here

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28131594

Targeting Gut Bacteria May Be The Key To Preventing Alzheimer's |

The Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gut-bacteria-alzheimers_us_589e0e09e4b03df370d628be

I see more and more articles about diseases, including Parkinson's, having a relationship to diet. Or more specifically, having a relationship with the gut microbiome. Here is yet another one. 

Bob