Lyme Disease Bacterium Came From Europe Before Ice Age

Science Daily ^ | 6-29-2008 | Wellcome Trust

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Lyme Disease Bacterium Came From Europe Before Ice Age

The blacklegged tick Ixodes pacificus, a known vector for Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen responsible for Lyme disease. (Credit: CDC/ James Gathany; William Nicholson)

ScienceDaily (June 30, 2008) — Researchers at the University of Bath have discovered that a bacterium that causes Lyme disease originated in Europe, rather than in North America as previously thought.

The bacterium responsible for Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, originated in America, or so researchers thought. Now, however, a team from the University of Bath has shown that this bug in fact came from Europe, originating from before the Ice Age.

By understanding the origins of the bacterium and how it has evolved so far researchers hope to be able to predict how it will continue to develop, and so find ways to prevent its spread.

In the study, researchers from the University of Bath and colleagues from the UK and USA studied the evolutionary history of the bacteria by looking at the sequences of eight so-called 'housekeeping genes', which evolve very slowly. They analysed 64 different samples taken from infected humans and ticks in Europe and America.

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"Now they've graduated, but Lyme's is on the no-no list."

Doctors are under pressure from real estate folks not to make Lyme Disease diagnosis's in specific areas...it does affect the real estate values. I had a vet here tell me that.

[finnsheep]

Lyme disease symptoms are particularly hard to identify in older folks. I am 64 and overweight - - both things that alone could cause aches and pains.

I had weird pain in the muscle coverings and tendons. My family doc tested me for Lyme disease and found I reacted very strongly. I was treated and most of the aches and pains disappeared including a nasty tendinitis in my heel that had not previously responded to doctor-ordered physical therapy, incl. stretching and ultrasound.

[armourup]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080626145806.htm

The “recent clone” of Borrellia Bergdorferi has caused the spread of a hyper virulent strain...

For all of us paranoid fellas.... could that have been the work of our labs on Plum Island off of the coast of CT? It is known that they worked with “weaponized’ strains...

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"...could that have been the work of our labs on Plum Island off of the coast of CT?"

Couldn't say. Interesting idea though.