Lymes Disease

Tick-borne infection is on the increase. 

This affects YOU! 

Would you consider the possibility of such a tiny spider-like insect 
infecting you with no less than 4 distinct forms of bacterial/parasitic 
infection? 

Tick-borne diseases can lead to: 

Intractable pain, disabling fatigue, heart block, paralysis and even 
psychosis. 

What is the threat in the UK? 

Research by scientists from the University of Oxford shows that ticks 
(small, eight-legged, blood-sucking parasites - part of the mite family) 
are becoming more abundant, infecting cattle, sheep and humans with a 
range of diseases. Trials show that the common grey squirrel and 
pheasants also act as suitable hosts to transfer known infections 
throughout the tick population of the UK and that infected ticks currently 
populate many parts of the UK. Studies carried out would indicate that 
cases are being under-recorded. 

In an article titled “Inglorious Twelfth for the Grouse Moors”, published 
in the Scotsman on Friday 13th Aug 2004, it was reported that in many 
areas of Scotland the grouse population has recently been in decline. 
Other studies carried out by scientists of The Game Conservancy Trust, 
would indicate this may be in part due to an increase in tick numbers. 
Scientists and Upland Advisors at the Game Conservancy Trust have 
followed the pattern of grouse breeding on Scottish moors for nearly two 
decades, and on some estates, the grouse counts show a continuing 
decline. 

 Ticks. 

 In the UK the most common tick is the sheep tick (Ixodes Ricinus) and is 
about the size of a sesame seed (2.5 mm). It is oval, with four pairs of 
legs and a flattened body. It is also known as the deer tick and also the 
castor bean tick. Ticks are most active in October and November and 
again during April and May but as the climate is becoming warmer the 
period of activity appears to be more prolonged. Ticks commonly attach 
to deer, dogs, horses and humans but are also known to infest other forms 
of wildlife such as woodland and migratory birds, mice, other small 
rodents, hares, badgers and foxes. Ticks are known to transmit several 
diseases including Borreliosis (Lyme disease), Ehrlichiosis, Babesiosis, 
Bartonella (Cat Scratch disease) in humans and animals, Louping ill and 
Tick Fever in sheep. 

During Autumn and spring the adults may be found "questing" - waiting 
in ambush on vegetation from ground level to about 18 inches high (deer 
belly height) for a suitable host to pass by. 
 
Unfed females are rusty red with a small black shield on the back, and 
males are smaller and uniformly dark. After feeding for up to ten days on 
any mammal including humans, the adult female swells to the size of a 
small pea, and becoming blue-black. 

Most people, when asked to describe a tick, refer to a coffee bean sized 
insect which is like a grey-blue balloon. This description is how most 
people observe ticks on dogs or hedgehogs. This is the form of an 
engorged adult, which can be quite clearly seen however a fully fed 
nymph tick is much smaller and less noticeable. 


After feeding and mating, females drop off their hosts and deposit eggs 
on the ground in autumn and early spring. These then hatch to produce 
very tiny Larvae, 0.5mm. The larva has only three pairs of legs. Larvae 
attach to mice and other small and medium-sized mammals and birds and 
feed for about three to five days. After feeding they drop from the host 
and seek a protected site under leaves or in dense vegetation, for the 
winter period. 

How does this affect you? 

Currently Scotland has the highest percentage of MS sufferers of any 
Western civilisation; and conditions such as M.E., chronic fatigue 
syndrome (CFS) or Fibromyalgia (FM) are steadily on the increase 
throughout the whole of the UK. It is possible these conditions are in 
reality misdiagnosed Borreliosis infections. 

Veterinary science tends to follow clinical methods for diagnosis having 
recognised the inadequacy of current testing methods. When presented 
with such clinical symptoms as swollen lymph nodes, muscular or joint 
soreness, severe neck or back pain, blood in the urine, eye problems, 
seizures, difficulty walking, respiratory or heart related irregularities, 
anaemia or reduced platelet counts, a vet would prescribe a course of 
antibiotic treatment. 

Human medicine is still currently reliant on blood tests for diagnosis and 
so people with Borreliosis who have a negative test can subsequently be 
misdiagnosed with C.F.S and other conditions. 

1. Borreliosis (Lyme disease). 

 Human Borreliosis symptoms can range from: 

Mild flu with fever, migrating stiffness and pain (and less commonly 
arthritis), myalgia (muscle pain), chest pain and palpitations, abdominal 
pain and nausea, diarrhoea, sleep disturbance, concentration and memory 
loss, mood swings, depression, blurred vision, eye, jaw & testicular / 
pelvic pain, tinnitus, vertigo, facial palsy (numbness, pain or tingling) or, 
optic neuritis (eye nerve damage), headache, dizziness, loss of feeling/ 
altered skin sensation, muscle spasms and extreme fatigue.Children often 
show decreased ability to understand schoolwork and intolerance to noise. 
Any of these symptoms can occur at any time from the initial bite and 
symptoms can be intermittent. 

A bullseye shaped rash (Erythema Migrans) can occur but studies show 
that as few as 40% of people develop this rash. Many rashes vary from the 
typically described bullseye rash. It has been demonstrated that the 
majority of confirmed tick-borne disease sufferers recall no tick bite or 
associated rash that is assumed by many physicians to follow the bite of 
an infected tick. 

 It is recognised that Borrelia Burgdorferi (Bb.), the most commonly found 
bacterial infection amongst ticks, can be passed from mother to child 
during pregnancy. Bb. is caused by a “spirochaetal” form of bacteria, 
which is similar, but much more advanced than syphilis. This would 
suggest that sexual transfer is a very real possibility. Borrelia have been 
extracted from breast milk, saliva and semen. It is also recognised that 
many people can become asymptomatic carriers of the disease. Just like 
chicken pox, which can later develop into shingles, or glandular fever 
(Epstein - Barr virus), such infections are merely suppressed by the 
immune system and never truly eradicated. 

2. Ehrlichiosis. 

 Human granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (HGE) has emerged as an important 
human health concern since 1990. Case fatality rates range from 0.7-4.9%. 

• Patients present initially with vague signs of fever but can 
progress to headache, muscle aches, nausea, cough, and 
neurological symptoms. 

• Clinically, HGE and another strain called ‘Human monocytic 
ehrlichiosis can be quite similar in appearances. In addition, 
both clinical presentations can overlap that of Lyme disease. 

• Not surprisingly, since ticks are the vector for A. 
phagocytophila (HGE/HGM) and Borrelia Burgdorferi (Lyme 
Disease), dual infections have been documented in humans and 
animals. 

What are the symptoms? 

Ehrlichia infection can cause a number of clinical signs. It can be 
extremely hard to diagnose due to the wide range of symptoms that can 
occur. 

 Ehrlichia symptoms can include: Lethargy, weight loss, loss of appetite, 
anaemia, haemorrhages under the skin or in around the gums, swollen 
lymph nodes, muscular or joint soreness, nasal discharges or nosebleeds, 
severe neck or back pain, and eye problems. Neurological signs such as 
seizures and difficulty walking can occur. Respiratory or heart problems 
can occur. While early infection shows a number of symptoms, there is 
also a chronic form that can occur if the acute infection is not treated. In 
this case, the more vague symptoms become very severe again when the 
immune system is stressed. 

 3. Babesiosis. 

 Babesiosis is another common infection transmitted by a tick bite and is 
most commonly seen in cows and dogs but affects other animals and 
humans alike. 

The worst cases are often described as a malaria-like infection; symptoms 
may include malaise, chills, myalgia, anaemia, fatigue, fever, nausea, 
night sweats, blood in the urine and weight loss. 

Treatment of Tick Borne Disease. 

In Scotland, Lyme disease is a notifiable disease yet not all physicians 
appear to be aware of such legal requirements. The British Army also 
classes Lyme disease as a notifiable disease. Troops in the field regularly 
inspect each other for ticks. In England and Wales there is a voluntary 
monitoring scheme employed. Similar methods used in the U.S, have 
missed up to 90% of cases, so to follow these methods in the U.K, seems 
highly inadequate. 

Currently available testing methods on the NHS, are no more advanced 
than those available to vets. Clinical guidelines issued by such bodies as 
The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and The Center for 
Disease Control (CDC) clearly state that diagnosis should be based on 
clinical symptoms, serological testing cannot rule out a current infection. 
This is due to the fact that such infections are known to be able to live 
within the very muscle, tendon, tissue and organs that make up the body; 
these are not necessarily to be found free floating in blood samples 
drawn. Unfortunately the current standard of testing available on the 
NHS can lead to misdiagnosis. Many who subsequently test positive for 
Lyme disease, following blood tests carried out abroad, were previously 
diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or other conditions. 

For more information please view the following web site addresses. 

http://www.anapsid.org/lyme/riseinticks.html 

http://www.canlyme.com/tom.html 

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/EuroLyme/ 

http://www.ilads.org/index.html 

http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk/ 

http://www.wildernetwork.org/LDpediatricfund.html 

Alternatively, for further information, please send an A4 size SAE for 
£1.00 (postage) to: BADA-UK (information service) 

 PO Box 70 

 North Walsham, 

 NR28 0WX. 

What is the best way to remove a tick? 

To remove an embedded tick, use the following procedure: 
 
1. Use fine-tipped tweezers or shield your fingers with a tissue, paper 
towel, or rubber gloves. 

2. Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible and pull upward 
with steady, even pressure. Do not twist or jerk the tick; this may cause 
the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin as well as possibly 
cause the tick to regurgitate infective saliva. (If this happens, remove 
mouthparts with tweezers. Seek medical advice if concerned.) 

3. Do not squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick because its 
fluids (saliva & gut contents) may contain infectious organisms. 

4. Do not handle the tick with bear hands because infectious agents may 
enter through mucous membranes or breaks in the skin. This precaution 
is particularly directed to individuals who remove ticks from domestic 
animals with unprotected fingers. 

5. After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite site and wash 
your hands with soap and water. 

6. You may wish to save the tick for identification in case you become ill 
within several weeks. Your doctor can use the information to assist in 
making an accurate diagnosis. Place the tick in a plastic bag and put it in 
your freezer. Write the date of the bite on a piece of paper with a pencil 
and place it in the bag. 

NOTE: Tick removal implements can be purchased from your local 
veterinary practise. Do Not use petroleum jelly or burn the tick as this 
will stimulate it to release additional saliva, increasing the chances of 
transmission. 

How can you best prevent being bitten by a tick? 


Walk in the centre of woodland paths to minimize tick encounters on 
overhanging grass and brush. 

Tuck trousers into socks so any ticks that climb on will crawl on the 
outside and be less likely to bite. Light coloured clothing should be 
worn so the ticks will be easier to spot. Smooth materials such as 
windbreakers are harder for ticks to grab onto. Consideration should also 
be given to clothing with elasticised or drawstring toggles at the ankles, 
wrists and waist areas. 

When travelling through dense undergrowth likely to tug at clothing 
proper leg/shin garters or alternatively duct tape could also be used to yet 
further reduce possible opportunity for tick bites. 

Tick repellents that contain "permethrin" can be sprayed onto clothing. 
Spray the clothes before they're put on, and let them dry first. 

Do not apply this chemical directly to the skin. 

Remember that dogs are also vulnerable to ticks: protect them with 
insect repellent or a tick collar. After your walk, carefully brush off all 
outer clothing to remove any attached ticks, and examine your dog, and 
your body carefully for ticks. 

Ticks are very intolerant of being dried out. After being outdoors in an 
infested area, place clothes in the dryer on high heat setting for 30 
minutes to kill any ticks that may still be present. Keep outdoor clothing in 
a tied plastic bag until they can be laundered. 

Insect repellents that contain "DEET" are effective when applied to the 
arms, legs, and around the neck. Do not use any repellent over wide areas 
of the body, as they can be absorbed causing toxicity. Do not use a 
product that contains more than 50% DEET, and 25% concentrations are 
preferred. Use caution treating small children, as they are more 
susceptible to toxicity. 

This repellent evaporates quickly and must be reapplied frequently. 

Regular checks should be performed and while ticks can attach anywhere 
there are certain areas more preferable where blood is closer to the surface 
of the skin and it is warm and secure. The tick will choose a place that it is 
not at risk of being brushed off easily and where it can remain undetected. 
On humans ticks are most commonly found feeding on areas such as - the 
backs of knees, groin area, under the arms and on the scalp. 

What do you do if you suspect you have been bitten. 

If you find a tick embedded, remove it as per the instructions provided and 
keep it for possible testing. Consult your GP. Keep a record of any 
symptoms and photograph any rashes. 

Visit the internet websites mentioned for support. 

To obtain further copies of this leaflet, or further details on Borreliosis and 
Associated Disease Awareness see 

www.bada-uk.org