Disgusting time-again

Tick ​​with black legs. Photo provided.

May 2, 2020 —

How Large are Deer Mite Larvae? It’s not that big. Photo: Connecticut Audubon Society

Deer mites are arachnids of the same family as spiders-small but much more dangerous. They are known to mediate many appetizing appetites, including Lyme disease and babesiosis, erlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and the Poissant virus. It is quite common for mites to infect multiple diseases at the same time.

Our understanding of tick-borne diseases has changed dramatically over the last few years. If you have literature older than 2015, discard it (check the literature and save other books). As an example, Dr. Ninevah Zubcevic, a tick specialist who teaches at Harvard Medical School, argues that the red-expanding “eyeball” rash or erythema-translocation that was once thought to be the hallmark of Lyme is actually unusual. I will. It can occur in less than 20% of Lyme cases.

In 2014, the New York Department of Health commissioned a tick survey in four counties adjacent to Ontario and Quebec. Research has found that about 50% of the ticks infected there are infected Borrelia Burgdorferi, Spirochetes causing lime ( Of lime – They are for Mojito and Margarita). This clashed with older material, suggesting that only about 20% of deer ticks were infected.

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The application of permethrin-based repellents to clothing creates a personal barrier against deer mites. Image: Tick ​​management handbook

In addition, by 2016, researchers identified more than one (deer) tick-borne microorganism in the genus Borrelia. These beginners, B Miyamoto And B. MayonnayIt can also cause lime, or the so-called “lime variant”. Sadly, blood tests are not tailored for these recently identified pathogens.

I’m not saying you need to panic, but feel free. Avoiding ticks is the most effective course of action, but it is not always an option when working or playing in the real world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using products with 20-30% DEET on exposed skin.

Clothes and footwear can be treated with 0.5% permethrin. I’m generally not a fan of pesticides, but I can’t say enough about the effects of permethrin. Not only repel mites but also kill them within minutes. DEET does not do this. Another great thing is that this is one or two applications per season. Permethrin has been reported to remain effective through at least 20 wash cycles. Always follow label instructions as it is very toxic in liquid form. Once dried, it is only dangerous to mites.

If you are in the woods, never follow the deer path. To avoid introducing tick mites into your home, treat your pet regularly with whole-body anti- ticks and tick collars. Talk to your veterinarian about vaccinating your pet with lime (unfortunately there is no human vaccine at this time).

Check for ticks every night after taking a shower. They prefer places that are difficult to see, such as the armpit, groin, scalp, or behind the knee. Also, look closely at the beltline and the sock hem. They like to tuck into the edge of clothes.

Removal of mites using tweezers. Illustration: CDC

If you find a tick stuck to you, the CDC recommends grabbing it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pulling it straight up until it is released. If it has been given for a while, you may have to tug hard. Use steady pressure-no sudden movements.

Do not use heat, petrolatum, essential oils, or other home remedies. The good news is that these remedies usually release mites. The bad news is that the entire contents of the intestines are dissolved in the bloodstream. Unless you need a sick injection, get rid of the ticks in a proper way.

It was once thought that mites wouldn’t spread until they had deposited lime for 36 to 48 hours, but experts say that 24 hours is definitely at risk and beyond. However, other diseases can be transmitted within minutes. Yay

The initial symptoms of Lyme disease vary greatly from person to person (I think it’s very intense). Early lime effects include severe headache, chills, fever, extreme fatigue, joint pain, night sweats, and dizziness. But the first sign may be heart palpitations. Lyme is also accompanied by a sudden and significant upset as the first symptom. These symptoms are rare, but they can occur quickly.

If you are stung by a deer tick and have these symptoms, see a doctor immediately. Immediate treatment is important because lime can cause irreversible arthritis, heart damage, or neurological damage. Most people respond well to treatment, but some can take months, sometimes more than a year, to recover. About “Post-Lime Syndrome” or “Kronie-Lime”, it’s a shame to destroy the lives of those who are suffering, knowing little about the possible autoimmune reaction.

There is a warning sign for the Lyme disease of the infested mites. Photo: US Department of Defense

The important point is that the LimeTiter or Western Blot test is not a yes or no assay. For each lab, choose the sensitivity at which to make a Western blot. Of the 36 immunoglobulin “bands” identified by CDC for the complete Lyme test, labs usually check for bands 7-12.

Individual labs also decide how to interpret the test results. One lab may count two positive bands as a result of a “yes”, while the next lab may require three bands. Follow this logic: There are two bands – “Stop whistling and go to work” There are three bands – “OMG You are a sick puppy! Please rest for a week. “You will receive a phone call with a yes or no result. But you can’t see your scorecard unless you insist.

Western blots also show a false negative rate of at least 36% (Journal of clinical infections, 07/2008). Also, according to lymedisease.org, “56% of Lyme disease patients were negative using the two-layer test system recommended by CDC. (Stricker 2007).”

In summary, deer mites are new and they can stay here and seriously damage your life. Use permethrin on your clothes and shoes, check for ticks daily and remove them immediately. There are few cases of lime with a rash, and symptoms can span the entire map. Find a doctor who will treat you based on laboratory tests. The test is unreliable and cannot be explained well. For more and more information, read the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation website carefully. https://canlyme.com/

Let’s begin.

Paul Hetzler is a naturalist and ISA certified arborist. He lives in Valdaemon, Quebec with his wife.