Babesia (or Babesiosis): A tick-borne protozoal parasite that causes malaria-like symptoms. Those who have had their spleen removed, the elderly and those with a compromised immune system have a much higher risk of developing severe complications, however that does not mean that a healthy individual is not at risk for Babesia to become serious. Reports of cases of Babesia are the rise with an increase of infections where the risk of infection was previously not thought to be possible. Of the species to infect humans, B. microti is most common in the Americas whereas B. divergens is the predominant strain found in Europe.
Borrelia burgdorferi: The spirochete that causes Lyme disease. Named after its discoverer, Dr. Willy Burgdorfer.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC): The US agency charged with tracking and investigating public health trends. The stated mission of the CDC is: "To promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.". The CDC is a part of the U.S. Public Health Services (PHS) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Co-infection: Simultaneous infection by separate pathogens, such as an individual infected by both Lyme Disease and Babesia. Complications with treatment of the primary infection can arise and can lead to more persistent and debilitating illness. The species of tick that carry Lyme Disease have a tendency to carry multiple infections, the three most common being: Babesia, Bartonella and Ehrlichiosis.
Co-infection: Simultaneous infection by separate pathogens, such as an individual infected by both Lyme Disease and Babesia. Complications with treatment of the primary infection can arise and can lead to more persistent and debilitating illness. The species of tick that carry Lyme Disease have a tendency to carry multiple infections, the three most common being: Babesia, Bartonella and Ehrlichiosis.
Ehrlichiosis/Anaplasmosis: Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne disease which can be caused by either of two different organisms. Human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HME) is caused by Ehrlichia chaffeensis, which is known to be transmitted by the lone star tick, western black-legged tick and the american dog tick. Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), previously known as human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), is caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilia, which is known to be transmitted by at least three species of tick, these being the deer tick, the western black-legged tick and the american dog tick.
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA): A medical association representing physicians, scientists and other health care professionals who specialize in infectious diseases. As of 2009, IDSA had approximately 8,600 members. IDSA’s stated purpose is to improve the health of individuals, communities, and society by promoting excellence in patient care, education, research, public health, and prevention relating to infectious diseases. The IDSA recommends against long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease, arguing that it is ineffective and potentially harmful and officially denies the existence of Chronic Lyme Disease.
LLMD: Lyme-Literate Medical Doctor.
Mycoplasma: A genus of bacteria and the smallest living organism on the planet. Mycoplasma lack a cell wall and due to this they are unaffected by many common antibiotics. There are over a hundred recognized species with around a dozen that occur in humans. There is much speculation that Mycoplamsa infections are the cause of such mysterious conditions as Gulf War Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other illnesses that have no definitive cause.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: An infection caused by Rickettsia rickettsii (R. Rickettsii), which is carried by ticks. The bacteria spread to humans through a tick bite. In the western United States, the bacteria are carried by the wood tick, and in the eastern U.S. it is carried by the dog tick. However, other ticks (the lone star tick for example) spread the infection in the southern U.S. and in Central and South America. Contrary to the name "Rocky Mountain," most recent cases have been reported in the eastern United States, including North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.
Q Fever: A disease caused by infection with Coxiella burnetii, a bacterium that affects humans and other animals. This organism is may be found in cattle, sheep, goats and other domestic mammals, including cats and dogs. The infection results from inhalation of contaminated particles in the air, and from contact with the milk, urine, feces, vaginal mucus, or semen of infected animals. The disease can also be tick-borne in some cases. It can be considered the most infectious disease in the world, as a human being can be infected by a single bacterium. Q Fever has been researched for use as a biological weapon by various governments throughout the world, including by the United States of America.
Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI or Master's Disease): An emerging infectious disease related to Lyme disease that occurs in southeastern and south-central United States. It is spread by tick bites, particularly by that of the lone star tick, but the organism that causes the infection is unknown.
Spirochete: Any one of a group of spiral-shaped bacteria, some of which cause disease.
Tularemia: Also referred to as rabbit fever and deerfly fever. A bacterial disease caused by infection with a bacterium called Francisella tularensis that usually occurs in wild and domestic animals, most often rabbits, and can be transmitted to humans by contact with animal tissues or ticks, biting flies, mosquitoes and fleas. Tularemia has been researched for use as a biological weapon by various governments throughout the world, including by the United States of America.
Willy Burgdorfer: An American scientist born and educated in Basel, Switzerland, is an international leader in the field of medical entomology. He is famous for his discovery of the bacterial pathogen that causes Lyme disease, a spirochete named Borrelia burgdorferi in his honor.
