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Ticks: Is this true?

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Lyme Disease
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Posted 5/4/2015 4:24 PM (GMT -5)
Last night I pulled a dog tick off the back of my neck. I hadn't been outside in the grass all weekend so I assume it made its way into the house on one of the kids or husband. It was crawling around and was not engorged, so I don't think it actually bit me? Is it safe to assume that?

While trying to identify the species last night, I ran across this from the CDC. It lists the diseases that dog ticks carry and lyme is not one of them.
http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/diseases/

I also read in other articles that dog ticks do not carry lyme, but mostly Tularemia.

I don't trust the CDC so was just wondering if anyone can confirm this?
Posted 5/4/2015 5:41 PM (GMT -5)
If it was crawling on you, then it did not get the chance to get attached. It was probably looking for the right spot to bite.
Now, I do not believe the CDC either, their website has misleading information... This is why I ended up with lyme and co. I believed their website...
Rodents are the first meal of a tick in their first stage. Most rodents harbor these bacteria, parasites and viruses. In their second and third stages they feed on larger mammals, including humans (if exposed to them).
In my opinion, any tick that bites an infected rodent will be infected. Just think, if lyme and some co infections can be found in other insects, why not in other tick... After all, they are still ticks. I think that everything depends on the area that they are found.
If I ever get bit by a tick, it does not matter what type, I will treat for every TBI. wink
Posted 5/4/2015 5:59 PM (GMT -5)
Elmesanoya-

I tend to agree with you. All species of ticks are all feeding on similar creatures with the same bacteria, parasites and viruses, etc, so why wouldn't they be able to carry this? Seems to be this is very outdated info being passed around and has since become a myth "only deer ticks carry lyme". After researching and looking at different types of ticks online last night, I don't know that I have ever seen any tick other than the dog tick, including the one that was pulled off my back 2 years ago. And I have a CDC positive test for lyme, so what does that tell you!

This guy's story too!
http://www.anapsid.org/lyme/matthewgoss/typeofticks.html

And the tick last night was an adult male, without question. I found this info, and it was NOT comforting!
http://www.tickencounter.org/tick_identification/dog_tick
"Male ticks blood feed briefly but do not become distended with blood."

So maybe it did feed? I don't have a bite that I know of, but I have never had a reaction even when a tick was embedded previously.

I am currently in the later stages of my protocol. On zythromycin for a few more days until I start Flagyl. I have already been on doxy and minocycline. I wonder if I should check with my LLMD on what to do? Everything I have read says Tularemia should be treated with Doxy or Cipro (no thanks), and of course, early stages lyme, doxy as well.

Post Edited (lymie mom x 2) : 5/4/2015 5:03:30 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/4/2015 6:25 PM (GMT -5)
I surely wouldn't trust the information on any site that I didn't know to be "Lyme literate". Here is an article that I read on a site I consider to be Lyme literate. This article was written by Matthew Goss:
www.anapsid.org/lyme/matthewgoss/typeofticks.html

"There are at least 8 different kinds of ticks that carry tick-borne diseases. These types include Ixodes scapularis (deer tick), Ixodes pacificus (western black legged tick), Ixodes dammini, Ixodes angustus, Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick), Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick, sometimes called the wood tick), Rhipicephalus sanguineus latreille (brown dog tick), and Ornithodoros hermsi.

There are lots of web sites on the internet perpetuating the myth that only deer ticks carry Lyme, but if you do enough searching you will also find evidence that many other types of ticks have been proven to carry Lyme and other diseases. I was infected by Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick, sometimes called the wood tick), which most people will tell you does not carry or transmit Lyme. The ticks that bit me were never attached for more than 2 hours, and they were not deeply embedded. Many people will tell you that a tick has to be attached for 24 to 48 hours to transmit Lyme."
Posted 5/5/2015 12:54 PM (GMT -5)
Yes, I think that you should ask your LLMD. Let him/her tell you what should be done. But if posible, i would insist on treating as a new bite.
You gals are right, i had a deer tick attached 6-8 hours. When I removed it, it was not engorged at all. It did not leave any marks on my skin either. So we know that that 24-48 hours is bologna.
Please let us know what will be your next step after asking your LLMD.
Send the tick to get tested, if you still have it.
Posted 5/5/2015 3:27 PM (GMT -5)
The tick that infected me last summer may have been attached for less than an hour and came off as I was brushing my hand over my neck (where it was attached). It was not engorged and I didn't get a typical rash, but the site where the tick was become infected and caused a fever, week-long migraine and body aches and I ended up going to the ER 10 days after the bite.
Posted 5/5/2015 5:31 PM (GMT -5)
Yes, I still have the tick. Going to call LLMD office in the morning. I will update when I have some info.
Posted 5/6/2015 11:15 AM (GMT -5)
UPDATE: Got a call back from the office. LLMD says since I am not sure if I have a bite, to stay on current protocol. If I develop a rash or the usual early flu-like symptoms, then start Doxy. Guess it is just going to be a watch and wait....
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