If my dog can get a vaccine for Lyme disease, why can’t I?
That is a good question, and we’ll address it a bit later. But first, let’s revisit the topic of ticks in general.
American singer, songwriter and actor Justin Timberlake announced this week that he has Lyme Disease.
“If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has – then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically,” Timberlake said.
Amen, Mr. Timberlake, Lyme Disease is no laughing matter, as we shall soon see.
If you have spent any time in the outdoors during tick season, which now extends well into the winter months, you have probably found a tick either crawling on your skin searching for the best spot for a blood meal, or worse, a tick embedded in your skin.
When this happens, it is not unusual for us to immediately consider Lyme Disease. There are several other diseases carried by the three species of ticks found in West Virginia, and none of them are pleasant. Ticks pose a growing hazard that is worsening each year.
Lyme disease is generally caused by the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick. Then there is the Lone Star tick, a vector for a nasty disease called ehrlichiosis, which has symptoms including muscle pain, headaches, rashes, fever and severe headaches. Left untreated, ehrlichiosis can result in severe and sometimes chronic illness that is hard to treat.
Alpha Gal, a disease that can cause a severe reaction to eating red meat, is also vectored by the Lone Star tick. If you are a fan of a thick ribeye or a broiled lamb chop, you don’t want to contract Alpha Gal, unless, of course, tofu is your idea of the ultimate gustatory experience.
Although rare here in West Virginia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is carried by the American dog tick. A litany of symptoms is associated with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Initially, you can expect muscle aches, severe headaches, and a loss of appetite. This disease can progress to a rash over your entire body, as well as the potential for abdominal pain, seizures, diarrhea and even paralysis.
This summer is predicted to be a good one for ticks, but, consequently, a potentially bad one for humans. Several factors determine how many of these tiny vampires we will be exposed to in any given year. Severe cold, a meteorological condition we experience each winter, will kill ticks; however, snow cover, which we had in abundance this past January, provides a level of insulation and protection for ticks.
Other factors affecting tick populations include a warming planet, which expands the range and potency of ticks. Ticks have one huge vulnerability, and that is during dry spells. Ticks cannot tolerate aridness and die off as a result.
It’s time now for a bit of myth busting about Lyme Disease. First, the bullseye pattern is not always an indication that you are infected. That pattern only occurs in a minority of Lyme disease cases; other stinging and biting insects can also cause the bullseye rash.
Not all deer tick bites result in Lyme Disease; it varies geographically, with about 50% of ticks carrying the bacteria in the Northeastern U.S, and approximately 10% in the deep South, Midwest, and Western states.
In keeping with the “not all tick bites result in Lyme Disease” theme, the six-legged larval stage of a deer tick, which is so small that they rarely get noticed, does not carry Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease, until it has its first blood meal from an infected animal, such as a deer or rodent. And when I say “small,” we are talking about the size of the period at the end of this sentence.
OK, why can we vaccinate our pooches against Lyme Disease, while we humans must continue to worry about the possibility of this dreaded disease every time we head out to the garden or take a hike in the woods?
First, Lyme Disease, as any informed doctor will tell you, is hard to diagnose. More often than not, if you show up at the doctor with a rash, bullseye, or otherwise, you’ll be given the option of a regimen of antibiotics, generally doxycycline. And the sooner you get to a doctor and begin treatment, the better.
Like COVID, Lyme Disease can cause chronic conditions, such as diminished cognitive abilities, joint and muscle pain, and neurological problems. These symptoms are also challenging to treat because they often overlap with those of several unrelated diseases.
Regarding the issue of a human vaccine for Lyme Disease, a vaccine called LYMErix was available in the late 1990s, developed by Smith Kline Beecham. It was pulled from the market in 2003 because of concerns about alleged side effects that were theoretical but never proven to be the case.
Adding to the vaccine’s demise was a persistent anti-vaccination sentiment by a minority of people, as well as declining sales because of the inconvenience of multiple vaccines and follow-up boosters. In addition, the incidence of Lyme Disease 20 years ago was significantly lower than it is today, so people were more inclined to shrug their shoulders and think, “Eh, what are the chances of me getting Lyme Disease anyway?”
But that was then; what about today, when Lyme Disease is increasing at a rapid rate? Help is in the offing, as researchers are very close to developing several ways of combating Lyme Disease, both in the form of a yearly vaccine as well as a direct method of killing a tick when it bites you, much in the way that canine drugs and topicals do.
I treat both of my dogs for ticks and fleas with an oral medication. I know they work when I find dead ticks after brushing them. According to researchers, some of these strategies are in the final phases of approval and may be available in 2027.
However, there is a caveat that we should be aware of. Potential vaccines to prevent tick-borne diseases may be negatively impacted by the current political climate. That would be a shame, considering the devastating effects of these diseases.
Finally, while you’re waiting until the Lyme Disease vaccine is available, there are some steps you can take to prevent getting Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.
Checking for ticks after spending time in outdoor activities can go a long way in preventing tick-borne diseases. Being thorough and diligent is essential in using this method to protect yourself. Remember, there are areas on your body that are hard to see. I live alone, so I use mirrors for a comprehensive tick examination. Perhaps your significant others can help out in this regard by checking your “backside” for you.
Other strategies include using insect repellents, such as permethrin, which can be applied to clothing and shoes.
A common strategy for ticks, called “questing,” is to find and attach to a host by climbing to the top of plants. They then attach their barbed front legs to a potential blood meal, whether it is human or another mammal. One way to avoid these questers is to stay on the trail when hiking and avoid areas with tall grass and other dense vegetation.
If you have cats or dogs in your house, be sure to do a thorough tick check each time they come in from the outdoors. You’d be surprised at how many ticks enter households on our pets.
Here’s hoping you have a tick-free summer. Ticks are here to stay, so we must be diligent in preventing them from having a free meal at our expense and leaving us vulnerable to a dreadful disease.
Ken Springer
ken1949bongo@gmail.com
