I admit, the topic for this blog is a bit of a departure
from our typical posts, but I hope you'll indulge me. It's almost spring, the snow is melting, we
are starting to see buds on the trees and I was hoping to see my first robin -
a sure sign that spring is right around the corner. At least I was looking forward to spotting a
robin until I read the article for the basis of this blog....Borreliaburgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes in wild birds in northwestern California.
from our typical posts, but I hope you'll indulge me. It's almost spring, the snow is melting, we
are starting to see buds on the trees and I was hoping to see my first robin -
a sure sign that spring is right around the corner. At least I was looking forward to spotting a
robin until I read the article for the basis of this blog....Borreliaburgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes in wild birds in northwestern California.
For those of you who do not know, Borrelia burgdorferi,
is the bacterium that causes Lyme Disease.
In the north-eastern mid-Atlantic and north-central United States, this
bacterium is spread via a bite from an infected blacklegged tick (better known
as the deer tick), while on the Pacific coast it is the western blacklegged tick that spreads the disease. These
lovely little critters can attach to virtually any part of our bodies, but
prefer to hide in the in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and
scalp. If you happen to spend lots of
time in woodlands and grassy areas and are diligent in wearing long sleeves and
pants or checking yourself over after your jaunt in the woods, the risk of
transmission from a tick bite is minimal. In most cases, the tick must be
attached to you between 36 and 48 hours (or more) before the Lyme disease
bacterium can in fact be transmitted.
is the bacterium that causes Lyme Disease.
In the north-eastern mid-Atlantic and north-central United States, this
bacterium is spread via a bite from an infected blacklegged tick (better known
as the deer tick), while on the Pacific coast it is the western blacklegged tick that spreads the disease. These
lovely little critters can attach to virtually any part of our bodies, but
prefer to hide in the in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits, and
scalp. If you happen to spend lots of
time in woodlands and grassy areas and are diligent in wearing long sleeves and
pants or checking yourself over after your jaunt in the woods, the risk of
transmission from a tick bite is minimal. In most cases, the tick must be
attached to you between 36 and 48 hours (or more) before the Lyme disease
bacterium can in fact be transmitted.
Until reading this article, it was my (and I think most
people's) belief that small mammals and rodents such as the wood rat or grey squirrel were the hosts of this disease.
That is until the researchers at UC Berkeley found that birds -
PARTICULARLY robins, dark-eye juncos and golden-crowned sparrows -were also
important hosts. Hmm....I'm not a
birder, but aren't these guys commonly found in suburbia and routinely
congregate around backyard bird feeders?
While I do not live on the west coast, I suppose I should be thankful
that I ran out of bird seed several weeks ago when I was only attracting the
rift-raft... and by rift-raft I mean those loud obnoxious blue jays that
torment my cat.
people's) belief that small mammals and rodents such as the wood rat or grey squirrel were the hosts of this disease.
That is until the researchers at UC Berkeley found that birds -
PARTICULARLY robins, dark-eye juncos and golden-crowned sparrows -were also
important hosts. Hmm....I'm not a
birder, but aren't these guys commonly found in suburbia and routinely
congregate around backyard bird feeders?
While I do not live on the west coast, I suppose I should be thankful
that I ran out of bird seed several weeks ago when I was only attracting the
rift-raft... and by rift-raft I mean those loud obnoxious blue jays that
torment my cat.
According to the CDC, approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme
Disease are reported each year and that this number is vastly underreported. The true number of cases is likely 10 times
higher. The fact that birds are now
identified as a host is most interesting, as unlike small mammals and rodents,
the range of travel is far longer. As
we see with Avian Influenza where infected wild birds can infect flocks of
chickens or turkeys, these tick infested birds can move from region to region
with relative ease bringing Borrelia burgdorferi with them!
Disease are reported each year and that this number is vastly underreported. The true number of cases is likely 10 times
higher. The fact that birds are now
identified as a host is most interesting, as unlike small mammals and rodents,
the range of travel is far longer. As
we see with Avian Influenza where infected wild birds can infect flocks of
chickens or turkeys, these tick infested birds can move from region to region
with relative ease bringing Borrelia burgdorferi with them!
From a disinfection perspective, infection of Lyme
Disease only occurs when bitten by an infected tick. BUT, should there be some blood on the
surface left after squashing an infected tick (as we're dealing with a
relatively simple vegetative bacteria) rest assured that an EPA or Health
Canada registered Hospital Disinfectant should have not issues managing to kill
the bacteria!
Disease only occurs when bitten by an infected tick. BUT, should there be some blood on the
surface left after squashing an infected tick (as we're dealing with a
relatively simple vegetative bacteria) rest assured that an EPA or Health
Canada registered Hospital Disinfectant should have not issues managing to kill
the bacteria!
Will you think twice about putting out bird feed to
attract the spring robins? I know I will!
attract the spring robins? I know I will!
Bugging Off!
Nicole
