In follow up to Juliana Vidich”s informative and personal letter to the editor published on May 11, and Terry Knight”s article published prior to, I”d like to point out an interesting and important connection between lizards and Lyme disease.
In 1998 it was discovered that when a Western black-legged tick feeds on a Western fence lizard (yes, those little blue-belly lizards we commonly see in the yard), the Lyme disease causing bacteria, Borrelia Borgdorferi, is killed.
The tick lives but its blood is cleansed of the Borrelia bacteria, so its next bite becomes more of a nuisance than a threat to one”s health. Who knew that not only do lizards eat ticks, but they stop ticks from transmitting Lyme disease to us.
Present research indicates there is a protein in the fence lizard”s blood that kills the bacteria but that protein has yet to be identified. Hopefully, some day that protective protein will be identified and a vaccine or cure for Lyme disease will be available.
In the meantime, try to help the Western fence lizard survive as best you can because the lizard”s blood may be the key to a cure. During the summer”s intense heat we place a little water in flower pot trays for them to find and they do!
More information on this topic can be easily found through use of any Internet search engine.
On a personal note, I”ve had my share of tick bites while clearing land but usually was able to feel them and pull them off quickly.
But on three occasions the tick bite eluded me. A classical “bulls-eye” rash appeared twice and once no rash developed at all.
Years of experience working in the developing world taught me to begin “presumptive therapy” rather than wait for results from an uncertain lab test. So I insisted on beginning an antibiotic regimen right away and fortunately, did not contract Lyme disease.
It”s a good practice to begin immediate antibiotic therapy after a tick has been feeding on your blood, regardless of whether or not a “bulls-eye” rash appears. Because as Juliana well knows, if you wait for your blood to show Borrelia bacteria, it”s too late, you”ve got Lyme.
Michael Santarelli
Lakeport
