I'd like to throw in my two cents but I sense my view won't be too
popular here.

I abide by the theory or concept that deer ticks are unable to transmit
Bb (Ld bacteria) from their gut until after 24 hours of attachment/{*filter*}
sucking.  There are no studies to substantiate that it can happen
sooner, the rationale being that it takes at least 24 hours for the Bb
to get from the gut of the tick to the host's {*filter*}stream.  I do believe
that.

Not only was this stated by an expert from the Connecticut Agricultural
Research station (New Haven), but I also read it in a book by Dr.
Silverstein, "Lyme Disease, the Great Imitator," and other forgotten
sources.

(This does not take into account improper removal of ticks, however,
which could theoretically cause tick gut contents to spill into the
{*filter*}stream.)

Apparently the tick consumes {*filter*} in volumes vaster than it's own size
but processes the {*filter*} and regurgitates the unnecessary water (and
unfortunately bacteria) back into the host in order to make more room
for the essential {*filter*} parts.  That's how infection occurs, and it's
when the tick is engorged.

I've pulled countless ticks off of my pets and my kids, even one on
myself recently-- well, my husband had to get it as I couldn't reach
it.  I am not panicking, either.  After one round of testing 5 ticks
which were all negative AND unengorged, I decided I will save, but not
routinely test unengorged ticks for Bb.  

The son who was recently infected at the end of May had a larger
engorged tick on his head, and a rash under his arm just 6 days later.
Either I missed a tick under his arm, or the larger, unidentified,
shriveled but saved tick was the transmitter.  (No need to test it; he
was sick!)  With early treatment, he was assymptomatic in a matter of a
few days.

We do frequent tick checks in our household and since none recently have
been engorged, I and my doctor feel it would be unnecessary to test each
or to give prophylactic treatment to anyone.  I'm quite comfortable with
that.

The ticks I found on me back in 1989-1991 were not engorged or only
slightly engorged.  I suspect that the one that infected me was never
seen.  I never saw an early rash or had early illness either.

So what do we do with people like me?  Stay on abx for the rest of my
life as prophylaxis?  Of course not.  My objective is to stay off of
them as much as I can, provided I am feeling well.

This is where I draw the line on being reasonable and being paranoid
about ticks.  I want to be disassociate myself from the Lyme hysteria
crowd, and this is one way for me to do it.

It's not the ticks I've seen that bother me.  It's the ones I haven't
seen that do.  But I'm not losing sleep over this.

Nancy

http://www.***.com/ ~berntsen/

                       *****Some Medicine from the "Good Book"******
                       *                                           *
                       * A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; *
                       * But a broken spirit drieth the bones.     *
                       *                            Proverbs 17:22 *
                       *                                           *
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                       *                             Jeremiah 33:3 *
                       *********************************************

I believe that all it takes to transmit Bb, from tick to human, is an
exchange of body fluids. That can happen in minutes.    Rita B  

I believe that all it takes to transmit Bb, from tick to human, is an
exchange of body fluids. That can happen in minutes.    Rita B  

 Also, I have seen the worst early cases when the tick was removed by
squeezing, stabbing, scraping, etc.  Again, it is YOUR call as to what you
want to do.  If you feel you have had the tick removed in the best way, and
wish not to be treated prophylactically, fine.  If you'd like to be treated
with a short course of antibiotics, then that's fine, too.  But you have to
do the convincing to the doc.  Arm yourself with the info that helps you
either way.

Rita

I believe that all it takes to transmit Bb, from tick to human, is an
exchange of body fluids. That can happen in minutes.    Rita B  >>>

I'm with you, Rita.  I know that most of the 80 - some ticks were not
attached very long.  Some were there for days, but I was already sick from
the previous bites.  I can't be too sure about how long most were on me
feeding their little mouth parts away, but I do know that some couldn't
have been there too long.

Dneim

 Where did they come up with this, capricious and arbitrary, "24 hours" for
the disease to be transmitted from tick to human? Does any other tick borne
disease require 24 hours? Have any studies been done that, even remotely,
agree with this self serving statement?  Rita B

Also would like to see some studies done with improper removal of ticks -
burning, covering with vaseline, or squeazing the body.  Would like to see
a few more animals used.  Would very much like to see Ixodes pacificus
ticks checked out. I believe this {*filter*} has the 'chetes in its salivary
glands, so theoretically it can get 'em in you quicker.

Could also do a little clinical study that would follow folks who removed
ticks earlier than 24 hours or using lousy techniques, but methinks no one
wants to be responsible for folks getting Lyme or another TBD (tick-borne
disease); much easier to follow the established dogmata.  Then "explain"
away the symptoms as the Al and Lenny show has been doing for decades.

Speaking of removing ticks using burning, etc; what about that doc who was
in that newspaper article recently posted saying you could remove 'em that
way. Could this guy be liable (sp?) for disseminating wrong info?  We had
the same kinda stuff put in our local paper a couple years ago.  I called
up the editor, and they got scared at the thought, and of course printed my
letter.  But how many people are gonna read a letter compared to an
article?

Rita

Marta