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Tick-Borne Diseases Other Than Lyme

Many tick species are reservoirs or “cesspools” for multiple organisms such as Borrelia, Bartonella, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma species and viruses such as Powassan. These organisms are often referred to as “co-infections,” however, each infection represents a distinct organism, a characteristic pathology and a separate diagnosis. Multiple concurrent infections can amplify patient presentation and may contribute to persistent symptoms and treatment failure. As with Lyme Disease, all tick-borne infections can present with symptoms that are often not explained by common laboratory testing. Critical attention to patient history and the practitioner’s clinical judgment are vital to covering the full scope of a tick-borne disease. The intent of this publication is to increase awareness among practitioners of the prevalence and presentation of the tick-borne infections frequently associated with Lyme disease, but often independent of Lyme. Please note that the signs and symptoms described below may be altered significantly in the presence of Lyme or other infections.