Lyme_Disease

Background Information: Who Discovered It: The first recorded case of Lyme Disease is described by Alfred Buchwald in 1883. Described it as a degenerative skin disorder Lyme disease was first identified by a person called Dr. Allen Steere in 1975 in the US. There was a severe outbreak of rheumatoid arthritis in Lyme, Connecticut Observed illness was in taking place in summer. How It Was Discovered: Another scientist, Willy Burgdorfer, in 1988 isolated the spirochetes which belonged to the family of Borellia (a form of bacteria) The same spirochetes were found in the mid gut of the Ixodes Ticks (were commonly found on deer) The spirochetes reacted with immune serum from patients that had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. Scientific Names: Lyme Disease - Doesn’t have any other scientific name The Bacteria That Causes Lyme Disease : Borrelia Burgdorferi Lyme disease is called “The Great Imitator” because its symptoms mimic many other diseases. It can affect any organ of the body, including the brain and nervous system, muscles and joints, and the heart. What Causes Lyme Disease: Many people think that Lyme disease is caused by ticks. However, it is actually a disease caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria is transmitted to humans via tick bites. The bacteria is also found in the wild in white-footed mice and in ticks on deer. Impact On Society: Lyme disease is the most common arthropod-borne disease in the U.S. More than 150,000 cases have been reported since 1982. Most Common Places in the United States High Risk in the North East because of the high deer population The number of cases of the disease in an area depends on the number of ticks present and how often the ticks are infected with the bacteria. Common Places in the World: Northern Hemisphere temperate regions Most Common places: Japan, Northwest China, far Eastern Russia, Central Europe, and the United States. History of Lyme Disease: .  Lyme disease is a cyclic disease which has chronic, multi-systemic, neuropsychiatric manifestations. It causes functional, chemical, and structural changes to the brain and alters almost every organ system of the body. Personal Story/Video: http://www.lymeinfo.net/darylhalllyme.html - top left movie clip. Lyme Disease: Year Event 1883 The first recorded case of Lyme Disease is described by Alfred Buchwald. He described it as a degenerative skin disorder now known as ACA (acrodermatitis chronica atorphicans). 1909 Arvid Afzelius presents his research on expanding ring like lesion (erythema migrans) associated with what would become known as Lyme Disease. 1921 Arvid Afzelius publishes his work and speculates on the origin of the disease as the Ixodes Scapularis tick and connects the disease with joint problems. 1922 The disease is found to be associated with neurological problems. 1930 The disease is found to also cause psychiatric problems. 1934 Appearance of EM or ACA is associated with benign lymphocytomas. Arthritic symptoms are reported in connection with the disease. 1970 Rudolph Scrimenti, professor of dermatology publishes reports of the rash . 1975 Allen C. Steere, Yale, investigates a group of rashes and swollen joints in Lyme, Connecticut. Scrimenti publishes about his treatment of the rash with penicillin. 1976 A clustering of cases of the disease is reported in a Naval Medical Hospital in Connecticut. 1977 Steere et. Al misdiagnoses Lyme Disease as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and names the condition Lyme Arthritis. 1982 The etiological agent of the disease, Borrelia burgdorferi, is discovered by Dr. Willy Burgdorfer. 1983 Treatment of Lyme disease with oral and intravenous antibiotics begins and clinicians define the three stages of Lyme Disease. 1986 Skeptics denounce the existence of Lyme Disease. 1988 Lyme Disease Foundation (LDF) Founded. 1997 Borrelia burgdorferi genome sequenced by TIGR. 1999 Smith Kline Beecham receive FDA approval and place LYMErix vaccine on the market.