Ticks That Cause Lyme Diesease Can Now Cause Red-Meat Allergy

Posted on June 12, 2013 with No Comments

For more information in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut about protecting yourself and your property from ticks visit NY Pest Control here.

If Lyme disease isn’t reason enough to avoid ticks, here’s another: the inability to enjoy a burger.  The Wall Street Journal reports that as odd as it seems, researchers say that bites from the voracious lone star tick are making some people allergic to red meat—even if they’ve never had a problem eating it before.

The allergic reactions range from vomiting and abdominal cramps to hives to anaphylaxis, which can lead to breathing difficulties and sometimes even death.

Unlike most food allergies, the symptoms typically set in three to six hours after an affected person eats beef, pork or lamb—often in the middle of the night.

The bite that seems to precipitate it may occur weeks or months before, often making it difficult for people to make the link.

Cases of the unusual allergy were first identified at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville in 2007, and are now being reported as far north as Nantucket, Mass., and on the east end of New York’s Long Island.

“It’s a huge problem out here,” says Erin McGintee, a pediatric and adult allergist in East Hampton, N.Y., who says she knows of more than 70 cases and sees several more each week. “I’ve been trying to get the word out—but there are still a lot of people who don’t believe it,” she adds.

Tony Piazza, a landscape designer in Southampton, N.Y., first woke up in the middle of the night gasping for breath and covered in hives six years ago. Emergency-room doctors at Southampton Hospital gave him intravenous antihistamines and said it was probably an allergy, but they couldn’t determine the source. The same scene played out two or three times a year for the next few years, Mr. Piazza, 49, says.

“I was afraid that the next time, I wouldn’t wake up,” he says.

He noticed that the reaction occurred every time he ate lamb for dinner, even though he had never had food allergies before. Then it happened with steak and then hamburger. “I swore off red meat completely and the reactions stopped,” says Mr. Piazza. When he heard about the tick connection, it made sense, given his work. “I get ticks all the time,” he says.

U. Va. allergy specialist Thomas Platts-Mills discovered the tick connection serendipitously—while investigating why some cancer patients had severe allergic reactions to the drug cetuximab in 2006. Blood tests revealed they had pre-existing antibodies to a certain sugar commonly known as alpha-gal, which is present in the drug and found naturally in mammalian meat.

Curiously, only the cancer patients from the southeastern “tick-belt” states had the allergic reaction. And as U. Va. researchers checked for the antibodies to alpha-gal in their (non-cancer-stricken) allergy patients, the same geographic pattern held true. What’s more, some had reported having allergic reactions hours after eating beef, lamb or pork.

Will the 17-Year Cicadas Damage My Trees? Cicada Pest Control by J.P. McHale Pest Management

Posted on April 9, 2013 with No Comments

Periodical cicada nymphs feed underground on tree roots, but will not cause significant damage to your landscape trees. In fact, the cicada nymphs help aerate the soil, and bring nutrients and nitrogen to the surface, benefiting plants.

Once the nymphs emerge, they spend a few days on trees and shrubs, allowing their new adult exoskeletons to harden and darken. During this time, they do not feed and will not damage your trees.

Adult cicadas exist for one reason – to mate. The female cicada excavates a channel in small twigs or branches (those around the diameter of a pen). She deposits her eggs in the slit, effectively splitting the branch open. The ends of affected branches will brown and wilt, a symptom called flagging.

How can you protect your trees from cicada damage? The three main choices are covering, spraying or pruning.

• Small trees can be covered with very fine netting such as cheesecloth, secured around the trunk to prevent the determined critters from climbing up. You’ll need to keep them covered from the first sign of emergence until the “invasion” is over.
• Pest Control Treatment is an option that can help to reduce damage, mainly by acting as a repellant that fends off the females before they lay their eggs.  Advanced treatments for invasive pests such as cicadas are delivered simultaneously with tick applications to guard and protect your health and property.
• If you notice twigs with fresh slits in which eggs have been laid, you can prune them and destroy them before the eggs hatch. When you prevent egg-laying or remove damaged twigs, it follows that you will also lessen the likelihood of root damage from the resulting larvae.
• Young trees, particularly ornamental fruit trees, do require some protection. Because most of its branches are still small enough to attract female cicadas intent on laying eggs, a young tree may lose most or all of its branches. In very young trees with trunks under 1 1/2″ diameter, even the trunk may be excavated by a mated female.

So how do you keep your new landscape trees safe from cicada damage?
Use netting with openings less than one half inch wide, or cicadas will be able to crawl through it. Drape the netting over the entire tree canopy, and secure it to the trunk so no cicadas can crawl under the opening. Your netting will need to be in place before the cicadas emerge; remove it once all the cicadas are gone.

If you are planning to plant a new tree in a year when cicadas are due to emerge in your area, wait until the fall. The tree will have 17 years to grow and establish itself before the next generation arrives

First American Case of New Deer Tick Disease Confirmed in New Jersey

Posted on January 26, 2013 with No Comments

Just a few days ago on our pest control blog we reported that U.S. scientists discovered a new disease spread by deer ticks. The unnamed illness has viral-like similarities to lyme disease, another tick-borne disease common across the county.  In the United States, deer ticks are most commonly found in the Northeastern region, from Virginia to Maine, in the north central states, mostly Wisconsin and Minnesota, and on the west coast, primarily in northern California, according to the Yale School of Public Health.

Joseph Gugliotta, MD, an Infectious Disease Specialist at Hunterdon Medical Center, was published in the New England Journal of Medicine for his work in identifying and successfully treating the first North American case of a new disease called Borrelia miyamotoi infection. Dr. Gugliotta treated Kingwood Township resident Anne Felix’s Borrelia miyamotoi, which is transmitted by a deer tick that can infect people with Lyme disease.

CBS New York is reporting that a woman from New Jersey is lucky to be alive after being bit by a tick.  The 81 year old woman, Anna Felix, of Kingwood Township, New Jersey, is grateful to be alive!

Watch this video from CBS News showing the breakthrough discovery stating that the disease was caused by a bacteria spread by ticks.

Ms. Felix worst fear was that her lymphoma had returned or she might have dementia when she started getting weak and confused and lost 30 pounds.  “I remember I couldn’t eat too well. And I started needing help to walk,” Felix told CBS 2’s Hazel Sanchez on Friday.

“Initial tests were inconclusive, and although she showed symptoms of Lyme disease, Felix tested negative. Lab technicians at Hunterdon Medical Center made a breakthrough discovery when they examined her spinal fluid and found an unusual strain of bacteria they had never seen before.  “It was really spectacular. We knew we were on to something really big and that she would be treated and cured,” lab tech Amy Kurynow said.”

Dr. Joseph Gugliotta confirmed it was the bacteria borrelia miyamotoi, a new disease transmitted by the same deer tick that causes Lyme Disease.  Felix is the first American case of this new tick-transmitted disease.

“Once I verified the organisms were there in the second spinal tap she was treated with a high dose of antibiotics and by five to seven days we were seeing improvement already,” Dr. Gugliotta said.

New Tick-Borne Disease Discovered

Posted on January 24, 2013 with No Comments

Reuters has reported that U.S. scientists discovered a new disease spread by deer ticks. The unnamed illness has viral-like similarities to Lyme disease, another tick-borne disease common across the county.

In the United States, deer ticks are most commonly found in the Northeastern region, from Virginia to Maine, in the north central states, mostly Wisconsin and Minnesota, and on the west coast, primarily in northern California, according to the Yale School of Public Health.

Experts at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) encourage people to protect themselves from ticks by wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts and closed-toe shoes when outdoors, especially in wooded areas or tall grasses. In addition, wear light-colored clothes and a bug spray containing at least 20 percent DEET.

Source:  NPMA

List of Diseases Spread by Deer Tick Grows, Including Malaria-Like Problems and Potentially Fatal Encephalitis

Posted on January 7, 2013 with No Comments

An emerging tick-borne disease that causes symptoms similar to malaria is expanding its range in areas of the northeast where it has become well-established, according to new research presented November 12 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).

Researchers from the Yale School of Public Health reported that from 2000 to 2008, cases of babesiosis — which invades red blood cells and is carried by the same tick that causes Lyme disease — expanded from 30 to 85 towns in Connecticut. Cases of the disease in Connecticut, where it was first reported in 1991, also have risen from 3 to about 100 cases per year.

The findings on babesiosis presented at the ASTMH annual meeting were accompanied by discussions of a range of other investigations into newly emerging tick-borne diseases, which include afflictions that can cause fatal encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.

“Today’s findings underscore the shifting landscape of tick-borne diseases, whose rapid emergence can challenge the best efforts of science and medicine to diagnose, treat, and prevent their occurrence,” said Peter Krause, MD, a researcher at the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Connecticut.

ASTMH President James W. Kazura, MD, FASTMH, said: “This is a real-time illustration of the inter-connectedness of human and animal health that many people don’t often think about. Ticks are a major carrier for many human diseases and efforts like this offer timely information that is of regional and clinical importance.”

Lyme disease — with 20,000-30,000 cases reported each year in the United States — is still the best known example of a recently emerged tick-borne disease. But research points to a growing number of pathogens carried by the deer tick, all of which are expanding their range.

Malaria look-alike in United States

A prime example is babesiosis, which is caused by the parasite Babesia microti. It has similarities to malaria in that it invades and destroys red blood cells. In the United States, this parasite is the most common pathogen transmitted through blood transfusions.

Acute cases are commonly associated with fever, fatigue, chills, headache, sweats and muscle pain. Infection can be asymptomatic or severe, causing death in about 6 to 9 percent of patients hospitalized with the illness. If transmitted through a blood transfusion, the mortality rate is about 20 percent. However, if properly diagnosed, babesiosis generally is promptly cured with antibiotics.

Story Source:  Science Daily

Emerging Vector-Borne Diseases Create New Public Health Challenges

Posted on December 17, 2012 with No Comments

West Nile virus, lyme disease, dengue fever, and plague are examples of “vector-borne diseases,” caused by pathogens that naturally infect wildlife and are transmitted to humans by vectors such as mosquitoes or ticks.

According to Marm Kilpatrick, who studies the ecology of infectious diseases at the University of California, Santa Cruz, a broad range of human activities can affect the spread of zoonotic diseases. In an article in the December 1 issue of the British medical journal Lancet, Kilpatrick and coauthor Sarah Randolph of the University of Oxford describe how widespread land-use change, globalization of trade and travel, and social upheaval are driving the emergence of zoonotic vector-borne diseases around the world. The article is part of a special series of papers focused on emerging zoonotic diseases.

If you enjoy spending time outdoors you need the VIP treatment. This premier service will help protect you from diseases spread by ticks, mosquitoes, and rodents. We target these creatures where they breed and harbor. One of our more popular services, as it will protect your family from the many diseases these pests carry including:

• West Nile Virus
• Hantavirus
• Ehrlichiosis
• Babesiosis
• Lyme Disease

These pathogens are transmitted to people by insect bites, inhalation or by contact with surfaces that have been exposed to diseases. It is vital every family living in the tri-state area protect themselves. We can help!  Please contact us if you are interested in our Vector Intervention Program.

Prevent Ticks From Taking Over Your Yard This Fall!

Posted on November 9, 2012 with No Comments

With concerns about Lyme disease, the management of tick populations is of utmost concern to many of our customers.  J.P. McHale Pest Management offers a variety of ways to manage ticks including on-going programs and customized comprehensive programs.  Did you know that the pile of leaves you raked for your kids to jump in in your yard could be a great place for ticks to harbor?   Along with our environmentally sensitive methods to effectively reduce the tick population on your property, you may also consider one of our lawn care programs.

For ticks we treat areas most conducive to tick activity, and consistently provide you with important recommendations based on observations during our routine visits. Removing leaf litter, reducing overgrown shrubbery, cutting the grass frequently, are just some of the cultural practices you can do to combine our efforts and reduce your family and pets exposure to ticks.

The life cycle of the deer tick comprises three growth stages: the larva, nymph and adult. It takes about two years for the tick to hatch from the egg, go through all three stages, reproduce, and then die. Humans are at the greatest risk of Lyme Disease and other co-infections in late spring and summer.

Beware of Ticks if You Like To Eat Meat

Posted on August 13, 2012 with No Comments

Recent research uncovers tick bite as the cause for a delayed allergic reaction to red meat.

If you are a steak lover, enjoy your meat while you can. The researchers state that any time around three to six hours after eating red meat for dinner, patients may wake up in the middle of the night with hives or anaphylaxis. The link between anaphylaxis and eating red meat had remained indefinable until recent research.  The article by Susan Wolver, MD, and Diane Sun, MD, from Virginia Commonwealth University in the US, and colleagues, explains why if you have been bitten by a tick, you may develop an allergy to red meat. Their article1 elucidates this connection and discusses the journey of the discovery. Their work appears online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine², published by Springer.

Ticks are tiny spider-like bugs. When they bite, they latch onto skin and feed on blood. Tick bites occur most often during early spring and late summer months. Simple ways to prevent tick bites include avoiding bushy and wooded areas with high grass, walking in the center of trails, and applying insect repellent. It is recommended to shower as soon as returning inside after exploring or working outdoors and also to perform a full body inspection for any ticks.

Response to Baltimore Sun Article About Lyme Disease Study By the Professional Pest Management Alliance

Posted on May 31, 2012 with No Comments

Response to Baltimore Sun Article About Lyme Disease Study

 Using Bifenthrin in ZIP Codes With High Incidence of Lyme Disease
Overview and Talking Points
Prepared for the National Pest Management Association

By the Professional Pest Management Alliance

May 29, 2012

Background

On May 29, 2012, The Baltimore Sun newspaper published a front-page article about a study underwritten by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that is taking place in Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard counties in Maryland. The study involves spraying the yards of residents in these areas with bifenthrin to determine how well this product will protect them from Lyme disease.

All the residents volunteered to participate in the study after receiving a flyer asking for their participation and responses to a survey about ticks. The flyers were sent to residents in ZIP codes with a high incidence of Lyme disease in the past. Half the participants’ yards will receive applications of bifenthrin while others will be sprayed with water in order to see how well the bifenthrin performs. The CDC conducted this study last year and 440 families participated, according to the article. The article also states that similar studies are taking place in Connecticut and New York.

Here is a link to the study notice as well as Q&A regarding bifenthrin on the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/ticknet/ltdps/

Environmental activists and some health experts were quoted in the article expressing concern about the safety of bifenthrin. They claim that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified bifenthrin as a possible carcinogen and that it is being studied by the EPA for possible harm to reproductive and immune systems, among other things.

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0384-0007

Statement

“The article published in the May 29, 2012, edition of The Baltimore Sun discusses the CDC study, ‘Using Bifenthrin in ZIP Codes With High Incidence of Lyme Disease,’ and draws attention to the fact that tick-borne illnesses are very serious and can negatively impact humans and animals in areas where ticks are found.  While we cannot specifically comment on the study itself, we understand the CDC’s concern about Lyme disease and agree that eliminating tick populations can go a long way in decreasing the risks posed to people and their pets. Tick control is necessary due to the fact that these pests are vectors of serious disease, including Lyme disease. Lyme disease, which according to the CDC is the most commonly reported vectorborne illness in the U.S., can be transmitted to humans by the blacklegged tick, also commonly known as the deer tick. Maryland residents are at high risk for tick encounters this year, as many health and pest experts have predicted this to be one of the most severe tick seasons in years.

The article also raises an issue regarding the safety of the pest control product, bifenthrin, when applied to yards for the purpose of tick control and elimination. Bifenthrin is a product that is very effective against ticks and according to its label instructions, can be applied in yards and wooded areas to protect people and pets against ticks.

All products used by licensed pest professionals are rigorously reviewed and approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency. Pest management professionals are trained in the biology and control of pests such as ticks and are licensed and regulated by the states in which they operate.“

Talking Points

• Experts are predicting a large tick population this year due to several environmental factors and as such, there is a concern that we may also see an increase in human cases of tick-borne diseases.

• We can confidently say that the professional products used in the treatment of ticks, just like other pests are rigorously reviewed and registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Licensed pest professionals in Maryland, through the National Pest Management Association, work closely with the EPA to ensure that all products used in pest management practices are consistently reviewed, re-registered and provided with accurate and comprehensive labeling for use.

• If consumers are concerned by the issues raised in the Baltimore Sun article, we encourage them to contact the EPA and the CDC to discuss these concerns and to consult with a qualified and licensed pest professional to determine what preventative measures are available if they suspect their yards are harboring ticks and to discuss all treatment options.

• It is important to be aware of ways to prevent being bitten by a tick. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• When in an area where ticks are common, wear long sleeved shirts and pants, preferably light colored so ticks will be easy to detect.
  • Tuck pants into socks.
  • Use a tick repellent containing DEET.
• Upon returning indoors, inspect clothing and your entire body, including your head, for ticks. Don’t forget to check your family members who may have been out with you and/or your family pet as well.
• After spending time in a tick habitat, it’s a good idea to take a shower because it will afford you the opportunity to thoroughly inspect your entire body.
• Wash clothes immediately.
• Keep grass cut low, including around fence lines, sheds, trees, shrubs, swing sets and other difficult to cut locations and remove weeds, woodpiles and other debris from the yard.
• Inquire about lawn tick treatments, especially those that focus on the edges of the lawn where it interfaces with natural areas. This method has the greatest chance of preventing ticks from establishing themselves in your back yard
• Pet owners should speak to their veterinarians about preventative flea and tick treatments, as these can help deter pet pests and kill ticks on contact/upon being bitten.
• If a tick is found attached, it should be removed with a slow, steady pull so as not to break off the mouthparts and leave them in the skin. If possible, it’s best to use forceps or tweezers and grab on or just behind the mouthparts. If you must use fingers, the fingernails of the thumb and forefinger should be placed on or just behind the mouthparts. Once removed, wash hands and attachment site thoroughly with soap and water. Ticks should then be flushed down a toilet or wrapped tightly in tissue before disposing in a closed receptacle since they can be difficult to crush.

If you are contacted by a member of the media and would like to talk through an appropriate response or wish to have NPMA support your participation in the story, please contact Missy Henriksen at (703) 352-6762 or mhenriksen@pestworld.org.

New York Tick Pest Control – Westchester, Dutchess, Rockland

Posted on May 30, 2012 with No Comments

Pest Control to help keep your yard tick free this summer

Ticks and lyme disease are on the rise in New York.  Here are some more prevention tips to reduce the number of ticks in your yard:

• Keep your yard clean of debris such as leaf litter and grass clippings and keep flowerbeds dry.
• Keep grass mowed and trim bushes and shrubs, especially near paths and walkways.
• Minimize ground cover.
• Separate your lawn from any wooded areas with a barrier.
• Minimize anything that will attract tick infested wildlife, including bird feeders and bird baths.
• White-tailed deer are known to be a carry of ticks.  Deer enter suburban yards seeking food sources
• Have a New York Pest Control Company apply a pesticide to your property.

JP McHale can help protect your family and pets from diseases carrying ticks.  Ticks are very small insects that feed on the blood of warm-blooded animals, including dogs, cats, mice, deer, and, of course, people. A tick will latch onto the skin, dig in its feeding apparatus, and then bite. When the tick is full, it swells in size. Then it drops off the host, only to repeat the cycle again later.