February | 2013 | Ticktalkireland"s Blog

The organisation IOSH (health & safety) have asked Tick Talk Ireland to speak at their conference on 6th March 2013.

Event name: Cultivating A Safer Future
Location: Dundrum House Hotel, Dundrum, Cashel, Co. Tipperary.
Date/Time: 06/03/2013 09:15:00
End Date/Time: 06/03/2013 15:30:00

Overview

The purpose of the event is to promote the Rural Industries Section, to increase awareness of specific hazards and their control within rural industries with a particular focus on agriculture.

The speakers Pat Griffin HSA Inspector, Michael Doyle (ESB Training Centre) presenting on ATV’s and Off Road Vehicles, Peter Gohery presenting on his personal experience of a farm accident, Jenny O’Dea (Tick Talk Ireland) presenting on her personal experience of Lyme Disease, Dr. Eoin Healy (UCC) presenting on Lyme Disease: Identifying the Hazard for Prevention and Ciaran Roche (FBD) Insurance and you: practical considerations for land owners.

For bookings go to: http://www.iosh.co.uk/branches/ireland/branch_events/cultivating_a_safer_future.aspx

Check out the MEM0992 Cultivating a safer future in rural Ireland.pdf for more details (pdf)

On 22nd January 2013 Tick Talk directors met up with Dr Paul McKeown from the HPSC.

As indicated in our news update Winter 2012 we are very concerned about the over reliance of restrictive testing & restrictive guidelines with respect to Lyme disease patients. In Autumn last year the Infectious Disease Society of Ireland (IDSI) & the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) et al prepared a consensus statement citing unison with the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) in the diagnosis & treatment of Lyme Disease. Whilst there has been criticism of the alternative set of guidelines produced by the International Lyme & Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) we feel that patients often fall outside the remit of the IDSA guide in that they stipulate short term treatment only.

Additionally the two tier system of testing used as ‘gold standard’ (Elisa followed by Western Blot) can miss some patients due to problems with antigenic strain variation, lack of immune response & effects of antibiotics on testing. This is stipulated by the test kit manufacturer themselves. During Spring 2012 Tick Talk distributed their concerns (see links below) to various health organisations including Department of Health, Ireland, Health Protection & Surveillance Centre, Ireland, European Centre for Disease Control & the Prime Minister of the UK. Some of these concerns were discussed with Dr Paul McKeown & Dr Patricia Garvey of the HPSC.

Please note that the attachements below are in PDF format, hit the back button to return back to our page when done!

Click here for a review of our minutes with the HPSC
Click here for a copy of our letter concern submitted last Spring
Click here for the accompanying attachment on Coinfections UK & Ireland
Click here for a shorter version of our concerns sent to the IDSI et al
Check out our blog post called Mythbusting!

We are also concerned about the lack of knowledge here in Ireland. Some patients are reporting that lyme rashes are being mistaken as spider bites or told it could not be Lyme as it doesn’t exist in this country. This is alarming as ticks have been known to carry the lyme causing bacteria (borrelia) in Ireland for decades & has been present in Europe since the ice age. We have been reassured by the HPSC that more awareness will be made with regards to the public (& medical system) by way of press releases & a specific focus on tick awareness during April each year. If the public are made aware of the dangers of ticks they can seek ways to enhance protection & prevention.

Tick Talk needs your help.

During April/May tick awareness is very important as ticks are most active in the Spring. Can you help us spread the word? We need folks willing to hand out leaflets, maybe in your local library, health club, school or workplace. Perhaps you can sell some lyme awareness ribbons to aid awareness & help raise funds for Tick Talk? Remind folks that removal of ticks quickly & correctly are vital to help minimise the risk of Lyme Disease.

Check out our merchandise page for stocks of tick twisters, repellants, awareness ribbons & bugs, bracelets & key rings. Seek out a copy of Under Our Skin (US lyme documentary) or purchase our newly released DVD of Ireland’s first Lyme Conference covering testing, research & treatment.

Lots to keep us busy for the Spring!

Also in the pipeline is a new book called The Adventures of Luna & Dips,a children’s book to help enquiring minds learn about the tick’s life cycle, how they feed & where they live. More updates will be added to the page as soon as available.

Meanwhile I hope you have a safe February. Keep a look-out for some new updates to our links section soon!

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Tick & Flea Season 2013 – Protect Your Pets!

Always check your pets (and yourself) for ticks and fleas after being outdoors.

The tick and flea season 2013 unfortunately promises to be a very busy and active one. Pets and their humans have to take cover and be aware to protect from disease carried by ticks and other parasites. Veterinarian Dick Rogen of Horizon Pet Care comments, ”It started early.  They started coming in the first part of March because of that warm weather and they’re sticking around and we’re seeing more of them than we have in a lot of years.”

If you have indoor cats they’re not immune from being infected either! Fleas can be brought home by you or other pets without realizing it, and infect your cat(s). The eggs and larva stay dormant until conditions are perfect to hatch. Bayer’s Advantage® II kills fleas within 12 hours of application, and kills reinfecting fleas within 2 hours.

Dr. Mike Paul, the Executive Director of the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the control and prevention of parasites in companion animals and the potential spread of these parasites to humans, answered some pertinent questions.

What are the most common parasites found on pets, and why are they of such concern?

First, you should know that parasite infestation and disease transmission from pets to humans – called “zoonotic” transmission – are almost completely preventable. The most common concerns include fleas and ticks – external parasites that not only cause our pets discomfort, but also pose some risk of transmitting disease to humans. Another parasite most pet parents are familiar with is heartworms. Though not of real significance in humans, left untreated, the disease is generally fatal in dogs and potentially so in cats. This deadly parasite can be totally prevented by using one of a variety of products available from veterinarians.

But most pet parents are not aware of many other parasites, which can be dangerous to pets and humans. These include tapeworm, roundworm, hookworms, whipworms and giardia.

At the CAPC, a nonprofit organization of vets and leading human and animal health experts, we educate vets and pet parents about the prevalence, prevention and treatment of external and internal parasites, as well as the potential of disease transmission from animals to humans.

Can fleas and ticks really transmit diseases to my family?

Be prepared and avoid the headache of parasitic infections.

Yes. Fleas can carry and transmit several potential illnesses to humans and also serve as an intermediate host for tapeworms, which can infect both pets and humans. Ticks can transmit serious diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and others.

How can I reduce the risk of parasites infecting my family?

First and foremost, I recommend that you talk to your veterinarian about both internal and external parasite control. In addition to administering the necessary preventive treatment, there also are several things you can do to protect your family and pets.

Disposing of pet feces on a regular basis can help remove potentially infective worm eggs before they become distributed in the environment, where they can be picked up or ingested by pets or humans. Pay extra attention to areas both your pet and your children use regularly, such as sandboxes and other areas of the yard. You may need to restrict either your pet or your children from certain areas to avoid contamination or prevent contact with contaminated soil. Keep the grass cut short in yards, and if you have to overgrown areas wear long clothing to prevent ticks from accessing your skin. After spending time outside in the yard, woods, playing area and/or beach, make sure you check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks!

Always encourage everyone in the family – children in particular – to practice good personal hygiene and prevent exposure to places that may be contaminated.

For more information on parasites visit: www.petsandparasites.org.

For the Best that Pet Lifestyle and Animal Welfare has to offer follow Wendy  Diamond on Facebook, Twitter, and right here at AnimalFair.com!

Bark about it!

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Tags: Advantage® II, animal care, animal fair, animal non profit, animalfair.com, ask the vet, Bayer, Bayer’s Advantage® II, children and ticks, companion animal parasite council, Dick Rogen, dr. mike paul, fleas and ticks, Horizon Pet Care, pet care, pet tips, pets and parasites, petsandparasites.org, tick season 2012, ticks, ticks and pets, wendy diamond, www.petparents.com/advantageellcat, zoonotic transmission

July | 2013 | THE TICK THAT BIT ME

10 Tips for Preventing Tick-borne Diseases This Summer 07/07/2013

Posted by thetickthatbitme in Prevention, TBID Facts.
Tags: armor, Borrelia, golf, hiking, Lyme Disease, prevention, tick, tick bite, Tick-borne disease
6 comments

It’s officially questing season for ticks. Billions of blood-loving arachnids are looking for their next meal, and it could be you. This wouldn’t be such a problem if ticks didn’t carry so many life-disrupting (and sometimes fatal) diseases. Here are 10 tips for avoiding the bite and its potential consequences.

1. Don your armor. Ticks attach to your skin. The best way to prevent this is to keep skin covered and to wear clothing that is treated with a tick repellent (like permethrin or cedar oil). Long pants are a must; tuck them into your socks or boots. (I know it looks stupid, but if enough people do it, it will become cool–I promise. It’ll be like wearing UGG boots with a miniskirt.) I’d also recommend long sleeves and a hat (better for ticks to end up on your hat than on your scalp). Wearing light colored clothing makes it easier for you to spot ticks on you.

Image via http://hovermansion.wordpress.com

2. Avoid high-risk areas. Yes, this seems like a no-brainer, but many people mistakenly believe that you have to be hiking to pick up ticks. In order to avoid ticks, you have to understand that ticks can be carried by almost any mammal or bird—not just deer and mice. If you’re in a place where wildlife is found (even if that place is your backyard), there’s a chance that ticks will find you. In particular, you should avoid wooded areas, tall grasses, leaf piles, cabins that may be infested with mice or rats, and picnic areas (a.k.a. tick restaurants). Also, keep in mind that ticks are found on domestic animals, including dogs, cats, cattle, and horses (don’t even get me started on petting zoos—oh, hello Q fever…)

3. If you must enter the danger zone, use common sense and be vigilant. When hiking, stay in the middle of trails and keep your distance from wild animals—no feeding the squirrels, etc. If you’re an avid golfer, don’t go trudging into the rough to retrieve your ball. Your score may suffer, but your immune system will thank you. Don’t believe me? Read this.

4. After outdoor time, do a proper debriefing (pun intended). When you come back indoors, before you hug the kids, post pics to Instagram, do the dishes, WHATEVER, remove your armor and toss it in the dryer. (Yes, before you wash it.) Experts used to say that an hour on high heat was necessary to kill ticks on clothing, but it may take as little as five minutes on low. See this article about Jacqueline Flynn, a high school student who researched tick-cide by dryer. Once your armor is in the dryer, it’s shower time for you—but first, you need to do a naked tick check. (Enlist the help of a spouse or family member, and don’t be embarrassed. Monkeys do this all the time.) Remember, nymphal ticks can be as small as a poppy seed, so you need to look carefully. Don’t forget to check the scalp, armpits, backs of knees, and groin area.

5. Preserve the evidence. If you find any ticks, don’t squash them, burn them, or flush them down the toilet. If a tick is on you, it might have bitten you, and you need to have it identified and tested to see what you may be dealing with. If a tick is attached to you, remove it gently with tweezers and put it in a closed container like a prescription bottle. Then call your doctor’s office and tell them you have a tick you’d like identified and tested.

6. Protect the pack. Your dog or cat is vulnerable to tick exposure as well, and ticks can easily hitch a ride into your house on your pet. Treat your pet with a vet-recommended tick repellant and do a tick check every time he/she comes in from outside. Keep your pet out of danger zones (including woods, leaf piles, and dog parks) during the summer months (tick questing season). Also, it’s strongly recommended that pets have their own bed instead of sharing yours.

7. Take control of your yard. Regularly dispose of fallen leaves, and mow your lawn short to decrease the likelihood that ticks will hang out there. Dispose of temptations for rats, mice, other rodents, and deer (fallen fruit, dog droppings, trash, etc.). Move wood piles (a.k.a. rat habitats) away from your house, and make sure all outbuildings (sheds, garages) are free of mice, rats, and other critters. You may also want to try spraying your yard for ticks—you can go the chemical or natural route, depending on what you’re comfortable with. Lastly, remember that birds carry ticks, too, so don’t attract them to your yard with bird feeders and bird baths (a.k.a. disease breeding pools). If you want to bird-watch, invest in a good pair of binoculars.

8. Take control of your house. Mandate that all humans and animals entering your home following outdoor activities undergo proper tick-checking procedures. Educate family members about the danger zones and how to spot ticks. To avoid your home becoming a danger zone, make sure there are no unwanted houseguests in the attic, crawl space, or walls (including mice, squirrels, raccoons, feral cats, and birds).

9. Know what you’re looking for. There are many different types of ticks—deer ticks, dog ticks, lonestar ticks, soft-bodied ticks. Depending on where you live, you may have a few or all of these in your neighborhood. Technically, ticks are spiders—they have eight legs—but they look different from spiders in that their bodies are larger in proportion to their legs. If you see something on your body that looks like a tick, don’t waste time trying to identify whether or not it’s a tick—get your tweezers and remove it ASAP, get it into a container, and then worry about what kind it is. See this post for some up-close tick pics.

10. Know who to call. Make sure that your primary care physician and/or infectious disease specialist is on-board with your disease prevention plan. Ask about tick testing. Do you need an appointment to drop off a tick for testing? Can the lab your doctor uses provide containers for tick collection? Is your doctor willing to prophylax you (prescribe a short course of antibiotics within 48 hours) if you get a tick bite? If your doctor is not on board, you can appeal to him or her by sharing the research, or you can start shopping for a new doctor.

Related articles

• Six Tick Misconceptions


• What Is Prophylaxis, and Does It Work on Tick Bites?


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  Tick Season in Portugal….are you aware of the problems associated with ticks? (silvercoastangelicdogs.wordpress.com)


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  Tick Safety Tips for Kids at Summer Camp (nlm.nih.gov)