Evidence for in utero Transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi from Naturally Infected Cows

http://www.mombu.com/medicine/pregnancy-fertility/t-meat-contains-lyme-disease-bacteria-bacteria-syphilis-erythema-kidney-antibiotic-3728732.html

Journal of Spirochetal and Tick-Borne Diseases 1998; 5(4):54-62
Evidence for in utero Transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi from Naturally
Infected Cows
Leibstein MM, Khan MI, Bushmich SL 
http://www.medscape.com/SLACK/JSTD/1998/v05.n04/std0504.02.leib/pnt-std050
4.02.leib.html
(excerpts from the abstract:
Five of 15 adult cows were spirochetemic at parturition; 4 of the calves from
these cows were also spirochetemic at birth (PCR). Spirochetes were cultured
from the placentas in 2 of 10 cows and from the uterine fluid in 1 of 8 cows.
Borrelia burgdorferi DNA was detected in the colostrum in 4 of 12 cows. Three
of 15 calves were stillborn; Borrelia burgdorferi DNA was detected by PCR in 3
of 3 and spirochetes cultured from 2 of 3 stillborn calves. Fetal tissues from
which Borrelia burgdorferi DNA was detected include blood, spleen, bladder,
kidney, synovial fluid and tissue, heart, cerebrum, and aqueous humor. Borrelia
burgdorferi was cultured from the spleen of one stillborn calf and the kidney
of another. Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi DNA from the tissues of stillborn
calves, as well as spirochetemia in neonatal liveborn and stillborn calves,
gives evidence for in utero transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi in naturally
infected dairy cattle.)

source: Journal of Spirochetal and Tick-borne Diseae Vol. 6, Summer, 1999
title: reprint of Borrelia: Strains, Vectors, Human and Animal Borreliosis
author: Oscar Flsenfeld
published in 1971

pg. 48
"The presently prevailing belief is that borreliae may enter the human body
through uninjured mucosae, including that of the gastrointestinal tract..."


source: Coping With Lyme Disease by Denise Lang
pg. 10
"Other Means of Transmission"
"There is much controversy over the possibility of transmission of Lyme
disease by means other than a tick bite. Since the Lyme spirochete, in later
stages, has been isolated from various body fluids, there is much discussion
regarding the passing of the Lyme infection through blood transfusion, ***ual
relations, and breast milk.
"The Red Cross will not allow anyone who has had an active Lyme disease
infection during the preceding year to be a blood donor. Various research
studies have shown that the spirochete can live under blood bank conditions for
up to several months. In addition, there is a small number of do***ented cases
where a person apparently has been infected through a blood transfusion..
"A growing number of doctors agree that not only can Lyme disease be
transmitted through the placenta but it can also be passed to an infant through
breast milk. Again, continuing studies have isolated the spirochete from
breast milk and seem to support this position.
"One of the more controversial theories is that Lyme can also be transmitted
***ually. Although this has not been proven at this time, a number of
reputable clinicians maintain that, due to the spirochete's presence in body
fluids, the amount of fluid ejaculated during ***ual relations would be enough
to transmit the spirochete from the male to the female. Like syphilis, Lyme
disease is caused by a spirochete. No one disputes that syphilis can be
***ually transmitted, so the thinking in many circles is that the Borrelia
spirochete behaves much the same way. A number of cases of husband/wife
infection have been do***ented, but further studies have to be undertaken
before infection through ***ual transmission is proven with any certainty."

---- When talking about ***ual transmission you have to remember that it only
takes 4 spirochetes to establish syphilis infection in a rabbit. (Mandell,
Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases ---chapter
215 Treponema Pallidum (syphilis) When someone is being tested for Lyme
disease it is usually only one or a few samples. I think the amount of body
fluid involved in ***ual transmission is different and usually involves more
fluid samples over a longer period. There is also the possibility of
transmission through an abraded mucous membrane. 

from: Coping With Lyme Disease by Denise Lang
pg. 135
"If you are pregnant and have been bitten by a tick in an endemic area, are
displaying symptoms consistent with Lyme disease, or have been diagnosed with
Lyme in the past:
".....
"4. After the birth be vigilant in your observations regarding the health
of your baby. Even though a baby born to a Lyme mother may appear to be
healthy at the moment of birth, it is still possible that transplacental Lyme
symptoms can crop up months later. There is no need to be paranoid and
neurotic about this; just be observant and consider the possibility if chronic
illness becomes a way of life for your infant.
"5. Breast feeding is also not recommended if you have had Lyme disease
during the previous year, since Lyme spirochetes have been isolated from breast
milk...."

from: Everything You Need To Know About Lyme Disease by Karen
Vanderhoof-Forschner

pg. 14 Are Tick Bites The Only Source of Lyme Disease?
"There has been only a very limited amount of research into the ways by
which the Bb spirochete may be transmitted other than through a tick bite. 
Indeed, this is such a controversial area that most researchers are reluctant
even to probe into it. My belief, however, is that what we don't know can hurt
us, and it makes sense to explore all possible avenues, especially those
described here."
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
"The possibility that tick-borne diseases can be transmitted to the
developing fetus during pregnancy is one of the most wrenching issues we deal
with at the Lyme Disease Foundation. My own personal tragedy, and the loss of
my infant son, galvanized me into action, and my concern for other pregnant
women continues to spur me on. Because 20% of women in the United States and
Europe are of childbearing age, the risks of Lyme disease demand our attention
"Although data on this subject remain scarce, research demonstrates that a
pregnant woman who becomes infected with Bb and does not receive prompt
antibiotic treatment can transmit the bacteria through the bloodstream to her
fetus, with potentialy dire consequences. Rest assured, however: Pregnant
women who do receive appropriate treatment generally do very nicely.
"In 1985, The Annnals of Internal Medicine became the first medical journal
to publish an article describing a case of maternal/fetal transmission that
resulted in the death of an infant. In another study, discussed by T. Gardner
in a chapter of Infectious diseases of the Fetus and Newborn, 161 cases of Lyme
disease during pregnancy were reviewed, and some sort of adverse outcomes were
found in 46 of them. The risk to fetal development was highest if a woman
became infected during her first trimester of pregnancy. The author concludes
outcomes (which may be relatively mild or very severe) occur 63% of the time in
the first trimester, 38% of the time in the second trimester, and just 10% of
the time if infection occurs in the final trimester.
"Do***ented adverse outcomes include a risk of retarded growth, respiratory
distress, eye problems, brain infection, heart abnormalities, and damage to
other organs. On rare occassions, fetal malformations, miscarriage, and ealy
infant death have been linked to Lyme disease, and the spirochete has been
recovered from both fetal remains and placental tissue. In addition, the
possibility that Lyme disease in pregnancy is linked to susequent developmental
delays and learning disabilites has been do***ented.
"Also of concern are the results of recent studies suggesting that it may
be possible to transmit infection in breast milk. A study published by B.
Schmidt in 1995 detected Bb in two samples of milk provided by lactating women
with Lyme disease. A year later, a study conducted mice also proved that early
breast milk from an infected mother could transmit the infection to the
newborn. This experiment raises questions about earlier assumptions that an
infants's stomach acid would most likely kill any Lyme bacteria.
"While every pregnant and nursing woman needs to take special precautions
to prevent tick bite, there is no surefire way to stay safe. Securing an
accurate diagnosis can be challenging, especially given the many discomforts
that are a part of almost any pregnancy. If you are pregnant and are bitten
by a tick, prompt antibiotic treatment is crucial, even if you don't know for
sure that you have been infected."

"Lyme disease: Its neurologic manifestations and its presentation in
Wisconsin"
Michael Finkle, MD, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Wisconsin Medical Journal, July 1986: Vol. 85
".....Lyme disease is a name used in the United States to describe the human
illness
caused by a tick-borne spirochete It is a multisystemic illness with multiple 
postulated mechanisms of pathogenesis. It occurs GLOBALLY, has a plethora of
presentations, and has many different vectors...."

"......Cases also have been reported from the tick-free
areas of Sweden, and it is postulateed that the vector for these cases may have
been mosquitos. Doctor Elizabeth Burgess at the University of Wisconsin
Veterinary School has demonstrated that tick-free seronegative dogs will turn
seropositive if housed with tick free infected dogs. Doctor Burgess also
cultured spirochetes from the blood of tick-free seronegative field mice who
were exposed to infected field mice. This demonstrates that the spirochete can
be passed among the natural reservoir without the intervention of the
tick......."