Lyme and Pregnancy

Lyme & Pregnancy
Can Lyme disease affect pregnancy?

Lyme disease can potentially adversely affect pregnancy. In 1985,researchers published the first proof of maternal-fetal transmission of
Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb): A baby died shortly after birth and Bb spirochetes were found in the infant's spleen, kidney, and bone marrow.
(Schlesinger P, Duray P, Burke B, Steere A, Stillman A. Maternal-fetal transmission of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Annals of
Internal Med. 1985:(Vol 103) 67-68.)

To date, miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, neonatal deaths (rare), and congenital Lyme disease have all been described in the medical literature.

For more information:

Lyme disease and pregnancy from the CDC GUIDE TO LYME DISEASE

In rare cases, Lyme disease acquired during pregnancy may lead to infection of the fetus and possibly to stillbirth, but adverse effects to the fetus have not been conclusively documented.
http://www.nddh.org/CDC%20Guide%20to%20Lyme%20Disease.htm

Pregnancy and Lyme Disease
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Oasis/6455/pregnancy-links.html

LD: Abstracts on Pregnancy & Fetus
http://www.x-l.net/Lyme/FetalLD97.htm

See also: Gardner, MD, Tessa. "Lyme Disease," Chapter 11, in Infectious
Diseases of the Fetus and Newborn Infant. 4th edition, Jack S. Remington,
Jerome O. Klein, eds. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1995, pp. 447-528.

The efficacy and effectiveness of antibiotics (with respect to covert infections that might prompt preterm labor).
http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/pretermsum.htm

DRUG THERAPIES EFFECTIVELY AVERT PRETERM LABOR
Certain drug therapies and diagnostic tools can have a positive outcome on the treatment of preterm labor, according to a new evidence report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
http://pharmacotherapy.medscape.com/31617.rhtml?srcmp=phar-122200

Clinical Aspects of Lyme Disease: Dermatologic, Cardiac, GI, and Gestational
http://www.medscape.com/Medscape/CNO/2001/LDF/Story.cfm?story_id=2243

Investigation of venereal, transplacental, and contact transmission of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, in Syrian hamsters.

Investigation of venereal, transplacental, and contact transmission of the
Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, in Syrian hamsters.

J Parasitol 1999 Jun;85(3):426-30 (ISSN: 0022-3395)

Woodrum JE; Oliver JH Jr [Find other articles with these Authors]
Institute of Arthropodology and Parasitology, Department of Biology, Georgia
Southern University, Statesboro 30460, USA.

A hamster was inoculated with the SI-1 strain of Borrelia burgdorferi and subsequently served as a host to larval Ixodes scapularis Say. Approximately 68% of the nymphs resulting from the fed larvae were infected. Nymphs from this group were fed on uninfected hamsters, and 3 of 4 males and 6 of 6 females became infected. The infected hamsters were allowed to mate with uninfected partners to test for venereal transmission. Six infected females were mated with 6 uninfected males, whereas 3 infected males were mated with 6 uninfected females. None of the uninfected hamsters became infected after mating. Two protocols were used to determine if transplacental transmission of B. burgdorferi occurred. One group included 6 nonpregnant infected females that were subsequently mated and became pregnant. Three of the females were allowed to carry to full term, whereas the other 3 were killed prior to parturition. All fetuses and offspring were negative for B. burgdorferi based on cultures and monoclonal antibody assays. Another group
of 6 females was infected via tick bite after becoming pregnant; those females were allowed to carry fetuses to birth and all were negative.
Attempts at contact transmission of B. burgdorferi from 2 infected females to 2 uninfected male and 2 uninfected female hamsters and from 2 infected
males to 2 uninfected male and uninfected female hamsters via urine or feces failed.

MEDLINE Indexing Date: 199909
Publication Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE
Grant ID: A1 24899; U50/CCU410281
Unique NLM Identifier: 99313003
Journal Code: M

Brain on Lyme... "It's hard to fight an enemy who has outposts in your head." --Sally Kempton

Unfortunately people don't understand that Lyme disease, Babesiosis & Erlichiosis do kill. (and they can make you feel so bad you wish they would just do it and get it over with...)