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What is the connection between lyme, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr?

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Posted 2/25/2017 3:08 PM (GMT 0)
This is the first place I've seen CMV and EBV referred to as coinfections of lyme (but I am new to this). I know I've had both and was diagnosed with an active infection of CMV about 12 years ago when I was doing IVF and had to be tested prior to my transfer. They wouldn't let me do the embryo transfer until it was no longer active. I didn't feel sick at all. I have no memory of ever having EBV although I have tested positive for the antibodies.

I just want to make certain I understand coinfections as being transferred directly by an infected tick to it's host? Right? Or does it mean that lyme can activate an existing virus that came from another source?

Many thanks!
Posted 2/25/2017 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
The term co-infection should only really be used to describe a type of bacteria that the vector had besides borrelia that it passed on to you. Not to be confused with "opportunistic" pathogens.

Something like EBV (which is one of the herpes viruses) is something 90% of human beings have. However, after the initial bout with EBV a vast majority of humans handle it just fine for the rest of their life. People may feel "flu like symptoms" here and there throughout life when EBV rear it's head a little. But not a major issue because the immune system pretty quickly regulates it through DNA memory. It learns and knows this virus and can handle it quite well.

However, the problem comes in when someone has lyme because the immune system either is suppressed and/or over active and busy fighting off lyme and co. EBV as well as other pathogens becomes opportunistic.

This is why EBV and other herpes viruses like Herpes 1 (which 70% of people have) can become a bigger problem, more than it normally would for someone without lyme.
Posted 2/25/2017 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Now that makes sense to me!

Thank you!
Posted 2/25/2017 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
What dacarte3 said.

Shingles is another related Herpes virus(from chicken pox) that will sometimes break through after a Lyme infection.

Mono is another.
Posted 2/25/2017 5:07 PM (GMT 0)

julymorning said...
What dacarte3 said.

Shingles is another related Herpes virus(from chicken pox) that will sometimes break through after a Lyme infection.

Mono is another.

Isn't EBV and "Mono" the same?
Posted 2/25/2017 5:16 PM (GMT 0)
I would cautiously say that when you're immune system is compromised with Lyme and CoInfections, these latent common viruses use the opportunity to flare up also. I have HSV1 and CMV as does most of the adult population over 40 (I think) however most do not have symptoms. When you have tick borne infections like Lyme they flare up more often, whereas with most people you seldom see symptoms. I wanted to go to my ID doctor who might see this as a clinical aspect for Dx of Lyme despite the horribly inadequate Quest dx negatives (litany of symptoms, 100% EM rash, tick area etc...) I think infectious disease doctors call this a TORCH test and that's how they found the CMV and HSV1
Posted 2/25/2017 5:24 PM (GMT 0)

dacarte3 said...

julymorning said...
What dacarte3 said.

Shingles is another related Herpes virus(from chicken pox) that will sometimes break through after a Lyme infection.

Mono is another.

Isn't EBV and "Mono" the same?


You can develop Mono from EBV, but you can get Mono from other viral diseases as well. In our cases of being infected with Lyme and having our immune system compromised, I can imaging you could actually 'catch' mono from an outside source.

I did, from my daughter sharing a milk shake with me. She caught mono from a patient when she was in clinicals for her CNA classes.

/www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/index.html

Post Edited (julymorning) : 2/25/2017 10:27:00 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/25/2017 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome bb...they put simian viruses in our vaccines from a very early age...
Posted 2/26/2017 2:41 AM (GMT 0)

julymorning said...

dacarte3 said...

julymorning said...
What dacarte3 said.

Shingles is another related Herpes virus(from chicken pox) that will sometimes break through after a Lyme infection.

Mono is another.

Isn't EBV and "Mono" the same?


You can develop Mono from EBV, but you can get Mono from other viral diseases as well. In our cases of being infected with Lyme and having our immune system compromised, I can imaging you could actually 'catch' mono from an outside source.

I did, from my daughter sharing a milk shake with me. She caught mono from a patient when she was in clinicals for her CNA classes.

/www.cdc.gov/epstein-barr/index.html

Very interesting. I learned something new. I have a new wrinkle in my brain (or is that just a myth?).
Posted 2/26/2017 2:56 AM (GMT 0)
I believe the connection is that something or somethings has caused a person to have a weak immune system. I also believe you correct what you can to strengthen your system
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