NEWS: Tick catchers needed for Oregon study
The Oregon Lyme Disease Network is embarking on an ambitious project to collect and test ticks throughout their state.
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From The Register-Guard (Eugene, Oregon):
Tick catchers needed for study | Samples are being collected for research exploring the threat of Lyme disease
Appeared in print: Monday, May 31, 2010
Here’s a different kind of volunteer opportunity — finding and trapping ticks.
The Oregon Lyme Disease Network has begun collecting ticks around Oregon for a study to test the frequency in which the tiny animals carry Lyme disease. Collection and testing will take place in Eugene in early June, and health officials are looking for volunteers to help with the task.
Theresa Denham, president and founder of the Oregon Lyme Disease Network, said the study aims to assess the level of threat Lyme disease poses to Oregonians.
Denham, who has been treated for Lyme disease, said there are two differing perspectives about the disease in Oregon. One perspective, that Lyme disease is rare in the Northwest, is held by most insurance companies and the Infectious Disease Society of America, she said.
On the other side of the debate is the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, and some Lyme disease patients and medical providers who feel Lyme disease is far more common. Some with this view also believe Lyme disease can require antibiotic treatment for weeks, months or longer.
“What we are planning to do is test areas where we’re getting a lot of calls,” Denham said. “If we have information to say there are ticks that carry the disease, we can counteract doctors who say we don’t have ticks with Lyme disease in this state.”
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Please do this. My sister had the bull's eye rash from a tick. We lived in S. Oregon. I've been an Oregonian all my life and I'm too sick to volunteer.
I lost my equilibrium 5 years ago. Recently, I've been having seizures. I was just diagnosed with lyme disease. I'm 31 years old.
For years they said I wasn't losing my balance until it was gone and testing at an ENT and OHSU confirmed it: total bilateral vestibular loss. This year, they said the myoclonic jerks, confusion, and being bedridden was just stress and depression due to the bilateral vestibular loss.
I could just be the first person in my family to develop a debilitating genetic condition… or the little blood suckers might be carrying lyme.
If you can, please volunteer.
I don't live in Oregon, but I think this is a great idea. I hope you guys had a good turnout of volunteers. The more awareness of the Lyme disease problem there is, the better we will be able to take care of it. Next time you need volunteers, just let me know and I can send in my dog. She's especially gifted at attracting high amounts of ticks from the woods by our house. Good thing we have her treated!
-Mrs. Bennett
I agree, this is not only an excellent opportunity to help with this ongoing research of Lyme disease, but raise the awareness in your local community as well. I may look into trying to start something similar here in the Indiana area. The more the IDSA and insurance companies realize how much more common Lyme disease is than they think, the better off we are as well.
-Jerry McMaster
Indianapolis, IN
Must collect nymph ticks which will have high rate of borrelia. Also the western gray squirrels will have very high numbers of the nymph ticks
Tick Spritzer Blend2 drops of Lavender, Basil, Lemon, Opoponax, Eucalyptus1 tea spoon apple cider vinegar1 tea spoon vodka1 cup of dried mjaorram, eucalyptus, rosemary2 cups of waterFlea Spritzer Blend2 drops of cedar wood, lemongrass, rose geranium1 tea spoon apple cider vinegar1 tea spoon vodka1 cup of dried peppermint, eucalyptus, bay leaf herbs1- 2 cups of waterAdd the essential oils and vodka in a bottle, tighten the lid and shake well. Once the mixture blended (should turn white), add apple cider vinegar. If you have some herbs mentioned above you can make an herbal tea to use in your spritzer.Boil 2-4 cups of water and remove from heat. Add your dried herbs in the water and let is simmer for 30 minutes. Once cool, drain and use instead of plain water in your spritzer. If you are using an herbal tea, this mixture must be kept in the refrigerator as the herbal teas have the tendency to go bad faster.Once you have your spritzer you can use this by gently spraying it in to your dog’s coat, legs, tummy and back. Rub it in well and apply it as necessary. Do not use any of the essential oils on your dogs face or around nose, ears and eyes. Respect the sensitive nose he/she has and go easy when using aromatic substances such as essential oils. -Citrus De-Flea BathCollect a batch of citrus fruit. Oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and limes all work, and can be tried in combination. Squeeze out the juice. It might be a good idea to remove all of the inside pulp, but it’s more work and not necessary.Put all of the squeezed-out rinds in a big pot, and fill it with water. Bring to a boil, and then turn down the heat and simmer for several hours.When the rinds have reached a limp, squishy state, scoop them up and mash them in order to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Return that liquid to the pot, and continue to simmer for a few more hours, allowing the liquid to cook down to some degree. Cool the liquid and pour through a fine strainer or cheesecloth to remove the pulp. Bottle it up and refrigerate.In case you wind up with more than you can use in a reasonable time, the liquid freezes well and works fine when thawed. (Remember, this concoction doesn’t have preservatives .)You may also add a quarter of a cup or so to a dog’s bathwater. The liquid is not sticky, does not stain coats, and kills fleas on contact.Tick RepellantFrom Annie Berthold-BondI dug deep in my herbal formula for this recipe out of desperation, given that I live in the epicenter of the tick-generated Lyme disease epidemic. I tested the essential oil that is recommended for ticks, Rose Geranium, by putting a few drops no more! on our dogs’ collars, to see if it would repel ticks. Lo and behold, we went from 20 ticks a day on each dog, to none.Simple solution:Two tablespoons of vegetable or nut oil almond oil contains sulfur, a repellent in its own right.10 to 25 drops of Rose Geranium essential oil.Combine the ingredients in a glass jar; shake to blend. Makes 2 tablespoons. Shelf life: six months. Dab a few drops on skin or clothing, making sure to avoid eyes.