Posted on May 4, 2017 in Blog |

Cats are the primary carrier of a disease called Bartonella. Bartonella is termed a co-infection of Lyme disease. But it is becoming increasingly more common among patients being treated for Lyme disease. Evidence is showing that patients who originally tested positive for Lyme disease (including me) actually have Bartonella. And the two diseases are NOT treated with the same medications. Dr. Ed Breitschwerdt of North Carolina State University School of Veterinary Medicine has studied Bartonella for decades. In fact, his father died of complications from Bartonella a few years ago. His studies have shown that among both feral and domestic cats, up to 80% may be infected with one or more strains of Bartonella. And most cats are completely asymptomatic when infected. Have you have ever heard of “cat scratch fever?” That’s Bartonella. That’s a co-infection of Lyme Disease. The disease is transferred from a cat to a human through it’s saliva and its claws. If the cat has been mousing with an infected rodent outside, and the infection is on the cat’s claws or in its saliva, and then the cat comes inside and scratches you or licks you where you have a scratch, you can become infected. There are currently 26 identified strains of Bartonella that humans and animals may have. I was infected with three strains, our son had two strains, and my husband had one strain. Lyme Disease isn’t simple. It’s not a self-resolving disease, it’s not a simple treatment. It’s complicated. But it’s going to be the most prevalent epidemic in the next decade. So learn as much as you can now. Sharon Rainey is co-author of Lyme Savvy: Treatment Insights for Lyme Patients and Practitioners. Share...

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