Ologies with Alie Ward

Disease Ecology (LYME/TICK-BORNE ILLNESSES) with Andrea Swei

Jun 18, 2019

01:12:54

Snipd AI

Disease Ecologist Dr. Andrea Swei discusses Lyme Disease, testing, treatment, animal carriers, 'chronic Lyme', post-treatment Lyme, helpful proteins in lizards, Ukrainian princesses Babesia and Borrelia, Lyme vaccines, pet care, symptoms, prevention, and tick-borne illness vaccines. Entertaining and informative episode on tick-borne illnesses with valuable insights on tick control and disease ecology.

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Quick takeaways

Understanding zoonotic diseases transmission from wildlife to humans is crucial for disease debuted; tick-borne illnesses like Lyme have roots in wildlife before impacting humans.

Challenges in diagnosing Lyme disease highlight the need for more accurate diagnostic tools beyond serological tests; gene expression testing shows promise for improved detection.

Ecological factors influence tick-borne disease distribution, with the West Coast showing significant Lyme prevalence due to habitat differences and human-environment interactions.

Deep dives

Understanding Tick-borne Diseases and Disease Ecology

Being a disease ecologist, research focuses on understanding diseases, their transmission, and ecological factors influencing them. Zoonotic diseases, naturally maintained in wildlife, can cross over to humans, contributing to the burden of infectious diseases. Tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease have existed in wildlife populations before affecting humans, emphasizing wildlife reservoirs' role. Research delves into how ecological changes impact disease transmission, emphasizing the importance of knowing vectors and their habitats.

Introduction

2min

Exploring the World of Tick-Borne Illnesses and Disease Ecology

5min

Exploring Zoonotic Diseases and Field Ecology

3min

Exploring Tick-Borne Diseases and Pathogens

21min

Challenges and Advances in Lyme Disease Diagnosis

18min

Exploring Lyme Disease Prevalence and Co-Infections in California

2min

Exploring Lyme Disease and Co-Infections Humorously

4min

The Past, Present, and Future of Tick-Borne Illness Vaccines

17min

Exploring Microscopes, Disease Ecology, and Promoting Dr. Andrea Sway's Work

4min

Lyme Disease! Powassan virus! That Lonestar tick meat allergy! Paralysis ticks! Acarology taught us all about the eight-legged villains that aim for our crevices, but Disease Ecologist Dr. Andrea Swei offers a deep dive under the skin to learn more about what nasties a tick can give us. We chat a whole bunch about Lyme Disease: its prevalence, testing, treatment, which animals carry it, “chronic Lyme” vs. post-treatment Lyme. We also cover how lizards might harbor a helpful protein, two Ukrainian princesses by the names of Borrelia and Babesia, why you'll want chickens and possums hanging out at your barbecues, Lyme vaccines, pet care, symptoms, prevention and what scares her most. This one's a wonderful episode on its own, but is even better as a follow up to Acarology: the nightmare lesson of how ticks work.

Listen to the Acarology (TICKS) episode: alieward.com/ologies/acarology

Follow Dr. Swei on Twitter @Andeswei or @SweiLab

Donations went to: Union of Concerned Scientists, and 826 Valencia

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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media & Steven Ray Morris

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

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