CTLymedisease.org   Greater Hartford Lyme Disease Support & Action Group

TimeLine 1883: Disease first described by Dr. Alfred Buchwald in Germany 1893: Smith and Kilbourne prove Texas cattle fever (babesiosis) caused by infected tick. 1909: Arvid Afzelius describes erythemia migrans (EM). 1911: Dr. Burckhardy describes first case of ymphocytoma, third skin manifestation of Lyme. 1922: Doctors describe large rash and nuerological type disease. 1948: Carl Lennhoff reports seeing spirochetes in biopsy specimens. 1954: Relations between tick bite, lymphocytoma, EM and Bannwarth's syndrome are shown. 1970: Rudolph Scrimenti reports first case of EM in U.S., treats with penicillin based on European literature. 1970: First case of babesiosis, another tick-borne disease reported on Nantucket Island. 1975: Polly Murray, resident of Lyme, Connecticut reports symptoms of a possible disease affecting family and neighbors. 1976: Yale University study new disease and connects cardiac, neurological and EM. Lyme arthritis now called Lyme disease. 1977: Steere, Snydman, Malawista, et, describe new form of Lyme arthritis. Lyme disease finding reversed. 1978: Andrew Spielman declares Ixodes dammini is a new distinct tick species in Northeast U.S. and is the vector for Lyme and babesiosis. 1980: Yale proves definitively antibiotics are effective for treating EM and decreasing later complications of disease. 1982: William Burgdorfer, et. discover organism named Borrelia burgdorferi. 1984: Europeans find same organism B. burgdorferi causing lymphocytoma, ACA and EM in Europe. 1986: Chronic Lyme disease states are denounced by skeptics. 1988: Lyme disease foundation formed in Hartford, CT. 1993:  James Oliver changes name to I. scapularis as principal vector for Lyme disease.  1999: LYMErix vaccination developed by Smith Kline Beecham is approved by FDA. 1999: LYMErix removed from market based on bad sales. Patients report sickened from vaccine. 2002: Highest number of Lyme disease cases reported in United States: 23,763. 2003: Mandatory surveillance reporting of Lyme disease ends. 2005: New federal bill proposal will create tick-borne advisory committee and research funds. 2006: ISDA issues more restrictive guidelines for testing and diagnosis and states chronic lyme does not exist. 2007: CT Attorney General R.Blumenthal launches investigation and issues subpoena against ISDA.   HISTORY    The causative agent of Lyme disease, the black legged tick known as Ixodes scapularis (parasitic classification) appears to have been around for long time. Reports from various travelers as late in the 17th century show encounters with ticks. It was first described in the town of Breslau, Germany in 1883. Doctor Alfred Buchwald describes acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA), a progressive skin disorder. It is important to note that ACA the third or late stage of European Lyme borreliosis (LB). The initial outbreak that brought public attention to the disease was in 1975 in the town of Lyme, Connecticut. Polly Murray, a resident of Lyme, CT complained of unusual symptoms occurring to herself and family. She complained to authorities and faced resistance. In time, her perseverance paid off and Yale New Haven started a medical investigation into her case. In 1982, Willy Burgdorfer, Ph.D identified the cause by the spirochete bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) during investigation of Rocky Mountain spotted fever outbreaks. In 1893, Howard T. Ricketts was the first to establish the identity of the infectious organism that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), another tick-borne illness. RMSF, was the first account of a major tick-borne disease in the United States. Karen Vanderhof-Forschner, Lyme disease author points out in her book, "Everything You Need to Know About Lyme Disease", the great body of research produced by the Europeans pioneers set the stage for benefit later on by American researchers. Dr. Burgdorfer remembered the advice of Austrian dermatologist B. Lipschutz who urged scientists to examine intestinal tract and salivary glands of the tick. He also recalled the writings of Swedish researcher Sven Hellerstrom who suggested that a spirochete might be involved. Dr. Burgdorferi followed this advice and led him to the discovery of spirochetes. Many of the suggestions put forth by European researchers mentioned and more were never followed closely and overlooked accordingly to Dr.Burgdorfer. The many symptoms of Polly Murray and her family presented to Yale New Haven doctors caused complexity and did not fit into any medical definition or a diagnostic model. Even today, Lyme disease does not fit into a medical model for making a definitive diagnosis. What Polly Murray faced twenty-five years ago continues today for many people with Lyme disease. ........................................     homepagelyme diseasecommunityadvocacyresourcescontact usabout