Re: suck out pathogens with a mini-pump?

a_weisman@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

I don't think so. Ticks suck blood. As they do so they transmit
pathogens into the bloodstream. Once they're in there they disseminate
quickly. All it takes is one or a few spirochetes which then divide and
reproduce so I don't think the mini pump (or a maxi pump) would work.

Ok, the pathogens go into the bloodstream, but how come lot's of people (about 50%?) get an erythema migrans AT the tickbite erea? Doesn't this suggest that the spirochetes often stay localised at first (at least some of them)? At least it doesn't suggest they all go into the blood and stay there and disseminate throughout the body.

Snake venom is different. The venom is toxic but the greater the
quantity of toxin the greater the impact. Sucking some venom out
reduces the overall quantity of venom. Unlike bacteria, venom doesn't
reproduce.


Exactly.
.