Re: suck out pathogens with a mini-pump?


Martijn wrote:
> 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?

Perhaps even less than 50% but the rash is a cutaneous manifestation
caused by local spread of the spirochete (secondary rashes are thought
to be a result of spread hemotagenously). That doesn't mean that the
spirochetes spreading locally in the skin don't also spread via the
bloodstream simultaneously.

>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.

Not mutually exclusive that some stay local and go for the skin and
others spread via the bloodstream simultaneously.

> > 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.

.