![]() Importantly, tick-borne disease must be on clinician differential lists to be diagnosed.īelow is a summary of key presenting clinical signs in dogs and cats associated with the more common tick-borne diseases in the U.S. This is because clinical signs are often vague, or nonspecific, and vary with infecting pathogen. Tick-borne disease can be a challenge to diagnose in dogs, and even more so in cats. 10-12Īs more ticks often equates to more tick-borne pathogens, and from there to heightened disease risk (and disease) in dogs and cats, updating and informing clients on ticks and tick-related disease risks is key to prevention. 9 Another example is the Gulf Coast tick ( Amblyomma maculatum), which can now be found in the mid-Atlantic and Midwest states (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Tennessee), and in southern Arizona, with higher reported tick abundance. is ticks are now seen in higher numbers in residential areas of south-central Indiana, with Amblyomma americanum ticks as the predominant species. As such, client knowledge may lag considerably behind the rapid increases in tick numbers, distribution, infection, and disease risk, that have occurred over the past several years, which has presently resulted in ticks now found in higher abundance (and in new regions) of the U.S. ![]() Education needs and ‘tick-risk’ĭespite the obvious concern and need for communication on, tick-borne disease, many pet owners are unaware of regional and travel-related tick risk. test positive results from dogs in the U.S. Lyme disease risk maps), and/or canine tick-borne disease seroprevalence maps, i.e. ![]() 2,8 The maps this information is drawn from are based on tick distribution (for different tick types), tick-borne disease ( i.e. and Canadian tick and tick-borne disease information. RMSF, Lyme borreliosis), and veterinary identification of disease and test positive status can have implications for human health. Dogs, and probably cats, can also serve as “sentinels” for human disease ( e.g. Sadly, many of these diseases can have severe outcomes and potentially cause death in dogs and cats if they are not diagnosed promptly or go untreated. 1,2 In cats, cytauxzoonosis and anaplasmosis are concerns, and potentially Lyme borreliosis. Tick-borne diseases in dogs include Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis), anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), hepatozoonosis, babesiosis, and tick paralysis (Table). human) risks surrounding ticks and tick-borne disease is also now part of our veterinary One Health accountability, in addition to preventing ticks on pets. Client education is needed to inform about the risk to pets associated with different tick species, canine and kitty lifestyles, importation concerns, and travel (particularly as summer advances). Tick-borne disease in dogs and cats is almost entirely preventable. For signs and symptoms, visit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Purdue Extension Entomology-Purdue University.By Michelle Evason, BSc, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM) PHOTO COURTESY ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES / 1192452134 Visit your physician or primary care provider immediately should you experience signs or symptoms of tick-borne disease. If the tick is attached, you may consider to visit a physician or health care provider to have the tick removed. It is important to remove the tick, including the mouthparts to avoid the possibility of secondary infections. Remember to complete a tick check immediately after you return from activity in potential tick habitat. Take care not to break the tick during removal as this may release pathogens and parasites onto your skin and into the feeding site created by the tick. Where possible, avoid tick habitat and during peak tick activity. It is important to remove any ticks from your person before they have become attached. Follow the guidelines for tick bite prevention and tick removal here. Ticks may be infected with a variety of pathogens and parasites. If you find a tick crawling on your clothing, person or outdoor gear, place it in a plastic baggie and freeze it in the freezer for at least 20 minutes, or flush it down the toilet.
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