canine lyme disease

Question 1

what 3 things should you consider about lyme disease

Answer 1

1. AKA CLD and canine borreliosis- the original outbreak was in 1975 in Lyme Connecticut
2. vector borne caused by spirochete
3. dogs are most frequently affected but humans, cats, horses and cattle may also be affected

Question 2

what should you consider about vectors

Answer 2

they are carried and transmitted by the genus IXodes

Question 3

what 2 things should you consider about the transmission of Lyme

Answer 3

a) the bacteria Bb are found in mice and other small rodents
b) while a tick is feeding the spirochete migrates from the mid gut to the salivary gland from where it enters the victim

Question 4

what 3 things should you consider about pathogenesis of lyme disease

Answer 4

a) spirochete replicates the skin
b) disseminated in blood to variety of sites such as joints, blood vessels and connective tissues

c)vigorous inflammatory reaction

Question 5

what are the clinical signs of lyme disease

Answer 5

a) kidney failure that may lead to death
b) symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, lethargy and dehydration

c) neurological changes or heart block
d) arthritis in the form of sudden lameness, severe pain and or swelling/heat

Question 6

what are 3 considerations about lyme disease

Answer 6

a) in hyper endemic regions 75% of dogs may be exposed to ticks and 5% of those exposed actually develop clinical signs
b) bitches that become infected while pregnant may transmit spirochetes to their fetuses
c) age, breed and genetic difference in susceptibility are also suspected

Question 7

what 3 things should you consider about the diagnosis of Lyme disease

Answer 7

1. ELISA which is an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; although useful only if dog has not been vaccinated
2. western blot- a testing method that determines antibodies against multiple agents
3. idexx quantitive C6 assay which measures antibodies to the C6 peptide

Question 8

what are the 4 criteria for the diagnosis of Lyme disease

Answer 8

1. history of exposure to ticks in endemic area
2. typical clinical signs-lameness with or without fever
3. positive antibody test
4. a prompt response to antibiotic therapy

Question 9

what 2 things should you consider about treatment of lyme disease

Answer 9

a) antibiotics such as tetracyclines, amoxicillin and ceftriaxone are used
b) treatment is 3-4 weeks because the organism has a tendency to persist and has a very slow rate of multiplication

Question 10

what 3 things should you consider about the prevention of lyme

Answer 10

1. avoid endemic/hyper endemic areas in high season
2. prompt removal of ticks on a daily basis
3. vaccination is a whole cell bacterin and is non core, non adjuvanted recombinant