Tick-borne Diseases. Flashcards
What is the definition of a tick-borne disease?
Any disease that is caused by a tick or carried by a tick.
What kind of parasites are ticks?
Obligate ectoparasites.
What organisms will ticks usually prey on?
Most land-living vertebrates.
What regions of the world are ticks usually found in?
In almost every region of the world.
How do ticks gain food?
By sucking blood from their host.
What kind of organisms are ticks?
Arachnids.
Are ticks more closely related to spiders or insect?
To spiders.
Do ticks transmit many diseases between animals?
Yes.
They are second to mosquitoes in terms of their impact on public and veterinary health.
What are the 4 life stages that ticks usually go through?
Egg.
Six-legged larva.
Eight-legged nymph.
Adult.
What must ticks eat at every stage of their life cycle in order to survive?
Blood.
How do ticks spread disease from 1 host to another?
If ticks take up infected blood in one animal, they can then carry this infection to the next animal they infect.
How do ticks spread a disease into a host cell?
Via their saliva.
What is ehrlichiosis?
An infection that affect immune cells in dogs, cats, and people.
What organisms cause ehrlichiosis?
Obligate, intracellular organisms
What is canine ehrlichiosis known as?
Ehrlichia canis.
What immune cells are affected by canine ehrlichiosis?
Monocytes.
What is E chaffeensis?
Another common ehrlichial pathogen which affects the monocyte cells.
What species is mainly responsible for causing human ehrlichiosis infections in the USA?
E chaffeensis.
What organism is responsible for transmitting ehrlichia canis?
The brown tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).
What disease will acute cases of e.canis resemble?
Rickettsia rickettsii or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
What organism is responsible for transmitting Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
The brown tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).
What breeds of dogs are most likely to be affected by e.canis?
E caniscan infect any breed, but certain breeds such as German Shepherds, may be predisposed.
What are 6 common clinical signs of acute cases of E.canis in dogs?
Fever.
Splenomegaly.
Thrombocytopenia.
Renal failure.
Meningitis.
Severe weight loss.
What is the most common clinical sign of acute cases of E.canis in dogs?
Splenomegaly.
What is a consistent clinical finding with ehrlichiosis infections?
Thrombocytopenia.
What is a good tool to help diagnose ehrlichiosis infections in dogs?
A platelet count.
What 3 things are combined to give a diagnosis of ehrlichiosis infections in dogs?
Clinical signs.
Positive serum indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) titer.
Response to treatment.
What drug is used to treat infection with Ehrlichia infections in dogs?
Doxycycline.
Can doxycycline be used in dogs of all ages?
Yes.
What is the best prevention of ehrlichiosis infections in dogs?
By controlling and removing any tickson dogs.
What are effective methods against the tick disease R sanguineus?
Collars that containanti tick chemicals have proven activityagainstR sanguineus.
What transmits the parasites that cause babesiosis?
Ticks.
What organisms are affected by babesiosis?
Domestic animals.
Wild animals.
Some people.
What industry is primarily affected by babeosis?
The cattle industry.
What are the 2 species that cause babeosis in cattle?
B bigemina and B bovis.
Where are the pathogens B bigemina and B bovis primarily found?
In tropical and subtropical areas.
What pathogens are responsible for causing equine babesiosis?
Theileria equi or B caballi.
Where is equine babesiosis usually found?
In Africa, Europe, Asia, South and Central America, and the southern USA.
What is responsible for trnasmitting equine babesiosis?
Ticks.
What are the main vectors of B bigemina and B bovis?
Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp ticks.
What are the main vectors of Babesia equi or B caballi?
Rhipicephalus, Dermacentor, and Hyalomma ticks.
What is usually the first sign of tick fever in dogs?
A fever that is around 41°C.
What are 6 advanced signs of tick fever in dogs?
Poor appetite.
Increased respiratory rate.
Muscle tremors.
Anemia.
Jaundice.
Weight loss.
Where are blood samples taken from live animals when attempting diagnose babesiosis?
From the capillaries of the ear or tail tip.
Where are blood and organ samples taken from dead animals when attempting diagnose babesiosis?
Samples of heart muscle, kidney, liver, lung, brain should be analysed.
Blood should be taken from a blood vessel in an extremity (eg, lower leg).
What are the 2 most common serologic tests that are used to detemrine babesiosis in animals?
The indirect fluorescent antibody test combiuned with ELISA.
PCR and real-time PCR assays.
How do ticks spread lime disease?
Ticks that spread lyme disease contain certain bacteria.
Once a tick attaches, it takes 1-2 days for it to transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
When is transmission of Lyme disease at its highest?
During periods when the spring and autumn when the ticks are actively seeking hosts.
What are the most common symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs?
Intermittent lameness.
Fever.
Anorexia.
Lethargy.
Painful joints.
What is the most common sign of Lyme disease in dogs?
Painful joints.
What is the second most common syndrome associated with Lyme borreliosis in dogs?
Renal failure, which is generally fatal.
What kind of dogs are most likely to be affected by Lyme disease?
Bernese Mountain Dogs and Labrador Retrievers.
What is the preferred treatment drug for Lyme disease?
Doxycycline.
What is the best method of controlling tick-borne disease?
Control of ticks and tick avoidance.
What is the best way of avoiding ticks?
Repellents and acaricides in collars and sprays.
How should dogs be protected against tick borne diseases in areas that have high incidences of tick borne disease?
They should be vaccinated before natural exposure to ticks.
