Tick-borne Diseases.

Question 1

What is the definition of a tick-borne disease?

Answer 1

Any disease that is caused by a tick or carried by a tick.

Question 2

What kind of parasites are ticks?

Answer 2

Obligate ectoparasites.

Question 3

What organisms will ticks usually prey on?

Answer 3

Most land-living vertebrates.

Question 4

What regions of the world are ticks usually found in?

Answer 4

In almost every region of the world.

Question 5

How do ticks gain food?

Answer 5

By sucking blood from their host.

Question 6

What kind of organisms are ticks?

Answer 6

Arachnids.

Question 7

Are ticks more closely related to spiders or insect?

Answer 7

To spiders.

Question 8

Do ticks transmit many diseases between animals?

Answer 8

Yes.

They are second to mosquitoes in terms of their impact on public and veterinary health.

Question 9

What are the 4 life stages that ticks usually go through?

Answer 9

Egg.

Six-legged larva.

Eight-legged nymph.

Adult.

Question 10

What must ticks eat at every stage of their life cycle in order to survive?

Answer 10

Blood.

Question 11

How do ticks spread disease from 1 host to another?

Answer 11

If ticks take up infected blood in one animal, they can then carry this infection to the next animal they infect.

Question 12

How do ticks spread a disease into a host cell?

Answer 12

Via their saliva.

Question 13

What is ehrlichiosis?

Answer 13

An infection that affect immune cells in dogs, cats, and people.

Question 14

What organisms cause ehrlichiosis?

Answer 14

Obligate, intracellular organisms

Question 15

What is canine ehrlichiosis known as?

Answer 15

Ehrlichia canis.

Question 16

What immune cells are affected by canine ehrlichiosis?

Answer 16

Monocytes.

Question 17

What is E chaffeensis?

Answer 17

Another common ehrlichial pathogen which affects the monocyte cells.

Question 18

What species is mainly responsible for causing human ehrlichiosis infections in the USA?

Answer 18

E chaffeensis.

Question 19

What organism is responsible for transmitting ehrlichia canis?

Answer 19

The brown tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).

Question 20

What disease will acute cases of e.canis resemble?

Answer 20

Rickettsia rickettsii or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Question 21

What organism is responsible for transmitting Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

Answer 21

The brown tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).

Question 22

What breeds of dogs are most likely to be affected by e.canis?

Answer 22

E caniscan infect any breed, but certain breeds such as German Shepherds, may be predisposed.

Question 23

What are 6 common clinical signs of acute cases of E.canis in dogs?

Answer 23

Fever.

Splenomegaly.

Thrombocytopenia.

Renal failure.

Meningitis.

Severe weight loss.

Question 24

What is the most common clinical sign of acute cases of E.canis in dogs?

Answer 24

Splenomegaly.

Question 25

What is a consistent clinical finding with ehrlichiosis infections?

Answer 25

Thrombocytopenia.

Question 26

What is a good tool to help diagnose ehrlichiosis infections in dogs?

Answer 26

A platelet count.

Question 27

What 3 things are combined to give a diagnosis of ehrlichiosis infections in dogs?

Answer 27

Clinical signs. Positive serum indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) titer. Response to treatment.

Question 28

What drug is used to treat infection with Ehrlichia infections in dogs?

Answer 28

Doxycycline.

Question 29

Can doxycycline be used in dogs of all ages?

Answer 29

Yes.

Question 30

What is the best prevention of ehrlichiosis infections in dogs?

Answer 30

By controlling and removing any ticks on dogs.

Question 31

What are effective methods against the tick disease R sanguineus?

Answer 31

Collars that contain anti tick chemicals have proven activity against R sanguineus.

Question 32

What transmits the parasites that cause babesiosis?

Answer 32

Ticks.

Question 33

What organisms are affected by babesiosis?

Answer 33

Domestic animals. Wild animals. Some people.

Question 34

What industry is primarily affected by babeosis?

Answer 34

The cattle industry.

Question 35

What are the 2 species that cause babeosis in cattle?

Answer 35

B bigemina and B bovis.

Question 36

Where are the pathogens B bigemina and B bovis primarily found?

Answer 36

In tropical and subtropical areas.

Question 37

What pathogens are responsible for causing equine babesiosis?

Answer 37

Theileria equi or B caballi.

Question 38

Where is equine babesiosis usually found?

Answer 38

In Africa, Europe, Asia, South and Central America, and the southern USA.

Question 39

What is responsible for trnasmitting equine babesiosis?

Answer 39

Ticks.

Question 40

What are the main vectors of B bigemina and B bovis?

Answer 40

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp ticks.

Question 41

What are the main vectors of Babesia equi or B caballi?

Answer 41

Rhipicephalus, Dermacentor, and Hyalomma ticks.

Question 42

What is usually the first sign of tick fever in dogs?

Answer 42

A fever that is around 41°C.

Question 43

What are 6 advanced signs of tick fever in dogs?

Answer 43

Poor appetite. Increased respiratory rate. Muscle tremors. Anemia. Jaundice. Weight loss.

Question 44

Where are blood samples taken from live animals when attempting diagnose babesiosis?

Answer 44

From the capillaries of the ear or tail tip.

Question 45

Where are blood and organ samples taken from dead animals when attempting diagnose babesiosis?

Answer 45

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).

Question 46

What are the 2 most common serologic tests that are used to detemrine babesiosis in animals?

Answer 46

The indirect fluorescent antibody test combiuned with ELISA. PCR and real-time PCR assays.

Question 47

How do ticks spread lime disease?

Answer 47

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.

Question 48

When is transmission of Lyme disease at its highest?

Answer 48

During periods when the spring and autumn when the ticks are actively seeking hosts.

Question 49

What are the most common symptoms of Lyme disease in dogs?

Answer 49

Intermittent lameness. Fever. Anorexia. Lethargy. Painful joints.

Question 50

What is the most common sign of Lyme disease in dogs?

Answer 50

Painful joints.

Question 51

What is the second most common syndrome associated with Lyme borreliosis in dogs?

Answer 51

Renal failure, which is generally fatal.

Question 52

What kind of dogs are most likely to be affected by Lyme disease?

Answer 52

Bernese Mountain Dogs and Labrador Retrievers.

Question 53

What is the preferred treatment drug for Lyme disease?

Answer 53

Doxycycline.

Question 54

What is the best method of controlling tick-borne disease?

Answer 54

Control of ticks and tick avoidance.

Question 55

What is the best way of avoiding ticks?

Answer 55

Repellents and acaricides in collars and sprays.

Question 56

How should dogs be protected against tick borne diseases in areas that have high incidences of tick borne disease?

Answer 56

They should be vaccinated before natural exposure to ticks.