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Veterinary Aspects of Tick-Borne Diseases on Nantucket

Veterinary Aspects of Tick-Borne Diseases on Nantucket. Scott White, DVM, MPH. Topics. Clinical Disease in Pets Anaplasmosis Lyme Pets and Human Risk Preventive Measures Nantucket Experience. Clinical Disease in Pets. Horses Anaplasmosis (formerly Ehrlichia equi )

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Veterinary Aspects of Tick-Borne Diseases on Nantucket

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  1. Veterinary Aspects of Tick-Borne Diseases on Nantucket Scott White, DVM, MPH

  2. Topics • Clinical Disease in Pets • Anaplasmosis • Lyme • Pets and Human Risk • Preventive Measures • Nantucket Experience

  3. Clinical Disease in Pets Horses • Anaplasmosis (formerly Ehrlichiaequi) • Fever most common symptom • Lymphadenopathy & vasculitis (swollen legs) less common • Doxycycline or tetracycline • Lyme -- ?? • Most cases likely were anaplasmosis • Overdiagnosed Cats-- ??

  4. Clinical Disease in Pets Dogs -- Lyme and anaplasmosis • Acute cases: classic symptoms are similar • Fever • Joint pain or swelling • Lymphadenopathy • Often just mild, flu-like symptoms that resolve • Vomiting with anaplasmosis • More severe if co-infected • Rare but severe thrombocytopenia (low platelets) with anaplasmosis • Disease is mostly mild to moderate & very responsive to doxycycline • Diagnosis & treatment straightforward

  5. Clinical Disease in Pets Dogs • Asymptomatic but Sero-Positive on Routine Screening Tests • Persistent Infection or Residual Antibodies ?? • Disease Risks ?? • Doxycycline ?? • Anaplasmosis • Consider treatment if recent sero-conversion • Additional blood tests invariably normal • General consensus not to treat • Lyme • Consider treatment if recent sero-conversion • Suspected increased risk of kidney disease in chronic infections • Unlikely to prove infection with laboratory tests • Evidence of kidney disease by testing for elevated protein in urine • Treat or monitor based on results

  6. Pets and Human Risk • Bring ticks to us • Petting or grooming • Living spaces • Car • Activities with pets in infested areas • Walks or rides • Hunting • Getting the “tennis ball” for the dog YES – Pets increase our risk of exposure to TBDs !!

  7. Preventive Measures • Similar steps for preventing exposure to ourselves • Avoid likely infested areas • Tick checks • Landscaping and spraying yard • Pet specific measures • Topical products for dogs and cats • monthly, year-round • not repellants • fipronil? • Vaccination and routing screening tests for dogs

  8. Nantucket Experience • Sero-positive rates in dogs are high • N=100 Neg/Neg: 40 An: 38 L: 3 An/L: 19 • 60% positive for Anaplamosis, Lyme or both • Anaplasmosis > Lyme @ 3:1 • Ticks can be… • anywhere • very focal • Seasonal owners and pets from non-endemic areas • Unaware of risks and preventive measures • Vaccinations/testing not available from regular veterinarian • Onset of disease when return home • present year-round (adults) • “suddenly” around homes

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