The threat of tick-borne disease to human and canine health is growing. Ticks are parasites that attach to both people and animals, feed on blood, and carry diseases into their hosts’ bodies. When an infected tick bites a dog or a person, the disease is spread into the body of the victim.
Tick geographic distribution is shifting as a result of climate change, deforestation, and altered deer, bird, and rodent migration and living habits. This can vary yearly or even by season. Ticks are found almost everywhere in the United States, including some urban areas, and throughout much of the rest of the world. They present a danger to both people and pets.
Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesiosis, Bartonellosis, and Hepatozoonosis are the most significant tick-borne illnesses that affect dogs. All may have detrimental health effects on dogs, and many may also have detrimental health effects on people.
An infectious condition called Lyme disease is brought on by the spirochete bacteria Borrelia, which is carried by the black-legged tick, also known as the deer tick. Historically, Lyme disease has been linked to the Northeast and upper Midwest regions of the United States, but it is now also being reported in Florida, Washington, Oregon, and California on the west coast. In fact, Lyme disease has been found in dogs across the nation and in some southern Canadian regions. To transmit bacteria into the host, the tick must be attached to its host for roughly 36–48 hours, and symptoms appear 2–5 months after the tick bite.
After a walk through the woods or other grassy or shaded areas where ticks may be present, it is crucial to thoroughly check for ticks and remove them as soon as possible. In urban areas, that may include your local dog park.
Fever, limping, lameness, joint pain or swelling, enlargement of the lymph nodes, lethargy, and joint pain are some symptoms of Lyme disease. Kidney disease brought on by Lyme disease can be fatal. (Unlike Lyme disease in people, dogs don’t produce the “bull’s eye” rash. ).
Lyme disease is usually diagnosed via blood tests. The initial examination identifies tick-agent exposure and aids the veterinarian in deciding whether further examinations are necessary.
Some veterinarians continue to disagree on how to treat a dog that tested positive in the initial test but is otherwise healthy. When the choice is made to treat a dog for Lyme, the animal is typically given antibiotics for 28–30 days.
There is a Lyme disease vaccine as well as numerous other tick preventatives. The vaccine may lessen the frequency and severity of the illness should it manifest, despite some doubting its effectiveness and duration. To find out whether the vaccination is suitable for their dog, dog owners should consult their veterinarian.
Canine Ehrlichiosis is found worldwide. The Brown Dog Tick, Lone Star Tick, and American Dog Tick are among the tick species that cause it. Fever, poor appetite, and low blood platelets (cells that aid in blood clotting) are symptoms, which are frequently identified by nose bleeding or other bruising or anemia-related symptoms. The first symptoms appear one to three weeks after the infected tick bit you. If a dog is diagnosed and treated right away, their prognosis can be good, but those who progress to the chronic stage have a harder time recovering.
A bacterium carried by the black-legged tick (Ixodes) causes the disease anaplasma. There are two Anaplasma species that can be found in North American dogs, despite the fact that they are present throughout the world:
Although dogs with Anaplasma frequently have low blood platelets, which cause bleeding disorders, the symptoms are similar to those of Lyme disease.
One of the more well-known tick-borne illnesses that affect both dogs and humans is rabid spotted fever. It is carried by the Rocky Mountain Wood Tick, American Dog Tick, and Brown Deer Tick. Much of North, South, and Central America have this disease. Fever, a lack of appetite, swollen lymph nodes, and joint pain are symptoms. Low platelets, which help in blood clotting, are often found. On occasion, neurological signs such as wobbliness can also occur.
Another illness called babesiosis is primarily transmitted by a tick bite, though it can also spread through dog bites, transplacental transmission, and possibly contaminated IV blood. Babesiosis is primarily characterized by “hemolysis,” or the decomposition of red blood cells. Lethargy, pale gums, dark urine, and jaundice (yellow or orange skin color or the “whites” of the eyes) are all signs of the condition.
A new infectious disease that affects humans, cats, and dogs is bartonella. It has also been known as cat scratch disease (CSD). The majority of infections typically start after being scratched by domestic or feral cats that have fleas. CSD can occur wherever cats and fleas are found.
Hepatozoonosis is a little different because it develops after a dog consumes an infected tick. Since this illness is not zoonotic, humans cannot contract it from infected dogs. This disease is generally found in the southern United States. Pain and difficulty standing or moving, fever, muscle wasting, and mild to moderate anemia are symptoms of the illness. This disease is severely debilitating and often fatal.
These illnesses can pose a serious risk to both people and dogs’ health. Dog owners should consult their veterinarian to determine the most effective method of flea and tick control.
At the Center for Disease Control, a map displaying the prevalence of Lyme disease can be found. https://www. akc. org/wp-admin/admin-ajax. php Get Your Free AKC eBook.
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Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Rickettsia amblyommii, Rickettsia rickettsia & Rickettsia parkeri)
The Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever-causing Rickettsial bacterial agent may be spread by American Dog ticks and Lone Star ticks. It causes vascular inflammation known as Rickettsial vasculitis by infecting the cells that line blood vessels. This bacterium can spread from a bite to infection in 6-10 hours, and symptoms typically appear 2–12 days later. Most patients will develop a spotted rash with a variety of presentations.
Headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting are some of the symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever that can quickly progress into more serious and life-threatening symptoms. If blood vessel damage is not treated, it may result in amputation and, in more severe cases, mental and physical disability.
Skin biopsies can be immunostained to determine the presence of Rickettsia amblyommii and other Rickettsia species, and a two-part indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) test can be used to identify antibodies. The first sample is taken within seven days of the infection, and it will be compared to the second sample, taken two to four weeks later. The results are positive for Rickettsia if the second sample demonstrates that the quantity of antibodies present has increased since the first sample was examined. For the first portion of the test, false positive results are frequent. Final diagnosis aids include low platelet count, low sodium, or elevated liver enzyme results from blood tests.
Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeensis & Ehrlichia ewingii)
Ehrlichia chaffeensis and Ehrlichia ewingii, two different species of Ehrlichiosis, are known to be spread by American Dog ticks and Lone Star ticks, respectively. Transmission time from bite to infection is between 18-24 hours. Symptoms of Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis, which is caused by both species invading white blood cells, appear 1-2 weeks after exposure.
Chillers, sweats, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, joint and muscle pain, confusion, rash, and eye infection are some of the symptoms of ehrlichiosis. Immunocompromised individuals may also experience trouble breathing and kidney dysfunction. Headache and fatigue symptoms may persist even after a few weeks of therapy.
While peripheral blood smears may also reveal Ehrlichia in white blood cells, confirming the diagnosis, PCR of the blood can detect Ehrlichia DNA within the first week of infection. Indirect Immunofluorescence Assays (IFA), a two-part test, can also be used to identify antibodies. Lastly, elevated liver enzymes or low platelet and white blood cell counts could be indicators of ehrlichiosis infection.
What do American Dog Ticks Look Like?
American dog ticks are brown with whitish to gray markings and have an oval shape. They have six legs as larvae, eight as nymphs, and ten as adults. They can effectively crawl through their surroundings and through human hair and animal fur thanks to these extremities. American dog ticks can range in size from 5 mm to 15 mm, depending on whether they have consumed host blood.
You may need to be concerned if an American dog tick bit a member of your household or a pet. Additionally, American dog ticks are more likely to be attracted to homes with tall grass and outdoor pets. Sightings in areas where females frequently lay their eggs, like gardens and potted plants, indicate a potential infestation.
The bites of American dog ticks can result in fever, itchiness, and, in rare cases, tick paralysis. The primary symptom of tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the appearance of rashes close to the site of the tick bite, so be alert for this development. Ticks cannot feed right away after latching on to a host because it takes them several hours for their mouthparts to imbed deeply enough to feed. Therefore, it is crucial to swiftly remove ticks from the skin as soon as they are discovered.
FAQ
Can humans get sick from dog ticks?
Dog ticks may carry illnesses like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia, which can make you very ill.
Can a dog tick carry Lyme disease?
Dog ticks do not transmit Lyme disease. In Michigan, their bites rarely cause serious illness, but dog ticks are known to spread tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, like other wood ticks.
What diseases come from dog ticks?
- Lyme Disease. …
- Anaplasmosis. …
- Babesiosis. …
- Ehrlichiosis. …
- Powassan Virus Disease. …
- Borrelia miyamotoi Disease. …
- Borrelia mayonii Disease. …
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)
What diseases can a human get from a tick?
Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, anaplasmosis, Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness, Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever, and tularemia are some of the most prevalent tick-borne illnesses in the United States.